2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)

2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)

The Byrds

“2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)” is a song by The Byrds; it was originally released as the closing track for their third album Fifth Dimension. The song was written by lead guitarist Roger McGuinn (an aeronautics fanatic) in order to evoke the sensation of flying on a Learjet. Musically and lyrically, the song is very simple and repetitive, meant to drive the listener into a state of hypnotic excitement. The song is also particularly notable for being the first Byrds song to use sound effects; the song features the sound of jet engines starting up as well as the sound of a pilot reciting a pre-flight checklist.