Flying

Album: Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • All four Beatles are credited with writing this song. It was the first song where composer credits were shared by the whole group.
  • This was the first instrumental song by The Beatles to be published by EMI. It was also the only Beatles instrumental released on Parlophone Records, their British label. They had recorded an instrumental for Rubber Soul called "12-Bar Original" in 1965, which went un-released.
  • The Beatles used this in their movie Magical Mystery Tour.
  • This is one of the few Beatles songs featuring the Mellotron, which was played by John Lennon. Others are "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "I am the Walrus." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for all above
  • The original title was "Aerial Tour Instrumental." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Morgan - Fargo, ND

Comments: 24

  • Linc from Beaumont, TxDoes this remind anyone else of Cake? :)
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Moseriously trippy stuff....i sometimes find myself needing a break when listening to magical mystery tour songs- you get a bit too high, ya know? but seriously, who would ever need drugs with these songs around?!
  • Eric from Buffalo, NyI really like this song. The video in Magical Mystery Tour is very cool too...fits the song perfectly. So many different colors and such. Why did the BBC air the movie in black and white!?!?
  • Marshall from Grand Rapids, MiSorry for the two typos I made...(uhhh im such a klutz)
  • Marshall from Grand Rapids, MiSORRY FOR THE TYPO DOWN BELOW...
  • Marshall from Grand Rapids, MiI agree the this instrumental is very trippy...and thats why its my favorite!
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiKrista, it's called an instrumental, for a reason.
  • Nicole from Lake Forest, Cathis is a really catchy instrumental song. It sounds weird, but i've got it caught in my head a lot. Trippy and pretty.
  • Tyler from Lakewood, CaCorrection Alan from Baltimore. Dig It and Maggie Mae were also credited to John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
  • Dave from Bronx, NyA psychedlic blues instrumental very original concept.
  • Joe from Montvale, NjThis song has acoustic guitar recorded through a Leslie speaker and a backward coda. The tape loops were done by Lennon and Ringo and the song is credited to all the Beatles.
  • Sal from Bardonia , NyIt sounds like the Booker T and the MG'S doing pyschedelic music. It a trippy space rock song with a great backward mellotron ending that sounds like Radiohead copied directly from one there songs.
    Sal,Bardonia,NY
  • Jonathan from Johnstown, Pawierd song, good album.
  • Dirk from Nashville, TnHere's an observation about how unusual this recording is.... It actually consists of two parts--the melodic musical part (the "real" part), and then the sort of dreamy fade-out. Here's the part you've probably never noticed: Next time you're listening to it on CD with a CD player that displays the time, notice exactly when the "real" part of the song ends and the dreamy fade-out begins. They are almost the same length, almost second for second. In other words, that trippy floaty ending is as important a piece of the recording as the "real" part of the song.
  • Jordan from Wimette, IlI was listening to jimi hendrex while listening to 'flying' and I think I heard All you need is love
  • Jordan from Wimette, IlIT'S NOT JUST AN INSTRUMENTAL!!!!! (The lyrics are AHHHHH, AHHHHH)
  • Jordan from Wimette, IlIT'S NOT JUST AN INSTRUMENTAL!!!!! (The lyrics are AHHHHH, AHHHHH
  • Nick from Solvang, CaThis songs cool, but it's strange too...
  • Carissa from La Mirada, CaPaula what are you smoking? It is very trippy tho. I like it
  • Paula-mersey from TÃ?mperley, ArgentinaThis song sounds really incredible!It reminds me to an imaginary fly were we can see a
    moulticoloured sky,with clouds made of
    stars.Very psicodelic,isn´t it?'
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Scare you kidding Mike? The Beatles did a lot of trippy songs. tis one is pretty trippy though.
  • Alan from New Baltimore, MiI think the only other song credited to all four Beatles was "Free As A Bird".
  • Mike from London, EnglandThis is one trippy song, full od mystery and strangeness. I always imagine the end to be a bird's wings flapping with church bells in the background.
  • Tyson from Ruidoso, NmNot bad for an instrumental.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.