# Songs about air travel and airplane culture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500 "2014-08-25T20:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/1 "2014-08-25T20:22:42Z")
So being stuck again in business travel purgatory at some undefinable point between Gate 43, X-hour layover for connection Y, clearing gravel pebble #473 from stuck luggage wheel #2, I feel I need some tunes to bond with my fellow purgatorees. I’m looking for songs that get the feel for the human experience of airports and airplanes. What I’ve got: Aeroplane - Jethro Tull Stratford-on-Guy - Liz Phair 1000 Miles Away - Hoodoo Gurus P.S. to old Fred Sanford-looking guy at the Bagel Express counter…your laughing and chatting somehow made a 3am overpriced oily chewy pizza bagel give me the will to carry on and smile at the existential absurdity of it all. This playlist is for you, dude _bagel-bump_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/2 "2014-08-25T20:26:02Z")
Brian Eno’s _[Music for Airports](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KGMo9yOaSU)_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/3 "2014-08-25T20:31:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Flew in from Miami Beach, BOAC > Didn’t get to bed last night > On the way the paper bag was on my knee > Man, I had a dreadful flight - “Back in the U.S.S.R.” ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/4 "2014-08-25T20:35:56Z")
"Took my chances on a big jet plane, never let them tell you that they’re all the same. " Led Zeppelin - Going to California “Coming in from London from over the pole Flying in a big airliner Chickens flying everywhere around the plane Could we ever feel much finer?” Arlo Guthrie - Coming Into Los Angeles “Oh, Oh big ol’ jet airliner Don’t carry me too far away Oh, Oh big ol’ jet airliner Cause it’s here that I’ve got to stay” Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/5 "2014-08-25T20:37:59Z")
Peter, Paul & Mary – Leaving On A Jet Plane ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/6 "2014-08-25T20:38:35Z")
_Leavin’ On A Jet Plane_. John Denver or Peter, Paul and Mary. ETA: _note to self:type faster._ ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/7 "2014-08-25T20:38:30Z")
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” always struck a chord with me ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/8 "2014-08-25T20:41:59Z")
“Come Josephine in My Flying Machine” I love the Spike Jones version with the traditional first verse and a swingin’ second verse about a B19 bomber. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/9 "2014-08-25T20:44:27Z")
_Silver Wings_; Merle Haggard & the Strangers ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/10 "2014-08-25T20:44:44Z")
“[Seymor Stein](http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858512047/)” by Belle & Sebastian is kind of about flying. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/11 "2014-08-25T20:48:42Z")
It’s oldies time! [All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-7SnMnX78) [Ain’t got time for a fast train.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw) But if you want a song that really expresses feelings about air travel, here’s a little gem from [Paul Revere and The Raiders.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdWukrt8PKg)Totally forgotten now, but it peaked at #17. ETA: Note to self. Type MUCH faster! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/12 "2014-08-25T20:48:42Z")
8 Miles High, The Byrds Just A Song Before I Go, Crosby. Stills and Nash Early Morning Rain, Gordon Lightfoot DOA, Bloodrock (A cheery little number) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/13 "2014-08-25T20:50:26Z")
[Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines/they go up-tiddly-up-up, they go down-diddly-down-down.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPgS26ZhqZs) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/14 "2014-08-25T20:55:53Z")
“Airplane” - The Roaches. Great song by a not very well known trio of Sisters. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/15 "2014-08-25T20:57:25Z")
Great stuff, can’t believe I didn’t recall PP&M or Steve Miller :smack: Update: Learning to Fly - Pink Floyd ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/16 "2014-08-25T21:13:03Z")
Sky Pilot, The Animals. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/17 "2014-08-25T21:13:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Early Morning Rain, Gordon Lightfoot You beat me to it. But there’s another Canadian who sang songs about flying. [Oscar Brand, \*The Wild Blue Yonder: Songs For A Fighting Air Force \*](http://smile.amazon.com/Wild-Blue-Yonder-Songs-Fighting/dp/B0046X7T7Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409001141&sr=8-3&keywords=oscar+brand). (Still alive, BTW, at 94.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/18 "2014-08-25T21:16:01Z")
Please pardon the hijack. > [@enipla](#): > > “Airplane” - The Roaches. > > Great song by a not very well known trio of Sisters. [Might be more well known than you think (1:16 - 10:17).](http://tu.tv/videos/tiny-toons-adventures-new-character-da) This thread shall now resume its original heading. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/19 "2014-08-25T21:18:40Z")
This Flight Tonight, Joni Mitchell (Or Nazareth, if you prefer.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/20 "2014-08-25T21:27:37Z")
Tom Paxton has “I Lost My Heart on a 747” and “Thank You Republic Airlines” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500.md?page=2)