Where “We’re On Our Way Now” feels reflective and grief-touched, “Flying On The Ground” is brighter, warmer and more romantic. Noel described it in classic Noel fashion as sounding like Burt Bacharach writing for Motown — “only not as good… obviously.” That’s actually a pretty useful way to understand the song: it has the sweep and polish of old-school pop songwriting, but with that unmistakable Noel melodic shape.
Musically, it leans into soul-pop rather than guitar swagger. The backing vocals are important; they give the song lift and warmth, making it feel less like a rock single and more like a polished 1960s-influenced pop record. Clash, quoted on Noel’s own site, called it “uncomplicated, upbeat, infectious” and highlighted the way soul and rich backing vocals come together. Noel’s site also confirms it as the second new single from the No. 1 album Back The Way We Came: Vol. 1.
Lyrically, it works as a love song, but not a naive one. The title has that nice Noel contradiction: flying, but on the ground. It suggests being lifted by someone while still living in the ordinary world. It is romantic, but grounded. It does not have the unresolved grief of “We’re On Our Way Now”; it feels more like acceptance, devotion and emotional steadiness.
The official video was released on 7 June 2021, according to Noel Gallagher’s official video archive. The lyric visualiser followed in July 2021. In the wider Back The Way We Came tracklist, “Flying On The Ground” appears on Disc 2, after “Dead In The Water”, making it feel like one of the softer closing statements of the compilation rather than just a throwaway bonus