Eric Burdon - Sky Pilot Lyrics






He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man

Sky pilot, sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He smiles at the young soldiers tells them it's all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry

Sky pilot, sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given, they move down the line
But he's still behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate

As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels so tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said

Sky pilot, sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

You're soldiers of God you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength do your job real well
If it all was worth it only time it will tell

In the morning they return with tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A young soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words, "Thou shalt not kill"

Sky pilot, sky pilot
How high can you fly
You never, never, never reach the sky

Sky pilot, sky pilot
How high can you fly
You never, never, never reach the sky

You never, never, never reach the sky
You never, never, never reach the sky
You never, never, never reach the sky
You never, never, never reach the sky





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Eric Burdon Sky Pilot Comments
  1. E.... C....

    Perfect

  2. J.... B....

    GREAT VOICE OF THUNDER OF ERIC BURDON AND A SONG OF REFLECTION OF THE FUTILITY AND FOOLISHNESS OF WARS WHEN INSTEAD IS MUCH BETTER TO GET ALONG BETWEEN NATIONS .

    BIBLE CLEARLY STATES:

    LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF AND ALSO THOU SHALT NOT KILL..

  3. m.... T....

    Moondog mike. Should have said , great post. Thanks.

    m.... T....

    Thanks ! You're last post was on the money.

  4. m.... T....

    Sometimes you have to take a step back and pay attention to the lyrics. The term " Sky Pilot " in this song is not meant as a compliment!!
    It does not refer to the heroes who flew countless combat missions and helped preserve the free world. It does refer to Army Chaplains who didn't.
    Have no axe to grind here. Just saying!!

  5. G.... W....

    Miss my Dad..

  6. J.... R....

    What a trip... always amazed how Burden and Animals put this far-out, unique song together.

  7. S.... W....

    I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this video. I watch it alot because the pictures of the aircraft in flight are so crystal clear. The pictures are so beautiful, even they were about WW2, it helped me to see the faces of the people, their expressions, what happened in the air, how they flied in formation, so amazing! Everytime I watch,I see something new to me. And the pics really go with the song, which is one of my all time favorites. You did a great job on the video and thank you so much👍

    S.... W....

    Thank you Stephanie!

  8. T.... T....

    GREAT LAP DANCE CHOICE IF THEY HAVE IT. 👍🏼👍🏼

  9. R.... W....

    I Served three tours in Nam. This song is a Masterpiece.

  10. N.... D....

    Why thank imaginary friend Jesus mr Kensington? His so-called father could have divinely intervened to stop ‘nam’ and save your buddies. There is no god. If the god of the Christian bible exists he is a cunt.

  11. J.... M....

    Buena canción protesta contra la guerra en la que hay tantos muertos, pero mientras los hombres no aprendamos a vivir en paz unos con los otros y respetar nuestras diferencias seguirá ocurriendo. Y parece que no aprendemos, Basta leer lo que pasa en Siria, en Irak, y otros lugares para darnos cuenta.

  12. C.... T....

    Estados Unidos fue a llevar la muerte a Vietnam y sólo consiguieron que muriese por nada sus jóvenes y viejos y porque. Según odian el comunismo y no permitían que Rusia lo implementarsn en el vietkong y de todos modos ahora sí lo quisieran ya no existen esas facciones y el pueblo Vietnamita está unido y fuerte y ahora los marranos unidos están fuera y casi muertos jajajajaja pobres perros pagan por no ceder a los deseos de su padre Rusia y satanás perverso locos todos mueran

  13. f.... ....

    Eric Burdon's dad was in the military in WW2. I think he was in the army

  14. f.... ....

    Padre = 'Sky pilot'

  15. g.... F....

    Just one of the many great songs of the 60's called "protest rock". Great memories, great music, lousy war!

  16. D.... M....

    the sky pilots prayed with 26000 b17 crewmen who died over germany

  17. O.... S....

    Gun grease gives me a hard-on.

  18. M.... M....

    With god you're never alone..... I wish I could have that power. I could do so much good.

  19. R.... F....

    RECUERDOS KENOSEOL BIDAN

  20. l.... b....

    remembering back,,seen them at the gogo newcastle in 1963 ,geordies all

  21. E.... E....

    I am a old man and i remember they battle field My Friends dead

  22. S.... D....

    They shall not grow old...

