Airplane
Indigo Girls · Rites Of Passage [1992]
Nearer, my God, to Thee
I start making a deal
inspired by gravity
[inspired by gravity]
If I did wrong I won't do it again
Cause I can be sweet and good and nice
And if I had enemies, they're friends
I hold on to my life with the grip of a vice
And I'm up the airplane
[up on the airplane]
Nearer, my God, to Thee
[nearer my god]
I start making a deal
inspired by gravity
[inspired by gravity]
That little spot on the ground
is my home town
Like to call it my home and it's sweet
I'd rather take a seat down there
than a throne up here
Up above 30,000 feet
And I'm up on the airplane
I never should've read my horoscope
Or the fortune on a bubblegum strip
Saying, "what you think won't happen will"
Great thing to read before a trip
On an airplane
Thought says the
big blue sky's like a swimming pool
Big fluffy cloud's like a feather bed
But I'd rather have a real pillow
underneath my head
Lying in my bed
which is in my hometown
which is on the ground
Far from an airplane
[My bed, my hometown]
Far from an airplane
[on the ground. My bed, my hometown,]
Far from an airplane
[on the ground. My bed, my hometown,]
On the airplane
[on the ground]
[I'll be making a deal]
I'm up on the airplane
[on the ground]
[I'll be making a deal]
On the airplane
[I'll be making a deal]
[I'll be making a deal]
[I'll be making a deal]
Airplane - Indigo Girls
Released on the 1992 album Rites Of Passage, "Airplane" stands as a defining track in the indie-folk canon, showcasing the Indigo Girls' signature blend of acoustic intimacy and social commentary. The song captures the universal anxiety of travel and the fragility of human connection, delivered with a warm, harmonized vocal approach that became central to their early discography. Its enduring popularity stems from its relatable themes and melodic simplicity, allowing it to resonate across generations. As a staple of their catalog, the recording exemplifies the era's shift toward authentic, singer-songwriter narratives, cementing the duo's reputation for crafting music that is both personally expressive and broadly accessible.