Learning To Fly
Pink Floyd · A Foot In The Door: The Best Of Pink Floyd [2011]
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reeled
A fatal attraction holding me fast
How can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit, I
Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to find my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone
A soul in tension that's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit, I
Friction lock, set
Mixture, rich
Propellers, fully forward
Flaps, set, 10 degrees
Engine gauges and suction, check
Mixture set to maximum percent, recheck
Altimeters, check both
Navigation lights, on
Strobes, on
Confirm 3-8-Echo ready for departure
Hello again, this is now 129.4
129.4. It's to go.
You may commence your takeoff, winds over 10 knots
3-8-Echo
Easy on the brakes
Take it easy
It's gonna roll this time
Just hand the power gradually, and it...
Above the planet on a wing and a prayer
My grubby halo, a vapor trail in the empty air
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night
There's no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss
Can't keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit, I
Learning To Fly
Released on the 2011 compilation A Foot In The Door, Learning To Fly is a rare studio track by Pink Floyd that stands apart from their iconic rock and progressive rock output. Unlike the band's famous live performances or film soundtracks, this recording captures a more introspective side of the group. The song features the band's signature atmospheric production and melodic sensibilities, showcasing their ability to blend emotional depth with sophisticated musical arrangements. While not part of their major studio albums from the 1970s, it remains a significant piece of their discography, offering listeners a glimpse into the band's creative process outside of their most famous works.