Eight Miles High - Cover Versions and Media References

Cover Versions and Media References

"Eight Miles High" has been covered by many different bands and artists, including, The Ventures, Leathercoated Minds, Lighthouse, Leo Kottke, Roxy Music, Ride, Stewart/Gaskin, Robyn Hitchcock, Rockfour, Les Fradkin, and The Postmarks. In addition, Hüsker Dü released the song as a single prior to the release of their Zen Arcade LP in 1984. The song was also covered in 1969 by Golden Earring, who put a nineteen-minute version on their Eight Miles High album. The Emerson, Lake & Palmer spinoff group 3 recorded the song with revised lyrics on their 1988 album, To the Power of Three. Crowded House have also covered the song with ex-Byrd Roger McGuinn, on their I Feel Possessed EP.

Don McLean's song "American Pie" makes reference to "Eight Miles High" with the lines "The Birds flew off with a fall-out shelter/Eight miles high and falling fast." The First Edition's 1968 hit, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", contains a reference to the song with the line "I tripped on a cloud and fell a-eight miles high." The independent rock band Okkervil River also reference "Eight Miles High" in their song "Plus Ones", from the 2007 album The Stage Names. Bruce Springsteen's song "Life Itself", from his 2009 album Working on a Dream, features guitar playing and production techniques reminiscent of "Eight Miles High" by The Byrds.

The Byrds' version of "Eight Miles High" was featured in the 1983 film Purple Haze. It also appears in both the Le Voyage dans la Lune and The Original Wives Club episodes of the television miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.