Eagles Fly
Van Halen Lyrics

Sunday morning 9 a.m.
The song starts with a scene-setting line, plainly giving the time of day, and implicitly, the fact that it's a weekend morning, allowing the listener to visualize this moment in time.

I saw fire in the sky
The singer is witnessing something extraordinary, that is represented by the flames in the sky, indicating that something powerful has caught the singer's attention.

I felt my heart pound in my chest
The sight has evoked a deep emotional response, and the singer is physically feeling it, manifesting as the sensation of rapidly beating heart.

I heard an eagle cry
The sound of an eagle crying is the final piece of sensory information that is being drawn out by the artist, allowing the listener to virtually experience the scene in their mind.

Now I´m alive I can breathe the air
The artist is taking a deep breath and enjoying being in the moment, finally able to be present to the world around them, freed from their thoughts and worries.

Feel the wind, smell the earth in the air
The singer is experiencing the environment on a very immediate level, taking in the sensations of the wind and earth, drawing attention to the interconnectedness of the world.

I watch an eagle rise above the trees
The focus turns to the eagle, and the singer is watching it fly, towering above the trees and giving a sense of the immense freedom of flight, and being unencumbered by earthly ties.

Project myself into what he sees
The artist relates to the eagle and wants to see what the bird sees, highlighting the artist's desire to experience the same sense of freedom and wonder that the eagle experiences.

Hey
This is the opening line of the chorus, calling for attention, and thereby signaling that something important is going to be conveyed.

Take me away
The artist is expressing the desire to be carried away to a better place, free from stress and constraints, and experiencing something wonderful that will provide solace and respite.

Come on and fly me away
The singer is calling out wanting to be carried away by something powerful and larger than themselves, urging this force to make itself present and take the singer away.

Take me up so high
The artist is imploring to be lifted up high, signifying the desire to feel bigger than life itself, free from terrestrial bonds.

Where eagles fly
The singer wants to be taken into the sky, where eagles fly, invoking the feeling of flight, and the freedom that comes with it.

I often dream I sail through the sky
The singer talks about dreams they have that involve flying, indicating the deep-seated desire to experience something that is beyond the realistic range of physicality.

I´ve always wished I could fly
The singer has always held the desire to fly, and it has been with them for as long as they can remember.

The simple life of a bird on the wing
The artist is highlighting the ease and simplicity that comes with being a bird and having a carefree existence, spending their days soaring and gliding.

Oh Lord, I could sing
The artist expresses revelling in the experience and being filled with joy and a sense of exaltation that can be expressed through song.

Oh yeah
This phrase functions similarly to the previous chorus opening line, providing emphasis and signalling something important to come.

Wash the earth from my face
The singer is in close contact with the earth and feels as if they have dirt on their face, and this line calls for wiping that away, invoking the sensation of being in the fray and life at the elemental level.

I catch a glimpse of another dream
The artist is again talking about having a dream, suggesting that this is a recurring desire for the artist.

I turn, I look but there´s no trace
The opportunity presented itself, but it has passed now, highlighting the fleeting nature of experiences and opportunities in life.

Eagles fly, oh, take me away
The artist is again calling for the eagles to carry them away, to someplace magical and free of stress.

Come on, let´s fly away where eagles fly
The singer is finally giving voice to the deep desire to fly away to wherever the eagles go, and is willing to go through with it with abandon.