# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/41 "2014-08-26T06:26:06Z")
Dwight Yokum - 1000 Miles \*Runway four, flight 209 Teardrop falls, we start to climb This window seat proved a poor choice It shows the dream that’s been destroyed A little baby starts to cry Hey, I would too, if not for pride I owe so much to pride, it’s true It brought an end to me and you But if I could, I’d turn around Set my feet back on the ground 'Cause all this plane ride holds for me Is a thousand miles of misery\* [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJYC2aT-ArQ) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/42 "2014-08-26T06:32:36Z")
Can’t find a link, but Dr. Demento used to play a great song by Mark Silverman called “There’s a Baby On the Plane.” I can relate. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/43 "2014-08-26T06:33:07Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > [Shut Your Mouth and Get Your Ass On The Plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8sHQWqUA-E) by the Drive-By Truckers, from their “Southern Rock Opera” album about an ill-fated, Lynyrd Skynyrd-type band. > > “When it comes your time to go, ain’t no good way to go about it > Ain’t no use in thinking bout it > You’ll just drive yourself insane > There comes a time for everything > And the time has come for you to shut your mouth and get your ass on the plane” Beat me to it. _Southern Rock Opera_ is actually about Lynyrd Skynyrd. > [@](#): > > A double album covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. > **[Southern Rock Opera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Rock_Opera)** > > Southern Rock Opera is the third studio album by the American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released in 2001. A double album covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 1970s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The record was originally self-released on Soul Dump Records. The album was re-released on July 16, 2002 by Lost Highway Records. The album was financed by is... “Greenville to Baton Rouge” and “Angels and Fuselage” from the same album are also references to the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/44 "2014-08-26T07:07:54Z")
[Silver Bird](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVv0EGiY7k4) by Mark Lindsay Do songs by Jefferson Airplane count? ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/45 "2014-08-26T07:17:59Z")
[From a Window Seat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH8Jjz6PRYk) by Dawes \*I buckle in my seat belt, plug my headset in a chair And to the music, I watch flight attendants move They are pointing out the exits, but it looks more like a prayer Or an ancient dance their bloodline reaches through These planes are built for sifting through the warriors from the men I’ve got time to sit and watch them for a while You can see everywhere they’re going, everywhere they’ve been And how they look out at the clouds each time they smile\* ---
**Author:** ![Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hook)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/46 "2014-08-26T12:31:32Z")
**Arlo Guthrie** doing “Coming Into Los Angeles” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NzrkDGxZexA/hqdefault.jpg "Arlo Guthrie - Coming Into Los Angeles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrkDGxZexA) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/47 "2014-08-26T13:22:54Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Do songs by Jefferson Airplane count? Well, at least one should count- [Planes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0gnnVcOLNc) from [their reunion album](http://www.amazon.com/Jefferson-Airplane/dp/B0000026UJ/ref=sr_1_19?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1409059320&sr=1-19&keywords=jefferson+airplane) released in 1989. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/48 "2014-08-26T13:40:40Z")
“Home and Dry,” by Gerry Rafferty: \*This silver bird take me 'cross the sky Just one more hour and I’ll be home and dry ‘Cross the ocean, way above the clouds, I come stealin’ \* ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/49 "2014-08-26T14:03:22Z")
[Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YP3pIPp8P8), Danny O’keefe > [@](#): > > Some caught a freight, some caught a plane; > Find the sunshine, leave the rain. [Four Strong Winds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YP3pIPp8P8), Ian Fricker (Ian & Sylvia) > [@](#): > > If I get there before the snow flies, > And if things are going good, > You could meet me if I send you down the fare. Breakfast In America, Supertramp > [@](#): > > Take a jumbo, across the water, > Like to see America ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/50 "2014-08-26T14:28:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “Airplane” - The Roaches. > > Great song by a not very well known trio of Sisters. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Please pardon the hijack.[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. Additional (apologetic) hijack: “Airplane” was written and performed by Indigo Girls, with the Roches (no “a”) singing backup harmonies. Continue– ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/51 "2014-08-26T14:56:16Z")