  23. m.... ....

    This song is about world War two pilots, and it's plan too see

    m.... ....

    Vietnam

  24. e.... ....

    One of the best anti war songs of all time.

  25. D.... H....

    a classic of classics. and a salute to our soldiers.

  26. M.... O....

    Great song lots of meanings

  27. S.... L....

    Thank you. Great film footage. I did not know the song was split into parts 1 and 2.
    My college roommate's uncle was a sky pilot in Nam (Vietnam). He explained what it was like and how he coped. If he is still alive I suspect he still drinks.

    S.... L....

    I meant photos. A photographic history of sorts.

  28. A.... M....

    Real music. A rarity nowadays.

  29. C.... B....

    To fran

  30. 1.... ....

    Mark believe it or not he was my hero too.god bless him

  31. 1.... ....

    Shout out to my Bro' David, who flew Chinooks for st Cavalry Division, 227th and 229th Aviation Brigades, 70/71, who became a pastor upon going home. Poor David is so screwed up from he War. He suffers horribly from Agent Orange poisoning, and has nightmares every night.

  32. J.... G....

    Brings back memories of a simpler yet traumatic time in our lives

  33. R.... C....

    God Bless our troops 🇺🇲☮

  34. h.... f....

    I put in my 2 cents worth; I found it mentioned many times in diaries...miner's 40ers diaries. That's miners of the 1849 California gold rush.

  35. D.... B....

    I remember that this song was so long you had to pay twice to play it in a jukebox (side A and side B). Did it many times in working-class bars during the Vietnam War, and it was often worth it. Led to many good conversations.

  36. 1.... ....

    This song was, is, and will be true since war was invented 'till war is eliminated. This is the worse invention to ever be created by humankind.

  37. R.... F....

    This needs airplay

    R.... F....

    If we are in war with Iran...then it'll be played to death!

  38. S.... G....

    The gory days of the Vietnam War era along President Lyndon Johnson

  39. A.... R....

    Thou shall not kill. If only our world's politicians could remember this.

    A.... R....

    Actually in the original language, it's "Thou shall not murder." You can morally kill to protect yourself,...or others - that's where being a soldier comes in. You're protecting others.

    A.... R....

    @hackberry flat That maybe so but I wonder if count bernadott is turning in his grave?.

  40. L.... T....

    And was in the top ten in the "Nam"!

  41. o.... r....

    from 81- 87! u.s. ARMY!

  42. o.... r....

    thank god for the "sky pilots" from nam thru the gulf, iraq, a-stan, to the current sh- ht storm! peace!

  43. R.... P....

    Stumbled over this video today...a little disturbing...but true...thoughtful lirecs ..sorry drunk cant spelll irecks but not drunk enough to know a great song...ha!!! got enough right though...just kidding

  44. B.... V....

    thank you who ever put this on I just lost my brother this morning. it really hit home.

  45. A.... C....

    Brilliant song. In the same vein, this ain't too bad, either...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5a1NgibZ3Y

  46. M.... R....

    un tema fuera de serie saludos a todos el rock es cultura

  47. S.... B....

    how Eric Burden ever got famous is a mystery to me.terrible voice

  48. A.... A....

    This was my buddy's fav song.(door gunner for SAR Marines) and went by this nickname......Blessed be all

  49. G.... H....

    Sky Pilot, It's Time To Kill A Few More.

  50. G.... H....

    You try to save lives warn people, but some fake noise, bait has there confidence to Hi, I tell them your being fooled quit or your gonna Die, But acting crazy with Greed in there eyes they just do not know when to quit, so you have to order the Hits.

  51. G.... H....

    Let's Go.

  52. R.... W....

    This is a Masterpiece

  53. m.... l....

