I always thought that Nite Flights might refer to the so-called death flights, a method of killing political activists and opposition members in Central and South America during the civil wars and military dictatorships of that era, namely Colombia (1948-1958), Mexico (1971), Guatemala (1975), Chile (1976), and Argentina (1977-1978).
It is possible that Scott Walker - who was interested in South America at that time (cf. 'The Electrician' on the same album) - came across newspaper reports about the death flights during the making of the album, which was recorded in early 1978.
The lyrics mention people being tricked/trapped ('glass traps open and close on night flights') and falling from planes ('only one promise / only one way to fall') as well as beatings and torture ('the raw meat fist you choke', 'broken necks').
[content warning: violence]
I always thought that Nite Flights might refer to the so-called death flights, a method of killing political activists and opposition members in Central and South America during the civil wars and military dictatorships of that era, namely Colombia (1948-1958), Mexico (1971), Guatemala (1975), Chile (1976), and Argentina (1977-1978).
It is possible that Scott Walker - who was interested in South America at that time (cf. 'The Electrician' on the same album) - came across newspaper reports about the death flights during the making of the album, which was recorded in early 1978.
The lyrics mention people being tricked/trapped ('glass traps open and close on night flights') and falling from planes ('only one promise / only one way to fall') as well as beatings and torture ('the raw meat fist you choke', 'broken necks').