This song is based on the immortal poem “High Flight” by John Magee, an American who joined the RCAF long before Pearl Harbor, trained in Canada, deployed to England, and was killed in a mid-air collision while flying a Spitfire – aged 19.
When I was a Flying Instructor in the 70s, I worked with a man from that generation, George Wolfe. He died in about 2005, and I was asked to sing something at his funeral. George idolized aviation, and I could think of no better tribute than to incorporate Magee’s poem into a song. I had to re-work it a bit – sonnets are not often put to music – but I tried to leave it as intact as possible. The choruses are of course mine. I’ve sung it at a number of funerals since.
As a pilot, everyone you have ever flown with is in some small way in the cockpit with you on every flight. They’ve all made you, helped shape your way of flying. That process never stops.
Requiem for a Pilot ©2003 Dave Hadfield, with verses arranged from “High Flight”, by John Gillespie Magee
Fly on, old friend, to whatever waits for you,
Fly on, old friend, your course was always true.
& Now we understand there’s a fair wind in the blue,
But here there’s none who would not fly with you.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have never dreamed of. Wheeled and soared and swung.
High in the sunlit silence,
I’ve chased the wind along, I’ve chased the wind along.
Fly on, old friend, to whatever waits for you,
Fly on, old friend, your course was always true.
& Now we understand there’s a fair wind in the blue,
But here there’s none who would not fly with you.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew,
The untrespassed sanctity of space,
And with silent mind, Lifting high, I’ve trod
Put out my hand and touched,
Perhaps the face of God. Touched the face of God.
[chorus]
And when we fly we’ll always fly with you….