That riff. You know the one. It’s thick, fuzzy, and feels like a muscle car revving up in a desert. Before Lenny Kravitz even opens his mouth, the mood is set. Then comes the line that basically defined 1998: i want to get away i wanna fly away. It wasn’t just a catchy chorus; it was a cultural exhale.
Honestly, "Fly Away" shouldn't have been a hit. Not on paper, anyway. By the late nineties, the music landscape was becoming a chaotic blend of bubblegum pop and nu-metal aggression. Then Lenny drops this stripped-back, funk-rock anthem that sounds like it was recorded in a garage in 1974. It was simple. Maybe too simple? Some critics at the time thought so. But they missed the point. People were tired. The digital age was just starting to ramp up its relentless pace, and the idea of just... leaving... resonated.
The Accident That Created a Classic
Most people don't realize that "Fly Away" was a total fluke. Kravitz had already finished his album 5. The tracklist was set. The studio time was paid for. But while he was messing around with a new amplifier, that iconic chord progression just fell out.
He wasn't trying to write a chart-topper. He was just playing.
He's mentioned in various interviews, including his memoir Let Love Rule, how he often hears completed arrangements in his head. This one was different. It was primal. He grabbed his engineer, laid down the tracks—playing almost every instrument himself, as he usually does—and the song was born in a burst of spontaneous energy. It was so late to the party that it had to be added to the album as a last-minute inclusion.
Imagine if he’d just turned off the amp and gone to lunch. We’d be missing one of the most recognizable guitar hooks in history.
Why i want to get away i wanna fly away Stuck in Our Heads
Musicologists often point to the song's "circularity." It doesn't really go anywhere, and that’s the magic. It’s a loop. The bassline and the guitar are locked in a rhythmic embrace that feels like a heartbeat. When you sing i want to get away i wanna fly away, you aren't thinking about a specific destination. You aren't booking a flight to Ibiza or hiking the Alps.
It’s about a state of mind.
The lyrics are actually pretty minimalist. "I want to get away / I want to fly away / Yeah, yeah, yeah." It’s not Dylan. It’s not Cohen. It’s raw desire. This simplicity is exactly why it became the go-to anthem for every travel commercial, airline promo, and "leaving the office on Friday" playlist for the next three decades. It taps into a universal human itch: the urge to shed your skin and escape the mundane.
The Gear Behind the Grit
For the guitar nerds out there, the sound of "Fly Away" is a masterclass in vintage tone. Kravitz is a notorious gear hound. He uses a mix of Gibson Flying Vs and Les Pauls, usually plugged into old Marshall or Vox amps. But the secret sauce on this track is the "envelope filter." That "wah-wah" sound that follows the rhythm? That’s not a foot pedal being rocked back and forth manually; it’s an automatic filter that responds to how hard he hits the strings.
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It gives the song a squelchy, liquid feel. It’s the sound of liberation.
The 1990s Context
Context matters. 1998 was a weird year. We had The Truman Show in theaters—a movie all about escaping a manufactured reality. We had the looming dread of Y2K. Life was starting to feel "plugged in" in a way that felt permanent and a little bit suffocating.
Lenny Kravitz offered a literal and figurative escape hatch.
While other artists were experimenting with digital synths and polished production, Lenny stayed analog. He stayed messy. The song feels human because it isn't perfect. If you listen closely to the drum track, it’s got a grit to it that you just don't hear in modern, quantized pop.
It Wasn't Just About the Music
We have to talk about the video. Directed by Paul Hunter, it’s a sweaty, high-energy club performance. It’s grainy. It’s crowded. It captures that specific feeling of being lost in a moment where nothing matters except the beat.
Kravitz, with his signature dreadlocks and leather pants, became the face of a specific kind of "cool" that didn't feel manufactured. He was a rock star in an era where rock stars were becoming a dying breed.
Interestingly, the song saw a massive resurgence in the 2020s. Why? Because the sentiment is timeless. Whether it's 1998 or 2026, the feeling of being trapped by responsibilities, screens, and schedules makes the line i want to get away i wanna fly away feel like a necessary prayer.
Common Misconceptions
Some folks think the song is about drugs. It’s a common trope for any song involving "flying." But Lenny has been pretty vocal about his spiritual leanings. For him, flying away is more about transcending the physical world and finding a higher vibration.
- Is it about a girl? Not really. It’s more about a personal liberation.
- Did he write it for a commercial? No, though Nissan and others certainly made him a lot of money using it.
- Is it his biggest hit? It's up there. While "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" hit higher on some charts, "Fly Away" has arguably had a longer cultural tail.
How to Get That Vibe Today
If you’re feeling that "get away" itch, you don't necessarily need a plane ticket. The song itself is a blueprint for a certain kind of lifestyle—one that prioritizes raw experience over digital clutter.
Actually, try this: put on a pair of high-quality wired headphones. Not Bluetooth—wired. Find the original 1998 master of the song. Turn it up until you can hear the hiss of the guitar amps. There’s a frequency in those mid-tones that actually triggers a dopamine release. It’s a physical experience.
Actionable Steps for the "Fly Away" Mindset
Start by auditing your digital noise. Lenny’s whole brand is built on analog warmth. If your life feels like a tinny, compressed MP3, you need to add some "tube amp" richness back into it.
- Go Analog for One Hour. Pick a hobby that doesn't involve a screen. Play an instrument, cook a meal without a YouTube tutorial, or just sit outside.
- Focus on the "Riff." Find the one thing in your daily routine that feels like that opening guitar line—the thing that gives you energy—and do it first.
- Physical Movement. The song is rhythmic. It’s built for motion. If you’re feeling stuck, literally move your body. A 10-minute walk while listening to the track can genuinely reset your nervous system.
- Simplify Your Workspace. The production on "Fly Away" is sparse. It’s just guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Look at your desk. If it’s cluttered with "production value" you don't need, clear it out.
The enduring power of i want to get away i wanna fly away lies in its honesty. It doesn't promise a solution; it just validates the feeling of wanting to leave it all behind. Sometimes, just acknowledging that you want to fly is enough to help you stay grounded.
The next time that riff kicks in on the radio, don't just listen to it as a nostalgia trip. Listen to it as a reminder that simplicity is usually where the power lives. Lenny knew it in '98, and it’s still true now.