Fly Away (John Denver song)

"Fly Away"
Single by John Denver
from the album Windsong
B-side	"Two Shots"
Released	November 1975
Genre	Country folk, soft rock
Length	4:13
Label	RCA Records
Songwriter(s)	John Denver
Producer(s)	Milt Okun
John Denver singles chronology
"Calypso" (1975) "Fly Away" (1975) "Christmas for Cowboys" (1975)

"Fly Away" is a 1975 song written and performed by John Denver featuring vocals by Olivia Newton-John. ^[1] Released as a single from the Windsong album, it peaked at No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks atop the adult contemporary chart in early-1976, Denver's sixth No.1 on this chart. ^[2] The song also peaked at No.12 on the country chart. ^[3]

Background

The song is an ode to longing for simpler times and a simpler way of life. ^[4] Record World said that "this ballad contains the unmistakable Denver vocal charm with the added bonus of Olivia Newton-John joining in on the chorus." ^[5] Rolling Stone magazine remarked, "At this point, John Denver albums are as numerous as potted plants in the apartments of these urbanites, and both are symptoms of the same longing. The singer acknowledges his average listener in 'Fly Away'." ^[4]

Chart performance

Chart (1975–76)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	13
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	12
Canadian RPM Top Singles	13
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	28

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)

References

1. Only Olivia's album information regarding "Fly Away"
2. Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 103.
4. John Denver's Windsong from SuperSeventies
5. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 6, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-08.