Why try? I know why
The feeling inside me says it's time I was gone
Clear head, new life ahead
It's time I was king now, not just one more pawn

Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend

Moon rise, thoughtful eyes
Staring back at me from the window beside
No fright or hindsight
Leaving behind that empty feeling inside

Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend, wow

Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend

Start a new chapter
Find what I'm after
It's changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away

Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lone hand
My life begins today

Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend

Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend


Lyrics submitted by Bruiser

Fly by Night Lyrics as written by Neil Elwood Peart Gary Lee Weinrib

Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Fly By Night song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    OMG if I hear one more comparison of Rush and Coheed and Cambria I think I may shoot someone! The two bands are nothing alike. Rush=one of the best bands in rock history...while Coheed and Cambria= posers...I mean they have a song called "2113" for gods sake...how originial rolls eyes I can't make fun of people who like Coheed and Cambria b/c we all have out different tastes in music...but to actually go and compare them to Rush...its like saying Pink Floyd sounds like Good Charlotte...or The Beatles compared to 50 Cent

    Rush and Coheed Cambria don't deserve to be in the same state at the same time...they are two completely different bands...

    I honestly think Rush has one of the greatest lyrics of all time...they are so deep and actually mean something...they are about life, society, literature, movies, and there are a few that cover love...and the instrumentals...Neil Peart is the best drummer ever...I don't see any contenders for Coheed and Cambria

    Sorry....I know this is for Fly By Night...but it makes me really mad when people go and compare a classic band to a new band that will probably not make more then 4-5 hit songs...or even 1 or 2 hit albums...

    Hey...I may be wrong...Coheed and Cambria could make it really big...and 20 years later people are still talking about how much they rock...but bottom line is they don't sound like Rush...their lyrics cant even compare to Rush....and they will never be Rush...

    Anyways...For "Fly By Night" what a great Rush song...its one of my favorites...its about changing your life...starting over...perhaps erasing your past...I like the line "It's time I was king now not just one more pawn" I think we all feel like that...worthless...helpless...useless...like a Pawn...just like the common people or everyone else....everyone dreams to be recognized like a king

    its a very catchy song...it always gets stuck in my head

    steel07on March 20, 2006   Link

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