Overall, "Eight Miles High" is a song that encapsulates the countercultural ideals of the 1960s, celebrating the freedom of expression and the unbridled creativity that can be unleashed through psychedelic experiences. The line "Nowhere is there warmth to be found / Among those afraid of losing their ground" could be interpreted as a commentary on the societal norms and expectations that stifle individual expression and creativity. The speaker seems to be overwhelmed by the sensory input of their surroundings, unable to comprehend the meaning behind the signs and symbols that surround them.Īs the song continues, the lyrics become more abstract and impressionistic, with lines like "Rain gray town, known for its sound / In places, small faces unbound" evoking a sense of detachment and freedom from earthly concerns. The guitar work is brilliant and had been taken a lot from John Coltrane. Eight Miles High in the air going to Europe on a jet. They are describing a sensation of being lifted above reality and transported to a place that is beyond their normal perception.įurthermore, the lines "Signs in the street, that say where you're going / Are somewhere just being their own" describe a sense of disorientation and confusion that often accompanies altered states of consciousness. Everyone was listening to the lyrics carefully during this period and many thought it had to do with getting high. The opening lines, "Eight miles high, and when you touch down / You'll find that it's stranger than known" suggest that the speaker is either on a plane or already experiencing some kind of altered state of consciousness. Forty-two thousand feet or about eight miles high is the altitude reserved for military aircraft. The song seems to be about a hallucinogenic journey that transports the listener far beyond the physical world, into an ethereal and dreamlike state. The song was released at a time when The Byrds were experimenting with drugs like LSD, and the lyrics seem to reflect that kind of experience. The failure of "Eight Miles High" to reach the Billboard Top 10 is usually attributed to the broadcasting ban, but some commentators have suggested the song's complexity and uncommercial nature were greater factors."Eight Miles High" is widely known as one of the quintessential psychedelic rock songs of the 1960s. The band strenuously denied these allegations at the time, but in later years both Clark and Crosby admitted that the song was at least partly inspired by their own drug use. radio ban shortly after its release, following allegations published in the broadcasting trade journal the Gavin Report regarding perceived drug connotations in its lyrics. It was also claimed to be a nod to The Beatles, who had a hit with the song Eight Days a Week at the time. Although commercial airliners fly at an altitude of six to seven miles, it was felt that eight miles high sounded more poetic than six. Best lyrics: Few thousand miles and an ocean away/But I see the sunrise. McGuinn told him six miles, which was a leap-off point. Accordingly, critics often cite "Eight Miles High" as being the first bona fide psychedelic rock song, as well as a classic of the counterculture era. He knows exactly who he is, and what he is, and where hes gonna wind up at. Eight Miles High represented a musical departure for The Byrds. It was also around the time of The Beatles’ Eight Days A Week, so that was another hook. But Gene said eight miles sounds better than six, and it did sound more poetic. What is Eight Miles High about This song is about a person who is above the ground looking. While McGuinn, Crosby, and Hillman would. The meaning of the song Eight Miles High, based on the lyrics.
Musically influenced by Ravi Shankar and John Coltrane, the song was influential in developing the musical styles of psychedelic rock, raga rock, and psychedelic pop. Forty-two thousand feet or about eight miles high is the altitude reserved for military aircraft. It happened in the early months of 1966, and Eight Miles High was his last work with the band as a songwriter. It was first released as a single on March 14, 1966. "Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn (a.k.a.
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