Marvin Gaye "Flying High In A Friendly Sky" (1971)

From Marvin's brilliant 1971 album "Whats Going On"

Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)" is a 1971 song co-written and produced by singer Marvin Gaye, later issued as the third track on Marvin's lauded What's Going On album. The song continued in a song cycle that had begun with the previous track, "What's Happening Brother" as quickly after the song ended with the lyric, "Cause I'm slightly behind the time" creating a moody and ominous sound punctuated by the singer's falsetto. Co-written with wife Anna Gordy and confidant Elgie Stover, the song talked about drug addiction, the drug of choice in the song is heroin as explained in the lyric, "I know I'm hooked my friend/to the boy who makes slaves out of men".

Related to the song, numerous Vietnam vets struggled with heroin addiction. Marvin later stated the song title was a ploy at an ad made by American Airlines ironically with the slogan, "flying in the friendly skies". The song would be sampled by several hip-hop musicians. Marvin sings both lead and background vocals on this song.

The song was originally recorded under a slightly different mix a year before as "Sad Tomorrows" which Gaye co-wrote by Fuller Gordy and Delores Wilkinson and featured background vocals by The Originals, with whom had big hits under Gaye's productions. Like the later version of the song, Marvin also sings totally in falsetto. The song also ends faster than the later version and that version was later put in remastered re-issues of What's Going On including the Deluxe Edition issue.



Flying high in the friendly sky
Flying high without ever leavin' the ground, no
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down.
I go the place where danger awaits me
and it's bound to forsake me.
So stupid minded.
I can't help it
oh ya, so stupid minded.
But I go crazy when I can't find it,
In the morning, I'll be alright, my friend.
But soon the night will bring the pains,
The pain, oh the pain
Flying high in the friendly sky
Without ever leaving the ground
And I ain't seen nothing but trouble baby
Nobody really understands, no no
And I go to the place where the good feelin' awaits me
Selfdestruction in my hand
Oh Lord, so stupid minded
Oh and I go crazy when I can't find it
Well I know I'm hooked my friend
To the boy who makes slaves out of men.
And oh beleive me
Flying high in a friendly sky
Oh baby, flyin' high

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marvin
• Gaye
• Whats
• Going
• On
• Soul
• R&B

[MrBangal1]

This is one of those one and only songs that you ever will here. It goes so deep expressing pain and disappointment; but he find peace in something that gives him temporary pain relief; but it slowly become the ultimate enemy.

[CognacLady]

I love this song....this entire album raised the bar for ALL American music....it told the world that music wasnt just for entertainment but it can also be a performer's voice or platform to speak out or make a commentary on issues....it was the most important body of work that Motown released and propelled Marvin Gaye to musical genius level. His stand/position on the war is heard in such a gifted and talented way...

[JustGod7]

ah man marvin

[BOSSDIZ]

CHECK OUT MY MUSIC KING OF CALI WESTSIDE BIG BOSS PLAYER

[LuvHealthNConception]

was marvin astral traveling??? i dig.

[LuvHealthNConception]

@Peejbrah92 euphoric unfortunately most of us will never know hence the reason were here back on marvins tip lol

[1PreciousBarbieQ]

Musical Genius

[Peejbrah92]

I wonder what modern-day music would sound like if artists had continued to make this level of music. We can only wonder...

[thrilladijaq22]

I think this was hi BEST!!!!!!!!!

[Oddity4040]

God, I love this man and his manner of conveying his struggles so poetically