Fly Like An Eagle

by

The Steve Miller Band

Album: Fly Like An Eagle     Released: 1976

US Chart: 2     

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

The Steve Miller Band is often considered a Jam Band, and Miller gives this song as an example why. In a 2008 interview to promote his Live In Chicago DVD, he said: "'Fly Like An Eagle' is always about 12 minutes long (in concert). We have always built our recordings so they have room for spontaneity. My Jazz and Blues influence is what started us as a Jam Band originally. 'Fly Like An Eagle' was developed over a period of time as a jam. To me it's much more interesting to see a musician be spontaneous than it is to see someone perform perfectly something they do note for note the same way every night."

The song begins with a 1:14 instrumental section called "Space Intro" on the original 1976 album, which made the whole piece two separate tracks. On some Greatest Hits releases, it shows up as one song. Some radio stations play both "Space Intro" and "Fly Like An Eagle" as one song. (thanks, Jim - Oxnard, CA)

The guitar work was cloned from earlier Steve Miller song, "My Dark Hour." (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL)

The synthesizer used for "Space Intro" was purchased by Miller at a local music store, reported to be "The trashiest synthesizer in the store", and costing only $190. (thanks, Justen - San Jose, CA)

Seal covered this, incorporating a bit of his hit "Crazy" in the lyrics. His version was used in the 1996 movie Space Jam, starring Michael Jordan. Seal's cover reached #13 in the UK and #10 in the US.

The US Postal Service used this in some of their commercials. Their logo is an eagle.

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Comments:

An easy song to get lost in. Fact is the whole album is/was a tremendous work of art
- Billy , West Unity, OH

this song is awsome..come on everyone knows it is just flat out great. who agrees?
- William , Pheonix, AZ

This song isn't about doing drugs or tripping out. Its about helping people and reaching higher heights by feeling good about benefiting others. You have to be more open minded about things, not everything is about drugs.
- Christian , Charlotte, NC

I also like the space intro.They also used Seal's Fly Like an Eagle for Space Jam with Michael Jordan.
- Jennifer Harris , Grand Blanc, MI

I like both Steve Miller band and Seal's,but I like Seal's better.
- Jennifer Harris , Grand Blanc, MI

Steve Miller had been rockin hard since the sixties. He was now realizing that the important things of life are not just that you are rich and famous. It's is not about the getting, but what is to be done with it!
- ptheoc , Tulsa, OK

is this song about drugs ???????????? maybe , just maybe its a song about , soaring to new heights , reaching new endeavours , striving to be the best you can ...... just maybe
- pete , nowra, Australia

Gees! Some of you people gotta get off that druggie mind-set where you would find criptic references to drugs in church hymns!
- BobPape , Austin, TX

This song is definatly about being high
- Evan , Boston, MA

just to clear things up, space intro and threshold, are two totally different things.
- Hannah , Modesto, CA

Actually, I think that the "space intro" is called "Threshold"
- Tom , East Lyme, CT

I think this song is both about drugs and about revolution/reform. Time keeps on slippin' seems like an acid trip. But Fly on through the revolution, and the talk of feeding babies and houseing people on the street is saying theres a better way to do things than the current political system.
- Nate , PW

I think it's about the hippie lifestyle (a combination of what you guys are saying). Many Steve Miller songs were about hippies. This is a great song, Steve Millers best. Love the intro w/ synth.
- Johnny , Los Angeles, CA

The song has nothing to do with drugs and the synthesizer was a cheap little toy. You can check my interviews with Steve on several OFF The RECORD programs. He learned his first guitar chords from Les Paul and learned his songwriting and performance crafts from the greatest bluesmen of the 50s & 60s.
- Joe , Los Angeles, CA

You don't have to be on drugs, just kinda relaxed, almost asleep to feel the effects of this song. It almost feels like you're flying through space.
- Patrick , Tallapoosa, GA

Still waiting for the corroborative source of proof that this song is about anything except the unfulfilled needs of society...feeding hungry babies, housing homeless people, get shoes for barefoot children.
- Leah , Brooklyn, NY

For your information the song IS about drugs. Before you go saying it isn't do some research.
- Alex , Watertucky, MI

The synth in this song sounds like something out of Super Mario.
- Alex , Fort Mill, SC

I'm sure this song is about drugs. Tobacco, aspirin, Coors....you name it.
- rob , vancouver, Canada

Yeah, it's a spirit song, I never took LSD, but I'm pretty sure your spirit doesn't carry you
- John , Boston, MA

I've always thought this song was about the eradication of poverty, and how we should act today to "feed the babies," etc. instead of wait for some later date, because we've allowed so much time to pass already without solving the problem.
- Sam , Champaign, IL

God! Some people think that every song has to be about drugs! This one definitely isn't! It's more of a spritual song to me.
- Stefanie magura , Rock Hill, SC

Do you people see a drug reference in every song???? Slippin'into the future is just a poetic descrition of what time does. Come off it, please.
- Martijn , Helmond, Netherlands

this song is about an acid trip. the line "time keeps on slippin..." describes the effects on lsd during its later stages.
- zain , richmond, Canada

the neville brothers have an excellent version of this song
- jordan , springfeild, AR

One of the most spaced out synth's were used in this song.
- Jason , monterrey, Mexico

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