For something a bit more recent than most of the above suggestions, try “Landing in London” by 3 Doors Down. ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/52 "2014-08-26T14:57:56Z")
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer Written in 1943, performed by Ry Cooder among others, including Bing Crosby. “With our one motor gone We can still carry on Coming in on a wing and a prayer” Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight Written in 1937, performed by Kinky Friedman and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band among others. There’s a beautiful, beautiful field Far away in a land that is fairs Happy landings to you, Amelia Earhart Fare thee well, First Lady of the air". ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/53 "2014-08-26T15:04:34Z")
_Promised Land_ by **Elvis** and many others Working on a T-bone steak a la carte Flying over to the golden state Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes He would set us at the terminal gate Swing low chariot come down easy Taxi to the terminal zone Cut your engines and cool your wings And let me make it to the telephone Also the entire _On Air_ album by **Alan Parsons** > **[On Air (Alan Parsons album)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Air_(Alan_Parsons_album))** > > On Air is the second solo studio album by English rock musician Alan Parsons. The album's chief creative force was the Alan Parsons Project's long-time guitarist, Ian Bairnson. Its concept revolves around the history of airborne exploration. > Musically, this album is somewhat different from Try Anything Once and the Alan Parsons Project albums, opting for more of a soft rock sound and a more stable band line-up rather than the funky rhythms, symphonic flares, or rotating vocalists of the past.... ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/54 "2014-08-26T15:58:31Z")
_Learning to Fly_ - Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and Nick Mason are both pilots. The song certainly describes flying, but is really a metaphor on Gilmour’s feelings as the new band leader after Roger Waters’ departure. _Booming and Zooming_ by the Tom Tom Club seems to be about a bad day as a test pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/55 "2014-08-26T17:48:52Z")
Probably not what you want to be thinking about, but there’s the great [“Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN3HTdndZec) by Woody Guthrie, performed here by Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harris. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/56 "2014-08-27T23:28:47Z")
“[Break My Mind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejo7TivCqA)”… another song about my baby getting on a plane and leaving me. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/57 "2014-08-28T00:07:14Z")
“Take A Picture” by Filter [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h8MAHQhKe7Q/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWCg_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLBlhCRLTNKY7ctEi1EpsY_P3zOolQ "Filter - Take A Picture (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8MAHQhKe7Q) ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/58 "2014-08-28T23:31:08Z")
Up, Up and Away! In my beautiful baloon –The 5th Dimension …\*Up, Up, and Away \* Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane Ain’t got time to take a fast train –The Box Tops …_The Letter_ I’m Learning to Fly But I ain’t got wings Comin’ Down Is the Hardest thing –Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers) …_Learning to Fly_ Up we go Into the wild blue yonder Flying High Into the sky –[Sousa?] …[WWII Air Force march] Cool the Engines! Slow this rocket down Cool the Engines! Enough to Take a Look Around –Boston …_Cool The Engines_ How long have I been running for that morning flight Through the whispered promises and the changing light Of the bed where we both lie Late for the sky –Jackson Browne …_Late for the Sky_ And as my plane is touching down Will I still belong In the arms that held my life? Or have I stayed away to long? –Survivor …_Runway Lights_ I’m burnin’ through the skies yeah Two hundred degrees That’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit I’m trav’ling at the speed of light I wanna make a supersonic man out of you –Queen …_Don’t Stop Me Now_ Meet me halfway Across the sky Out where the world belongs To only you and I Meet me halfway Across the sky Make this a new beginning of another life. –Kenny Loggins …_Meet Me Halfway_ –G! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/59 "2014-08-28T23:31:16Z")
**This one** should be instantly recognizable to anyone who’s ever seen a Bugs Bunny cartoon: Not pop songs, but two of the most kick-ass movie themes ever: And one for its nostalgia value: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbyOFKmFORM) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500/60 "2014-08-29T00:08:57Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > Up we go > Into the wild blue yonder > Flying High > Into the sky > –[Sousa?] > …[WWII Air Force march] Robert MacArthur Crawford wrote this in 1938. It was originally called “Army Air Corps,” and was renamed “Air Force Song” in 1947 when the Air Force became a separate service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-air-travel-and-airplane-culture/696500.md?page=4)