The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Celebrating over 40 years since their founding in 1977, New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional foundation of brass band music and incorporated it into a blend of genres including Bebop Jazz, Funk and R&B/Soul. This unique sound, described by the band as a ‘musical gumbo,’ has allowed the Dirty Dozen to tour across 5 continents and more than 30 countries, record 12 studio albums and collaborate with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones. Forty-plus years later, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.
Roger Lewis - Baritone Sax/Vocals
Kevin Harris - Tenor Sax/Vocals
Gregory Davis - Trumpet/Vocals
Kirk Joseph - Sousaphone
TJ Norris - Trombone/Vocals
Julian Addison - Drums
Takeshi Shimmura - Guitar
The History of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
In 1977, The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social aid and pleasure clubs dated back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs would provide proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands, early predecessors of jazz as we know it, would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant dance tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late '70s, few of either existed. The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band, and over the course of these early gigs, the seven-member ensemble adopted the venue's name: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Website: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Flyin
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flying high without ever leavin' the ground, no
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down.
I go the place where danger awaits me
and it's bound to forsake me.
So stupid minded.
I can't help it
But I go crazy when I can't find it,
In the morning, I'll be alright, my friend.
But soon the night will bring the pains,
The pain, oh the pain
Flying high in the friendly sky
Without ever leaving the ground
And I ain't seen nothing but trouble baby
Nobody really understands, no no
And I go to the place where the good feelin' awaits me
Selfdestruction in my hand
Oh Lord, so stupid minded
Oh and I go crazy when I can't find it
Well I know I'm hooked my friend
To the boy who makes slaves out of men.
And oh beleive me
Flying high in a friendly sky
Oh baby, flyin' high
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's song "Flyin' High" is a poignant description of the struggle of drug addiction. The lyrics describe the feeling of being high and disconnected from the world around you, while at the same time being deeply trapped by addiction. The song opens with the line "Flying high in the friendly sky," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The singer of the song is "flying high" without ever leaving the ground, which is a clear reference to drug use.
The lyrics also describe the loneliness and isolation that comes with addiction. The singer is separated from "the rest of the folks" who are "tired and weary" and have "laid their bodies down." The sense of loneliness is further emphasized by the line "nobody really understands." The singer is struggling with addiction and is trapped by their own self-destructive behavior.
The chorus is a haunting repetition of the first line, "Flying high in the friendly sky without ever leaving the ground." This line serves as a reminder of the paradox of addiction. While the singer feels high and in control, they are actually trapped and unable to escape.
Overall, "Flyin' High" is a powerful song that captures the struggle of addiction. The lyrics are poetic and insightful, and the music adds to the emotional impact of the piece.
Line by Line Meaning
Flying high in the friendly sky
Experiencing a state of euphoria and bliss, as though soaring high in the sky.
Flying high without ever leavin' the ground, no
Achieving this state of mind without the use of drugs or any other tangible means.
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Others around me seem worn out and fatigued.
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down.
Their exhaustion has taken over and caused them to rest.
I go the place where danger awaits me
I seek out situations that could potentially harm me.
and it's bound to forsake me.
Knowing that this behavior will only result in negative consequences.
So stupid minded.
Fully aware of how foolish this behavior may seem.
I can't help it
Despite knowing the risks, I cannot resist the temptation.
oh ya, so stupid minded.
Again acknowledging that my actions are not wise.
But I go crazy when I can't find it,
My desire for this feeling becomes overwhelming and causes me distress when I cannot achieve it.
In the morning, I'll be alright, my friend.
Despite the pain that comes with seeking this high, I believe I will be okay in the morning.
But soon the night will bring the pains,
Knowing that the negative effects of my decisions will catch up to me, particularly during the night.
The pain, oh the pain
A sense of despair and agony that comes from the consequences of my reckless behavior.
Without ever leaving the ground
Acknowledging that this sense of euphoria is all in my mind and does not require actual travel.
And I ain't seen nothing but trouble baby
Recognizing that my behaviors only lead to difficulty and pain.
Nobody really understands, no no
Feeling as though no one else can relate to what I'm going through.
And I go to the place where the good feelin' awaits me
Despite the negative consequences that come with seeking this high, I cannot resist the urge to return to the source of the feeling.
Selfdestruction in my hand
Fully aware that my actions are self-destructive and may cause harm to myself.
Oh Lord, so stupid minded
Once again acknowledging that I am aware of how reckless my behavior is.
Oh and I go crazy when I can't find it
Feeling as though I lose control when I cannot achieve this high.
Well I know I'm hooked my friend
Admitting that I am addicted to this feeling and unable to resist the urge to seek it out.
To the boy who makes slaves out of men.
Referring to the idea that addiction can cause someone to become a slave to their desires and actions.
And oh believe me
Insisting that these feelings and experiences are real and intense.
Oh baby, flying high
Reiterating the feeling of soaring high in the sky, despite the negative consequences that come with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Anna Gaye, Elgie Rousseau Stover, Marvin P Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim Tebow's Left Arm
Heavenly.
Aleksander Aronsen
Heard this on the Portland Jazz station on my way to the airport for a flying lesson. Had to smile when I found out what the title was.
Strength Courage Wisdom
ChocolateHonee luvs this! Comes in when I need it the most! Thanks Papijass & d Crew! I 💞💞💞