Flying Sorcery Lyrics
This song is practically an eloquent dictionary of pre-jet travel terminology... Kittyhawk, Biplane, Amy J (on whom the song is), Tigermoth, Tarmac, Hangar, Tailwind, Runway Lights, Leather Jacket, Cockpit, Oil drums, Slipstream, Compass, Icarus, Faith+Hope+Charity. Real musical beauty for its unusual melancholic undertone.
This is a tricky one, obviesly she died,(I suppose you never saw the landing-lights) but did he die too? since he was suppose to be with her (And you took me for a ride) "The clouds came up to gather US" either way it is a beautiful song. I believe he died too, but couldnt find her , I'm trying to avoid religious terms like heaven and hell, although clearly using "Faith Hope and Charity" has a strong christian assosciation.
"Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" were the three Gloster Gladiator fighters of the Hal Far flight who alone defended Malta in 1941 until the Hawker Hurricanes arrived.
"Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" were the three Gloster Gladiator fighters of the Hal Far flight who alone defended Malta in 1941 until the Hawker Hurricanes arrived.
Actually, no hidden meanings here. It's Al's 'historical' song-writing. Faith Hope and Charity are a reference to the air unit that protected Malta in WWII. And Amy Johnson was a famous aviator.
http://www.alstewart.com/history/fsorcery.htm
And FWIW the words are compass ROSE, not roads....
But it IS the best song on the album! :-)
The link on Al Stewart's website has changed. The info about Amy Johnson, the inspiration for the song, is now available at http://alstewart.com/publicfiles/HISTORY_fsorcery.htm .
The link on Al Stewart's website has changed. The info about Amy Johnson, the inspiration for the song, is now available at http://alstewart.com/publicfiles/HISTORY_fsorcery.htm .
@waaayback There are many choices for the best on that album. I love most of them.
@waaayback There are many choices for the best on that album. I love most of them.
All Stewart's tribute to Amelia Earnhardt, fame aviation who disappeared while attempting to cross the Atlantic
@anna114295 Not to Amelia Earhart, but, to Amy Johnson. Amy Johnson was the first British woman to fly solo from UK to Australia. She did it with Gipsy Moth, G-AAAH "Jason". Amy Johnson died 1941 in the WWII.
@anna114295 Not to Amelia Earhart, but, to Amy Johnson. Amy Johnson was the first British woman to fly solo from UK to Australia. She did it with Gipsy Moth, G-AAAH "Jason". Amy Johnson died 1941 in the WWII.
@anna114295 Not to Amelia Earhart, but, to Amy Johnson. Amy Johnson was the first British woman to fly solo from UK to Australia. She did it with Gipsy Moth, G-AAAH "Jason". Amy Johnson died 1941 in the WWII.
@anna114295 Not to Amelia Earhart, but, to Amy Johnson. Amy Johnson was the first British woman to fly solo from UK to Australia. She did it with Gipsy Moth, G-AAAH "Jason". Amy Johnson died 1941 in the WWII.
Sorry but there are ome misinterptretations to this amazing song lyrics. "His father, Alastair MacKichan Stewart, who served as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve, died in a plane crash during a 1945 training exercise before Stewart was born." (Wikipedia). I think it is a tribute to his father. -You wrapped me up in a leather coat: a child is wrapped up in clothes. -To gather us: father and son Hope this clarifies the concept a little more.
Al described this as "a breakup song cleverly disguised as a song about airplanes." She left him and went off on her own ("When I looked the sky was empty/I suppose you never saw the landing-lights") but he would take her back in a heartbeat ("Just call me if you ever need repairs").