    100% disabled US Army vet PTSD.....I volunteered at age 17.....

    m.... l....

    thankyou for your service, people in the USA could rest assured could go to bed knowing we were safe because of brave men and women like yourself, we are in debt to you all for eternity

  54. C.... R....

    El ser humano que ha manejado una arma sabe por que existe la súper vivencia animal

  55. D.... R....

    Like Mark Acton, I can only think of my dad who completed 36 missions over Europe in a Lancaster Bomber - and who forever felt terrible about the toll his plane's bomb loads were exacting. I remember my heart first aching when I heard this song, aged 11 - and beginning to realise what my silent, withdrawn father had been through as a younger man. I will forever love this song and thank Eric and the band for the building blocks of empathy they have afforded me over the years.

  56. K.... B....

    The rumbling becomes a roar.

  57. D.... B....

    I'm interested in the treatment of soldiers returning to the US after serving in Vietnam. I was a year too young to be drafted, and my number when it was drawn would have never been called up. So I lived my life around guys just a little older than me who had served. My older brother was in the Marine Corps. He was treated well when he returned and could hardly buy his own beer at the bar. I never had a friend who served tell me a direct story about mistreatment, but I have heard countless "my cousin's brother's girlfriend's neighbor was treated like shit." I suspect the whole mistreatment of Vietnam Vet stories are 95% urban legend. As for the Anti-War crowd, the intelligent ones treated the returning vets like gold, because their opposition to the war was rooted in understanding how unfair the draft was and how the lower economic class carried that war on their backs while the wealthy and scumbags could easily avoid the draft with fake Doctor letters like Trump did.

    D.... B....

    Interesting post Dave, We've all heard the baby killer, war monger catcalls ! And how many times did we hear of returning soldiers being spit on ??? Final tally, no
    one has ever been arrested for spitting on an american soldier ! Do you really think a grizzled vet returning from war would decend into despair if they were spit on ?? Ass whipping comes to mind , certainly not whimping and whining

  58. R.... B....

    the smell of gun grease and the the bayonets they shine what a freaking masterpiece

  59. a.... s....

    Why showcase WW2 planes and photos over a song about vietnam? Vietnam was all more modern jet fighters

  60. M.... N....

    I see him i'm México city 1993 is one of the greatones!!!! I'm never forgot him

  61. T.... J....

    ALDOLF HITLER===BARACK OBAMA,america will learn this the hard way....

  62. D.... A....

    Biriful the song good armonss itake mach tenkess Erik burton end ánimos citen of México

  63. T.... C....

    Sky pilot: that’s me! Read To Cratisto.

  64. M.... ....

    For you gramps WWII B-24 ball turret gunner.

  65. t.... o....

    Friend of mine drove them in a limo and said He never got a tip from Eric Burden, only one he ever got stiffed on

  66. R.... R....

    Below comment were for ww2 aircraft. Nam was f104 106 skyraiders and such. I know my craft for the era.

  67. R.... R....

    Nice photos of mosquitos and hawker hurricanes.

    R.... R....

    Ww2 and Nam are different eras . Nuff said.

  68. I.... C....

    Yes SIR WAR IS HELL!

  69. R.... W....

    A los 5 años lo escuche!!!! Nononono bueno sabra dios en que pensaba mi mentesilla que voltee!!! Y dije a cabrooonnn!!! Esta chingon!!!! Y pues hasta la fecha a... Y la de mesias mecanico de la banda "yes" me transforme para siempre

  70. A.... t....

    ...never the Horizon

  71. L.... O....

    This Song is good

  72. A.... t....

    6:26 is Dresden

  73. B.... D....

    TOP 25 OF PERIOD TYPES ..... MAY NEVER REMEMBER. DON'T EVER FORGET : VIETNAM, OR LaVOY FINICAM ......

  74. C.... E....

    And I dedicate it's one to Tim my good friend and Buddy and my wingman hope you're still out there🦄😎🦄💔💛💚👑👍✌

  75. A.... R....

    Rock and roll never die

  76. T.... ....

    I can't imagine. It had to be hell. Every time you get in that fighter plane you don't know if you'll make it back. Same for the guys on the ground except for the distance of the fall. War is hell, unleashed.

  77. S.... f....

    I started to listen to this song, before it got through the 1st minute, I was crying. The reason, well, see below.


    In memory of:
    James Arvil Green, PFC/USA,
    D Co, 1st BN, 7th Cav, 1st CavDiv.
    Born: 14 August 1949 Haskell, OK
    KIA: 20 June 1970 while on patrol near Srae Khtum, Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia.

    My maternal 1st cousin, he never came home. Rest in Peace, Jimmie.

    S.... f....

    Thank you for posting that Shelly ! Thank you James for your service. I know you've REACHED THE SKY!!!

  78. e.... b....

    MY. BEST. FRIEND. ZZ. HUNG. IM. SELF. FUCK. NAM. HE. WAS. A. #1. " COURAGEOUS. STUD. " NOBODY. HAD. THEIR. GUT. RESPECT. BRO. OUT. THERE. IT. IS. SO. #1. 😢 SAD. 😎

  79. R.... ....

    I Love this song! When it was released, where I lived the radio stations would only play it late at night.

  80. j.... ....

    Read somewhere, that roughly half of the American casualties in ww2, were from the flight crews of the bombers and fighter planes.

  81. D.... H....

    Make no mistake, this is a serious anti-war song, pointing up the futility of war. The radio version was very short of course. The long version makes you think on the meaning and values for yourself. This is when music is at it's most effective, when it makes you think. In the end soldiers only fight to save each other's lives in war, even killing others to do so, not for political aims. In Vietnam, this was never more true.

  82. C.... B....

    Nunca Avia visto este video ahora veo que la religión católica estuvo inmiscuida en el asesinato de millones de personas que asesinaron a otros de la misma religión jusge Dios

  83. b.... e....

    ALL this hell for GOLD for the queen, GO TO HELL ENGLAND

  84. J.... D....

    Those wonderful old planes

  85. j.... c....

    Creo que francia tuvo El mismo destino cuando quiso ganar en Puebla El 5 de mayo. Pisos , tierras todas lodosas.

  86. j.... c....

    The smell of gun greese
    Chn ga tsa. Solo frase literaria.

  87. D.... W....

    The local radio station used to play this occasionally....might have heard this song twice as a young kid in the mid 70's, but I remembered it as being something very grown-up that I didn't understand. Great song!

  88. r.... ....

    Looks at the Sky Pilot, remembers the words "though shall not kill". Powerful!

    r.... ....

    Thou shalt not kill. There's no fine print on that command either

    r.... ....

    @charles johnson In the English version, there is four words, "Though shall not kill" No extensive print on stone like law books today with all the if's and but's, but you can it. Food for thought. It is a great song. I think it is their best. Many people interpret it in many ways. Me, it's reality, not so much being for or against anything. The story around the Ten Commandments might even bring a lot of questions. I will respect the belief of others if it is not to harm others.

  89. B.... M....

    yeah well its not like we're on the eve of destruction, like you've been telling us over and over and over again my friend... or are we? bring it on go ahead its inevitable and we'll live it through, I promise

  90. B.... M....

    I've flown my own planes plenty in the pattern with F4s and I just love the technology from the nam era, a lot of good engineering went into nam hell if thats any consolation.... We lost best friends in that hell and I'll slap the face of any hippy I can to this day, and I'll gladly kick his goddamn ugly old ass I dont care how frail he's become

  91. G.... E....

    First time hearing this in 50 years How could I forget such music? We haven't had such music since the 60s

  92. l.... a....

    When will we ever learn, war is not the answer. We need Peace and Love. Too much hate in the world today, especially from trump and his supporters

    l.... a....

    But not from Obama who bombed 24 countries? Trump stopped the bombings and brought the troops home.

  93. G.... C....

    very good

  94. d.... h....

    Nordic track amazing

  95. M.... S....

    Great classic song 🖤 🇺🇸

  96. j.... ....

    Bless All You Guys who fought for our Freedoms...Thank You very very Much....Thanks Dads everywhere

  97. j.... ....

    Going down the road with dad in his 55 buick, I was 14. This song would come on the AM radio, Dad would crank it for me.. Dad as so many were then and Proud to have been in the army... I was so lucky, my Dad loved the blues , he played Jimmy Reed records, Elmore James and Johnny Cash and the sweet Roy Orbison - those imbedded in my heart to this day... The Golden Days of the 60's and 70's... We were so very Blessed

  98. M.... S....

    if there is any hell on earth ..war is it

  99. j.... c....

    In the morning they returned w. Tears in their eyes.