Fly by Night (Rush song)
"Fly by Night" is the title track of Rush's second album. The music was written by bassist Geddy Lee and the lyrics were penned by drummer Neil Peart. Peart wrote this song about his first trip away from home. In 1971, at 18 years old, he left behind his small-town Canadian life and flew to England. This was a major turning point in his life. Lee sings the lead vocals and on the song's middle eight, his voice is fed through a Leslie speaker. It was released as a single in April  1975. It marked the first time a single by the band was also released in markets other than the US or Canada. "Cash Box" described it as "a hard-rocking, well-produced cut" that is "very Zeppelinish, with lead guitar and rhythm tracks that could have you evicted." Peart wrote a prologue that is not in the song: "airport scurry / flurry faces / parade of passers-by / people going many places / with a smile or just a sigh / waiting, waiting, pass the time / another cigarette / get in line, gate thirty-nine / the time is not here yet." In late 1976, the  song was released as a single a second time, in a live medley with "In the Mood" from the band's live album "All the World's a Stage". This version became the band's first single to reach the "Billboard" Hot 100, charting at .