Flyin' High

Album: La Futura (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This track from ZZ Top's 15th studio album got its initial public airing high above the Earth. NASA astronaut and friend of the band, Michael Fossum, played it en route to the International Space Station abroad the Russian Soyuz craft. "We figured it'd be the perfect song to pass along to the astronauts," guitarist Billy Gibbons told Mojo magazine.
  • Gibbons and bass player Dusty Hill are renowned for their chest-length beards, and another famous bearded figure was involved in the production of this song along with the rest of the album: Rick Rubin. "The thing about Rick is he pushes the artists to spend time reaching down deeper than they normally would." Gibbons told Mojo.

Comments: 1

  • Rokfan from Outer SpaceCould be about using drugs as there are a ton of close references. High heel cowboy boots would maybe refer to a needle. Never being satisfied (dependence). Flyin' high. Bone dry and waiting to die ( needing the next fix) Jimi said Kiss the sky (a reference to Billy's friend and mentor who died of an overdose. So there's that . .

    I prefer to think of the more conventional approach of a guy who just has an extremely rocky love life . . Disappointment and heart break are the event dejur' and while he feels it might be worth "one more try". Maybe hooking up with a girl that like so many times before, is just too good to be true, and maybe too young for this old rascal.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.