B-side "Best I Can" Format 7" single Length 3:20 | Released May 1975 (1975-05) Genre Progressive pop Label Mercury | |
"Fly by Night" is the title track of Rush's second album. The music was written by bassist Geddy Lee and the lyrics were penned by drummer Neil Peart. Peart wrote this song about his first trip away from home. In 1971, at 18 years old, he left behind his small-town Canadian life and flew to England. This was a major turning point in his life. Lee sings the lead vocals and on the song's middle eight, his voice is fed through a Leslie speaker.
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It was released as a single in May 1975. It marked the first time a single by the band was also released in markets outside Canada. "Fly by Night" is their highest-selling single to date, regularly seen on Top 10 radio spin charts in the category of classic rock. It was certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA as of June 9, 2009.
Peart wrote a prologue that is not in the song: "airport scurry / flurry faces / parade of passers-by / people going many places / with a smile or just a sigh / waiting, waiting, pass the time / another cigarette / get in line, gate thirty-nine / the time is not here yet."
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Use in the media
Rock Band music gaming platform
It was made available to download on December 13, 2011, for play in Rock Band 3 Basic, and PRO mode which utilizes real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals.