When I got back home I found a message on the door
Sweet Regina's gone to China cross legged on the floor
Of a burning jet that's smoothly flying
Burning airlines give you so much more

How does she intend to live when she's in far Cathay
I somehow can't imagine her just planting rice all day
Maybe she will do a bit of spying
With micro cameras hidden in her hair

I guess regina's on a plane a Newsweek on her knees
While miles below the curlews call from strangely stunted trees
The painted sage sits just as though he's flying
Regina's jet disturbs his wispy beard

When you reach Kyoto send a postcard if you can
And please convey my fond regards to Chihhao's girl Yu-lan
I heard a rumor they were getting married
But someone left the papers in Japan

Left them in Japan


Lyrics submitted by thither

Burning Airlines Give You So Much More Lyrics as written by Brian Eno

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Burning Airlines Give You So Much More song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I can't believe nobody has commented this song! It's one of my favorite's from Eno, and has a great rhythm do it. Very innovative; I love it.

    Although I'm not entirely sure what the message is that Eno's trying to get across.

    DJDangerJonason July 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    there's probably nothing to take from "I guess Regina's on the plane, a Newsweek on her knees...", but I just like the idea that the narrator's guessed that Regina's probably on the plane, and then proceeds to tell all the incidental details to her fact of being on the plane

    eleventyon October 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Eno lyric = message??

    what a futile endeavour.

    he went into music. if he'd wanted to send messages, well there's Western Union.

    foreverdroneon January 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Regina is flying via transcendental meditation (to China).

    peter10769 (Malwurf)on November 30, 2021   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    I’m surprised no one has commented on this before, as another song on “Taking Tiger Mountain by strategy”, The theme of this song is doing drugs… If you are Crossleged on the floor, obviously smoking something (that’s the burning part) and it’s from China and it’s 1974 it’s undoubtedly opium. It’s burning airlines because she’s on a trip, into that dreamy world that is an opium high.

    I like all the songs in this album, and have listened to them since the album was released in 1974. But this one and “the fat lady from Limbourg are my favorite…

    Rexcaton December 27, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Regina refers to Queen Elizabeth II. I think the song is critiquing her trip to Hong Kong in 1975. Most of the stuff is pretty straightforward if you look at it that way. The one thing I don’t get is the burning plane reference. Still pondering that.

    Hovercoaton March 01, 2023   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    QEIIs trip in 1974. The Brits were prepping to give back Hong Kong

    Hovercoaton March 01, 2023   Link

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