As I said in last week's post (when I had to post a little early), I was out of town this past week, traveling to New York and Connecticut.  Having traveled back to Portland from the east coast many times, I had it in mind to write a song about the plane trip back, and the magical feeling of flying back in to Portland.  Landing in an airplane, I think I would recognize Portland over any other city even--or maybe especially--at night, when the city twinkles in its unique way.  Anyway, although I've had the song in mind for the last week or so, I did actually write the lyrics on our descent into Portland, barely finishing in time (on my laptop) for the flight attendants to tell everyone to turn off their portable electronics.  I hope you'll enjoy "Flying Back To Portland"--definitely one of the most heartfelt of the songs on this blog!

A side note: as of this week--the tenth week of this blog--I've written as many songs as were on the original Portland: The Album!

Lyrics:

Flying back to Portland,

We chase the setting sun:

A rainbow line horizon

Guides the plane's last run.

Won't be long till landing,

And home awaits down there.

Never been so happy

To leave the stratosphere.

Take me down, nice and slow, to the place that I long to go.

Is it clear?  Can you see?  This is where I'm meant to be.

Chorus:

Flying back to Portland,

The lights, the trees, the love.

The city's so embracing

When you're coming down from up above.

When I'm gone I feel it:

My heart begins to burn.

It's Portland that I'm missing,

And it calls me to return.

The lights begin to twinkle,

The Gorge is almost past,

The plane's descent is steady,

Oh we're almost home at last.

Take me down, lower the wheels, I can't tell you how good this feels.

So exciting, so profound, being back on Portland's ground.

Chorus

We're approaching ever nearer,

And I see things that I know.

The freeways sparkle brightly,

Downtown is all aglow.

Take me down, I'm back again.  The flight attendant says in then,

Those perfect words my heart expects: “Welcome back to PDX.”

Chorus