Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets align

Oh, oh, oh, what is the reason
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, I got no reason to lie

Yes, yes, yes, killing the ego
Yes, yes, yes, alright
Yes, yes, yes, killing the ego tonight

No, no, no, I got no secrets
No, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, I got no secrets to hide

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

See, the sun's gonna rise
See, the sun's gonna rise
And take your fears away
Like the soft tit of the motherbrai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ain

Oh, oh, oh, finding the answer
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Finding that there ain't no answer to find

Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets align

Oh, oh, oh, building a fire
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, burning the Bible tonight

Oh, oh, oh, watching the eagle
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, watching the eagle fly

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The sun's gonna rise

Overall Meaning

The song "Watching The Planets" by The Flaming Lips contains several symbolic and open-ended lyrics. The repeated phrase "watching the planets align" seems to symbolize the singer's passive observation of the universe's actions. It could also represent the idea that our lives are predetermined by celestial movements beyond our control. Meanwhile, the line "killing the ego" suggests a deliberate effort to cast off one's self-centered tendencies and become more humble. This theme is further emphasized with the line "I got no secrets to hide." The singer is trying to present an open, honest self-awareness.

The line "building a fire, burning the Bible tonight" is a provocative image that suggests a casting off of religious dogma in favor of free thought. And the line "finding that there ain't no answer to find" represents an acknowledgement that there may not be a concrete, objective truth to any of life's big questions. The final lines "the sun's gonna rise, and take your fears away" signal a sense of hope and relief. The singer seems to have come to some sort of peace with himself and the universe, and is looking toward a fresh start.

Overall, The Flaming Lips have created a mesmerizing piece of surrealist poetry that manages to convey powerful emotions and ideas. Rather than providing clear answers, the song inspires listeners to think deeply about the many mysteries of existence.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets
The singer is observing celestial bodies.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets align
The singer is watching planets come into alignment.

Oh, oh, oh, what is the reason
The artist is questioning the reason behind something.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, I got no reason to lie
The singer has no motivation to deceive.

Yes, yes, yes, killing the ego
The singer is engaging in self-reflection and overcoming feelings of superiority.

Yes, yes, yes, alright
The artist is accepting this process of growth and change.

Yes, yes, yes, killing the ego tonight
The artist is actively working to overcome their sense of self-importance tonight.

No, no, no, I got no secrets
The artist has nothing to hide.

No, no, no, no, no

No, no, no, I got no secrets to hide
The artist has nothing to conceal about themselves.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

See, the sun's gonna rise
The artist believes that a new day will bring positive changes.

See, the sun's gonna rise
The artist is emphasizing their optimism.

And take your fears away
The singer believes that the rising sun will alleviate anxiety.

Like the soft tit of the motherbrai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ain
This line is nonsensical and could be interpreted as an expression of the singer's whimsy.

Oh, oh, oh, finding the answer
The artist is searching for a solution to a problem.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Finding that there ain't no answer to find
The artist is coming to the realization that there may not be a definitive solution to their issue.

Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets
The singer is still observing the celestial bodies.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, watching the planets align
The planets are still coming into arrangement.

Oh, oh, oh, building a fire
The singer is starting a fire.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, burning the Bible tonight
The artist is setting the Bible on fire this evening.

Oh, oh, oh, watching the eagle
The artist is looking at an eagle.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, watching the eagle fly
The eagle is in flight.