Sky Pilot (song)
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"Sky Pilot" | ||||
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Eric Burdon & the Animals | ||||
from the album The Twain Shall Meet | ||||
A-side | "Sky Pilot (Part One)" | |||
B-side | "Sky Pilot (Part Two)" | |||
Released |
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Recorded | 1967 | |||
Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
Length |
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Label | MGM 1373 (UK) MGM K13939 (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Tom Wilson | ||||
Eric Burdon & the Animals UK singles chronology | ||||
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Eric Burdon & the Animals US singles chronology | ||||
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"Sky Pilot" is a 1968 song by
Themes
"Sky pilot" refers to a
"Sky Pilot" is organized into three movements: an introduction, a programmatic interlude, and a conclusion.
The introduction begins with the verse quoted above, sung
The interlude starts as a guitar solo, but the guitar is quickly submerged under a
The conclusion begins with the return of the bass and strummed acoustic guitar, accompanied by strings. After a few measures the verses resume, but with a quieter, melancholy atmosphere: one verse is sung along with bass, guitar, and strings, and then without a choral break a final verse is sung to bass, guitar, and woodwinds. During those last verses, the "Soldiers of God" had done well defeating the enemies, for the aid of their country, however, the returning soldiers return, with tears in their eyes, having second thoughts about their mission. One of the returning soldiers feels more disturbed, with the smells of death, when he looks upon the Sky Pilot, remembering the commandment: "Thou shalt not kill". Finally a strong bass line announces the return of the chorus, now accompanied with strings, horns and piccolos, repeated several times as it fades, with the repeated section that the Sky Pilot can never reach the sky, no matter how high he flies. The instrumental section is that of a military funeral march. The musical effect is very upbeat, in stark contrast with the "downer" content of the movement's lyrics.
Reception
Special effects
Besides the use of "
Covers
The song has been covered by several artists and is still played in live shows by
The song was covered by the Peruvian rock group Traffic Sound, in English in 1969. It was featured in full in their debut album, Vamos a Bailar Go Go, and the opening hymn also appeared as the introduction to one of the songs in their album Virgin.
The song was covered by MacTalla Mor on their 2007 album Jacob's Ladder, in the song "Stairway to Grace".
It was sampled by Sebadoh during a segue between the songs "Sexual Confusion" and "Three Times A Day" on their 1990 album, Weed Forestin'.
See also
References
- ^ "Bubbling Under The Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 80, no. 20. 18 May 1968. p. 60. Retrieved 5 Aug 2014.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 13, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - June 10, 1968".
- ^ "Sky Pilot by The Animals". SongFacts. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. May 18, 1968. p. 58. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 18, 1968. p. 34. Retrieved 2022-01-12.