The moon obscured by the dark clouds, it was a black Russian night
Engines warming on a MiG preparing for an illegal flight
The Russian air force pilot on his forehead beads of sweat
Racing down the runway now on a ride he won't forget
Chorus
Oh! Up, up and away
It's a flight for freedom
Onwards to that day
Got to leave, can't stay
It was some time later when an alarm went off at base
And from somewhere behind him planes took up the chase
On and on they flew hot on his track
Push the throttle to the speed of sound 'cause there's no turning back
Oh! Up, up and away
It's a flight for freedom
Onwards to that day
Got to leave, can't stay
Somewhere in Tel Aviv there's a bleep on a radar screen
The prime minister's awakened; a Russian Mig has been seen
"Identify yourself!" the radio crackled. "Are you friend or foe?"
He answered them with the only two Hebrew words that he did know
Ani Yehudi
I'm flying for my freedom
Just one Jew alone
I'm on my way back home