Fly Away by John Denver

Album: Windsong (1975)

Charted: 13

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This gentle ballad was one of John Denver's bigger hits when his career was at his peak. It's a song about loneliness and the longing to escape from it, which is what the title refers to.
Olivia Newton-John sang backup on this one. She and Denver were both huge stars and controversial figures in the country music community, where they each had some big hits but weren't always accepted. Before she contributed to this song, Olivia appeared on one of Denver's TV specials.

"I loved Olivia's contribution - she has a really lovely voice," Denver's producer, Milt Okun, said. "That made a pretty song even prettier."
Denver was an avid amateur pilot, and he died when the plane he was flying crashed on October 12, 1997, in Pacific Grove, California. Reports indicate that Denver didn't have enough fuel in his main tank when he left the airport, and probably hit the right rudder when he tried to switch to the backup tank, crashing into the Pacific ocean. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
"Fly Away" was a #1 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart, one of nine in Denver's career. It's part of his Windsong album, which includes two other AC chart-toppers: "I'm Sorry" and "Looking For Space."

Comments: 11

Robert D. from New JerseyI heard this on 1050 WHN. On the AM Radio. I was in 5th or 6th grade. Then I seen the Christmas special and didn't go to school the next day. I listened for the song and recorded it on my cassette tape recorder. I listened to that many times. Thankyou..
Annie Pink Eagle from Holland, MichiganThe knowing I’ve come to realize about our country and what we did and didn’t do to get The Land has caused me to identify with these words. “No one as lonely as she”

The art I now do is an expression of transforming my deep aloneness into seashells and gentle animals of polymer clay. Expressing the Essence of Nature in a minimalist format. John knew about aloneness. There were no others. We both share the wisdom within the song Eagles and Horses (I’m flying again). The Red and White People of America United.

Why I call myself Pink Eagle. The Red and White in me at Peace.
Spurwing Plover from Etna CaBirds are lucky they can fly away and fly wherever they want no walls, fences, property lines or borders stop them. Therefore opposing border wall claiming it would stop wildlife from migration is idiotic.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1976 {January 4th} John Denver's "Fly Away"*, featuring Olivia Newton-John, peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top 50 Easy Listening Tracks chart, then for the following two weeks "Let It Shine/""He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by Olivia Newton-John was in the #1 position, and then "Fly Away" regained the #1 position for one more week...
And the rest of the Top 10 on the Easy Listening Tracks chart for January 4th, 1976:
At #2. "Somewhere In The Night" by Helen Reddy
#3. "Let It Shine"/"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by Olivia Newton -John
#4. "Stardust" by Johnny Mathis
#5. "Breakin' Up Is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka
#6. "Times of Your Life" by Paul Anka {Last week's #1 record}
#7. "Baby Face" by Wing & A Prayer Pipe & Drum Corps
#8. "Theme from 'Star Trek'" by Charles Randolph Grean Sounde
#9. "I Write The Songs" by Barry Manilow
#10. "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.)" by Glen Campbell
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department; "Fly Away" was a track from Mr. Denver's 'Windsong' album, and the day "Fly Away" peaked at #1, the album 'Windsong' was also at #1 on Billboard's Best-Selling Rock Albums chart...
Stephanie from Straya This song is one of those amazing ones he wrote that really helped me to understand strange emotions, it really is a wonderful gift to be able to have such feelings and words and put them into a beautiful and gentle song. It is one thing to feel and think but to be able to put those thoughts and emotions into song like he did is truly a marvellous talent.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaCarolyn yes John wrote Leaving On a Jet Plane.
Barry from Sauquoit, Ny"Fly Away" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart on December 6th 1975; and on that very same day Olivia Newton-John also entered the Top 100 chart with "Let It Shine"...
"Fly Away" peaked at #13 (for 2 weeks) on January 18th, 1976 and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100; while "Let It Shine" reached #30 (for 2 weeks) on January 11th, 1976 and stayed on the chart for 9 weeks...
R.I.P. Mr. Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., (1943 - 1997) and Ms. Newton-John celebrated her 65th birthday three months ago on September 26th, 2013.
Carolyn from Knoville, TnDidn't John Denver write "Leaving on a Jet Plane?" I think Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded it. I always liked this song--I thought he and Olivia Newton John had a beautiful sound together.
Skyforme from Va;;ey Center, CaSuch a lovely, sad song. "Where are my days, where are my nights, where is the Spring?" What lonley person did not wonder this?
No one did such, deep thought provoking songs like John Denver did. He loved flying and the sea, (as do I) and died in both. I miss him.

Olivia, you are lovely too and thanks for keeping John's memory alive.
Micky from Los Angeles, CaFor some, like myself, it's hard to choose a John Denver favorite...but this one is up there near the top of the list.
Charles from Charlotte, NcActually this is more of a duet.
The title is ironic, considering the way Denver died (in an airplane).

see more comments

More Songfacts:

AngieThe Rolling Stones

"Angie" was the only ballad by The Rolling Stones to hit #1 in America.

American PieDon McLean

The only cover of "American Pie" to chart is by Madonna, whose 2000 version was a minor hit in America but went to #1 in the UK.

Papa Don't PreachMadonna

Madonna didn't write "Papa Don't Preach," which deals with abortion. What drew her to the song was the singer standing up to male authority.

Girl, You'll Be A Woman SoonNeil Diamond

Neil Diamond got a big boost in 1994 when Urge Overkill's cover of his song 'Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" was used in the movie Pulp Fiction. His catalog sales ramped up, and suddenly he was cool.

Whip ItDevo

Devo got the idea for their "Whip It" video from an article about a guy who owned a dude ranch and charged people to watch him remove his wife's clothes with a bullwhip.

Dancing In The DarkBruce Springsteen

Before she was famous on Friends, Courteney Cox danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing In The Dark" video.