The Airport Song

Album: The Preflyte Sessions (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to Roger McGuinn, this song, recorded in 1964, was written in tribute to the times when he and David Crosby would hang out at the airport to watch airplanes take off. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sean - Chicago, IL

Comments: 2

  • Roman from Barrie, Onif you want some classic David Crosby, latch onto his album titled "Oh yes I can" where he does solo work, often backed by members of CSN&Y as well as other artists.
  • Kevin from Reading , PaThis is really a pretty remarkable song, especially when you consider how early on it was recorded. Crosby does a great lead vocal and the singing is very moody, almost jazz. Interestingly, this was recorded during the "Prefylye" sessions in '64 that precluded the Byrds' first album release, Mr. Tambourine Man. Despite a great lead vocal on this, Crosby was not afforded a lead vocal on either of the group's first two albums, though is omnipresent through his harmony singing. Jim (later Roger) Mcguinn and Gene Clark took all the lead vocals on the first two albums. With Clark's departure during the "Fifth Dimension" sessions in '66, room opened up for Crosby to sing "Hey Joe" and "What's Happening." By the fourth album Crosby had four or five lead vocals, and was on the verge of taking over the group from McGuinn during the "Notorious Byrd Brothers" sessions when he was fired by McGuinn and Chris Hillman. Crosby, of course, had the last laugh, going on to bigger fame and fortune with Nash, Stills and occasionally, Young.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.