“I saw fire in the sky. I felt my heart pound in my chest.
I heard an eagle cry” – Sammy Hagar

If ever there were an 80’s Biblical hair ballad, a song that resonates not only in the hearts of Sammy Hagar followers, but also (maybe even moreso) for followers of Jesus, then it’s this spiritual solo journey from The Red Rocker circa 1987 called “Eagles Fly.”

This was a song from Sammy’s contractually obligated solo album released in June of 1987 as part of his agreement with Geffen Records after he decided to join Van Halen as their lead singer in 1985 following David Lee Roth’s unceremonious departure. I was 16 and bought the self titled “Sammy Hagar” cassette shortly after it was released that summer, and before it was renamed “I Never Said Goodbye” as part of a MTV album naming contest where the winner (a woman named Kim Musgrave) and a friend won a trip to the 5150 studio to hang out with Van Halen for a day. The album found steady play in the rotation in my 1984 Camaro, and this song was played frequently, always resonating much deeper within me than most of the rest of the songs from the album though “Give to Live” (another song with spiritual undertones) was probably my favorite.

The simple life of a bird on the wing
Oh, Lord, I could sing

I took this photo through my scope at 9:49 a.m. on a Saturday in March of 2024. Lake Fayetteville was eerily calm and quiet that morning when I saw this beauty hanging out up in the trees, It was then I understood the quiet. The apex predator was in the house.

I often dreamed that I could sail through the sky
I’ve always wished I could fly

There are twenty-something verses in the Bible that mention eagles typically representing God’s strength, renewal, and protection, so when I hear secular songs with spiritually leaning lyrics, I’m always drawn to the artist’s particular views and beliefs, and what precipitated the writing and meaning of the song lyrics. What usually happens is a deep dive down a rabbit hole assisted by Google searches and AI super-bots. I find out things like there was indeed a real life hike that Sammy was on that became the origin of this song. His description of having the most spiritual feeling he had ever encountered some 4,800 feet up alone near the Idyllwild mountain village in the desert above Palm Springs when he spotted a solitary eagle soaring overhead. Sammy describes the song as emotional and spiritual, and about new beginnings, being born and about freedom, almost like the song is a warm bowl of minestrone soup.

I love Sammy and his easy-going, fun spirit. I always have. I have long admired his solo work and also greatly respect his time spent in Van Halen, but when he discusses this particular song, he speaks like a man who knows he has this beautiful thing but seems like he’s not exactly sure what it is, what it means, or where it comes from. It’s the meanderings of a lost man unsure of his faith and what his spirituality should look like.

Older interviews indicate that Sammy has studied Jesus as well as Buddhism and Krishna among other spiritual traditions, and claims to believe in God, and indicates a deep respect for Jesus as a great man and teacher. I find those that consider Jesus “a great teacher” or “a great man of history” the hardest people to understand. Jesus proclaimed numerous times to different authors that he is the son of God and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Jesus is either who he said he is, or he’s a raving lunatic akin to a mentally ill homeless man yelling from a soapbox on a street corner that he is Jesus! I don’t know how to reconcile the two different Jesus’ with some sort of common ground solution of how he was a great man and teacher, but not the son of God though he proclaimed it time and time again. He was either who said he is or he was a complete madman. I think it’s really that simple. I find it easier to accept and dismiss the argument of an atheist who thinks the whole story is fictional nonsense moreso than that of someone who wants to claim Jesus was real and a great man who walked the Earth teaching good and doing honorable things, yet bypassing his definitive claim as the son of God as something he never really said or something that got “misinterpreted” over the years.

So take me away
Come on fly me away
Lift me up so high
Where eagles fly

In a recent interview Sammy said he hopes that people remember that he made them feel good, that he gave them hope. He wants to touch them in a way that’s everlasting. Those are all worthy and kind ambitions.

I find it interesting and somewhat ironic that Sammy is wearing multiple crosses around his neck while singing this song in the video below. He definitely isn’t the first nor will he be the last rockstar to deny Christianity yet wear the symbol of God’s love, sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption and promise of eternal life.

Sammy has said on multiple occasions that this is one of his favorite songs and he has verified in other interviews that his mother loved the song so much she apparently requested he sing it at her funeral. On the album, the late, great Eddie Van Halen played bass on this song, but the video here is from a break in the action at a Van Halen tour early 90’s performed acoustically by Sammy, and it is really quite lovely.

I never found anything that said whether or not Sammy performed this song at his mother’s funeral, but I hope that at his own funeral, the song will be played in celebration of a life well lived, a race well run, and a peace knowing that he eventually discovered the true meaning of the crosses around his neck, and where this song came from, who inspired it, and why he saw “fire in the sky,” felt his “heart pound in his chest” and “heard an eagle cry” all those years ago.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

Thanks for stopping by.

sincerely,

the80’s