Fly by Night (Rush song)

"Fly by Night" is the title track of Rush's second album. The music was written by bassist Geddy Lee and the lyrics were penned by drummer Neil Peart. Peart wrote this song about his first trip away from home. In 1971, at 18 years old, he left behind his small-town Canadian life and flew to England. This was a major turning point in his life. Lee sings the lead vocals and on the song's middle eight, his voice is fed through a Leslie speaker.

"Fly by Night"
Cover of the 1975 Netherlands single
Single by Rush
from the album Fly by Night
B-side	"Anthem" / "Best I Can" (NL)
Released	April 1975 (1975-04)
Format	7" single
Genre	Hard rock[1]
Length	3:20
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Geddy Lee Neil Peart
Producer(s)	Rush Terry Brown
Rush singles chronology
"In the Mood" (1974) "Fly by Night" (1975) "Making Memories" (1975)

It was released as a single in April 1975, becoming a minor hit in their native Canada (No. 45). Of note is that it marked the first time a single by the band was released in markets other than the US or Canada, being released in Australia and The Netherlands, but failed to chart in both countries. [2]

Peart wrote a prologue that is not in the song: "airport scurry / flurry faces / parade of passers-by / people going many places / with a smile or just a sigh / waiting, waiting, pass the time / another cigarette / get in line, gate thirty-nine / the time is not here yet."[3]

In late 1976, the song was released as a single a second time, in a live medley with "In the Mood" from the band's live album All the World's a Stage. This version became the band's first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100, charting at No. 88.