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While we are kicking our heels waiting for our new

WOFF postings to come through...

 

It's a dark and tragic tale (for my neighbours), but

when not flying in OFF or embroiled in the mundane

duties of chez RamblingSid, I am a "music hobbyist".

 

I was moping around the other day thinking abt the

great, but sadly late, Doc Watson and listening to

Deep River Blues when, by a wandering and

convoluted path, I stumbled upon Glider, by the

equally great and sadly late Captain Beefheart.

 

Great song imo. Although I am not a pilot it seems

to capture some of the terror/wonder of flying.

 

Do you have a favourite piece of music abt flying ?

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I was just thinking about this recently, RamblingSid, thanks for the link. My favorite flying tune is definitely Flying Sorcery by Al Stewart, on his Year of the Cat album produced and engineered by Alan Parsons. Here are the lyrics:

 

With your photographs of Kitty Hawk

And the biplanes on your wall

You were always Amy Johnson

From the time that you were small.

No schoolroom kept you grounded

While your thoughts could get away

You were taking off in Tiger Moths

Your wings against the brush-strokes of the day

 

Are you there?

On the tarmac with the winter in your hair

By the empty hangar doors you stop and stare

Leave the oil-drums behind you, they won't care

Oh, are you there?

 

Oh, you wrapped me up in a leather coat

And you took me for a ride

We were drifting with the tail-wind

When the runway came in sight

The clouds came up to gather us

And the cockpit turned to white

When I looked the sky was empty

I suppose you never saw the landing-lights

 

Are you there?

In your jacket with the grease-stain and the tear

Caught up in the slipstream of dare

The compass roads will guide you anywhere,

Oh, are you there?

 

The sun comes up on Icarus as the night-birds sail away

And lights the maps and diagrams

That Leonardo makes

You can see Faith, Hope and Charity

As they bank above the fields

You can join the Flying Circus

You can touch the morning air against your wheels

 

Are you there?

Do you have a thought for me that you can share?

Oh I never thought you'd take me unawares

Just call me if you ever need repairs

Oh, are you there?

You know that in the air and not on a string feeling that's the difference between a flight simulator and arcade? Stuart Elliot's drums do that. Give it a listen in HD.

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I was just thinking about this recently, RamblingSid, thanks for the link. My favorite flying tune is definitely Flying Sorcery by Al Stewart, on his Year of the Cat album produced and engineered by Alan Parsons. Here are the lyrics:

 

 

You know that in the air and not on a string feeling that's the difference between a flight simulator and arcade? Stuart Elliot's drums do that. Give it a listen in HD.

 

 

"Fields of France" by Al Stewart:

His flying jacket still has her perfume

Memories of the night

Play across his mind

High above the fields of France

 

A single biplane in a clear blue sky

1917, no enemy was seen

High above the fields of France

 

Oh she looks

But there's nothing to see

Still she looks

Saying come back to me

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/al_stewart/fields_of_france.html ]

He tells her just remember me this way

Fore here am I more true

Than anything I do

High above the fields of France

 

Oh she looks

Though he'll never come back

And the letter that came

Was bordered in black

 

She'll find somebody else

But not forget

Leaving her regrets

Like vapour trails of jets

High above the fields of France

 

 

 

and "Immelman Turn" also by Al Stewart:

 

I always was the reckless kind, I do what I must do

I put the danger out of mind, and go on

I joined the barnstorm fliers back in 1922

And above those dusty farms , we put a shw on

Fly, fly to the western sky

Where the fog bank shifts and the danger lies

Why, why would you never learn

That you won't come back from the Immelman Turn?

Fly, fly to the red sunrise

Where the cloudbanks shift under copper skies

Why, why would you never learn

That you won't come back from the Immelman Turn?

From aboard a Curtiss Jenny, oh, you see things differently

And the farm boys wait for joyrides in the clearing

I went out walking on the wing in 1923

And above the engine noise I heard them cheering

repeat chorus

You won't come back from the Immelman Turn

Why, why, why?

You won't come back from the Immelman Turn

Why, why, why?

There never was a one like you

Who knew that way to fly

But you won't come back from the Immelman Turn

Why, why, why?

The frost was on your aieleron's, and the wind was in your hair

When you went into the climb I saw you laughing

When the engine stalls and you start to spin

You won't get out of there

And a hush comes on the crowd as you go falling

 

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Not so much the flying part, but flying into battle...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDgODBhdYzM

 

 

It was used as the soundtrack to We were Soldiers, but it's feet are firmly placed in the trenches of WW1. It was written and sung by Joseph Kilna Mackenzie lamenting his great grand father, Sgt. Charles Stuart Mackenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders who was killed during WWI. There's a story goes that when Sgt MacKenzie was killed, at the same instant, his picture had fallen from the wall back at home, and his wife had known at once that he'd fallen. Joseph said "My great grandmother looked, and said to my grandmother "Oh, my bonnie Charlie's dead". Saddly it was true. He'd been killed by a bayonette, standing over the body of a wounded friend and comrade.

 

 

 

 

 

Edit -

Scottish:

Lay me doon in the cauld cauld groond

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the cauld cauld groond

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

 

When they come a wull staun ma groond

Staun ma groond al nae be afraid

 

Thoughts o' hame tak awa ma fear

Sweat an bluid hide ma veil o' tears

 

Ains a year say a prayer faur me

Close yir een an remember me

 

Nair mair more shall a see the sun

For a fell tae a Germans gun

 

Lay me doon in the cauld cauld groond

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the cauld cauld groond

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

 

English-

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

 

When they come I will stand my ground

Stand my ground I'll not be afraid

 

Thoughts of home take away my fear

Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

 

Once a year say a prayer for me

Close your eyes and remember me

 

Never more shall I see the sun

For I fell to a German's gun

 

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Where before many more have gone

Edited by Flyby PC

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I did write a song for the woff credit track, but couldn't find anybody to sing it. If i can find a husky-voiced male then i can release it as a bonus track some time in the future.

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Lyrics:

I see myself a hero

while one wing falls away

and the dial approaches zero

in a spiralling display.

My past life flashes feverishly,

and lives I did not lead,

like the time I was a hero,

of a weird, outlandish breed.

 

One arm of flesh-and muscle

and one of feathered scale

I was a hero with a wing

that was of no avail.

I could only fly in circles

like a corkscrew in the sky,

my one wing flapping frantically

while birds just glided by.

 

I launched myself from mountains

and from the highest trees

although I could get nowhere

and just landed on my knees.

But still I was a hero,

with one wing more than most.

Almost half an Angel;

a whirling holy ghost.

 

My father was an eagle

with two wings wide as sails

my mother was the west wind witch

with grasping finger nails.

She lured him from his aerie

with her twittering device.

She kept him in a golden cage

and fed him field mice.

Edited by UK_Widowmaker

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This one normally gets me in the Flying mood...

 

 

Or failing that one of the following...

 

 

I think I know what the movie for tonight is now as well... The Battle of Britain...

Edited by Slartibartfast

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Superb Mike!...loved it! :lol:

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Hey, thanks gentlemen,

 

and I'll check out the Al Stewart songs.

 

Mike...orrible istories...:rofl:

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I'd like to hear Matt Milnes song he's written, - but with somebody other than me singing it.

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