Starman
David Bowie Lyrics
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I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll
"Lotta soul," he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That wasn't no DJ, that was hazy cosmic jive
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
I had to phone someone, so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out, so you heard him too
Switch on the TV, we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window, I can see his light
If we can sparkle, he may land tonight
Don't tell your papa or he'll get us locked up in fright
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
Starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
The first verse of Starman sets the scene: the persona is sitting in a dark room, listening to the radio when they hear a song. The song is a "rock 'n' roll" one full of "soul," and the persona becomes captivated by it. Suddenly, the sound on the radio seems to phase out, but then it returns with something entirely different. Instead of the DJ, the persona hears an otherworldly voice, the "hazy cosmic jive" of the Starman. The subsequent verses describe the persona's sense of awe and wonder towards this alien, who seems to be hovering in the sky, offering the prospect of communicating with humanity. The Starman sings a song of hope and encouragement to the persona, urging them to let "the children" use and enjoy music and imagination.
Overall, the song is about hope, communication, and the value of imagination. It is often interpreted as a sort of anthem for the counterculture movement of the 1970s, with its embrace of creating new art, exploring new ideas, and seeking out unconventional experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't know what time it was, the lights were low
I was unsure of the time since it was dark and the lights were dim
I leaned back on my radio
I reclined while listening to music on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll
Some guy was playing some great rock music
"Lotta soul," he said
He said the music had a lot of soul
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
The music suddenly became less loud
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
The music returned gradually like a soft voice on a signal wave
That wasn't no DJ, that was hazy cosmic jive
The music wasn't from a DJ but from an otherworldly source
There's a starman waiting in the sky
There's an extraterrestrial being waiting above in space
He'd like to come and meet us
He wants to visit and connect with us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
He's concerned that his presence might be overwhelming for us
He's told us not to blow it
He's advised and cautioned us to handle his arrival properly
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He's sure that it's going to be a valuable experience for both sides
He told me
He communicated this message to me personally
Let the children lose it
He urged us to let go and have fun like children
Let the children use it
He encouraged us to use our creative imagination like children
Let all the children boogie
He wanted all of us to dance and celebrate like children
I had to phone someone, so I picked on you
I had to talk to someone, and I chose to call you
Hey, that's far out, so you heard him too
Wow, that's amazing, you heard his message as well
Switch on the TV
Turn on the television
We may pick him up on channel two
We may be able to receive a signal from him on channel two
Look out your window, I can see his light
Look out of your window since I can see his light in the sky
If we can sparkle, he may land tonight
If we can impress him, he might land and visit us tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright
Don't tell your father, or he might get us in trouble for talking about extraterrestrial beings.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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