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Satellite of Love
The Velvet Underground Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In this world as we know it
Sorrows come and go
Now we see the human race
Has put it's footprints on the moon's face

Satellite's gone up to the sky
But it's not as nice as looking in your eyes

Woh, take it for a little while
No, I could watch it on tv, yeah

Satellite of love, oh, satellite of love
Satellite of love, satellite of

Satellite's gone up to the sky
And it's going to drive me out of my mind

Woh, take it for a little while
No, I can watch it on tv, yeah

Satellite of love, satellite of love
Satellite of love, satellite of

I've been told, baby, you've been bold
To winkin', blinkin' and nod
Monday, tuesday, wednesday and thursday
To winkin', blinkin' and nod

Satellite of love, satellite of love
Satellite of love, satellite of

Satellite of love
Satellite of love, it's just a little bit of
A satellite of love

Overall Meaning

The Velvet Underground's "Satellite of Love" is a fascinating song that explores the limitations of human connection and the different ways we try to replace it in the modern world. The song juxtaposes the incredible achievement of the human race putting its footprints on the moon's surface with the loneliness and longing felt by the singer for the person he loves. The satellite that has been sent up to the sky is a symbol of our need to connect with one another, to reach out and find other people like us, and ultimately to be accepted for who we are. But watching a satellite on TV or looking at the moon cannot replace the real human connection we crave.


The second half of the song introduces a new character, a woman who has been busy "winkin', blinkin', and nod[ding]" all week. The song hints strongly at a sexual relationship, with the woman's behavior suggesting that she may be cheating on her partner with the singer. The satellite of love becomes a metaphor for the singer's own desire and his feelings of isolation, longing, and need for genuine connection with someone.


In summary, the song evokes feelings of loneliness, displacement, and seeking for a genuine connection through the symbol of the satellite, the moon, and a woman who may or may not satisfy the singer's needs for connection.



Line by Line Meaning

In this world as we know it
This song describes life as it is experienced in our world


Sorrows come and go
There will always be sorrows, but they come and go


Now we see the human race
The song focuses on the human race and its achievements


Has put its footprints on the moon's face
The human race has achieved the remarkable feat of landing on the moon and leaving its mark there


Satellite's gone up to the sky
While satellites have launched into space, they can't compare to looking into a loved one's eyes


But it's not as nice as looking in your eyes
Satellites may be impressive, but they can't compare to the intimacy of looking into someone's eyes


Woh, take it for a little while
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the world and the people in it


No, I could watch it on TV, yeah
While satellites and space exploration are fascinating, they can still be appreciated from the comfort of home


Satellite of love, oh, satellite of love
The song repeats the phrase 'satellite of love' to emphasize its importance


Satellite's gone up to the sky
Again, the song notes the launch of satellites


And it's going to drive me out of my mind
Despite the excitement of space exploration, it can also be overwhelming and stressful


Woh, take it for a little while
Take a break from the overwhelming nature of the world and appreciate the little things in life


No, I can watch it on TV, yeah
The beauty and majesty of space can still be appreciated without actually leaving home


I've been told, baby, you've been bold
The song takes a turn to focus on an individual relationship


To winkin', blinkin' and nod
The lyrics use playful language to describe the ups and downs of a relationship


Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
The relationship doesn't take time off, it continues every day


Satellite of love, satellite of love
The song returns to its central theme of the importance of love


Satellite of love, satellite of
This repetition furthers the emphasis on love


Satellite of love
The song ends by repeating its title to drive home its message of the significance of love




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

@felsing137

Greatest outro ever. Aaaaoooooooo.. RIP Lou and David. Two of the greatest.

@NormAppleton

Not even the best on the same record. Andy's Chest is much better.

@Goatchild90

@Norm Appleton Stop it bro

@jakebrandt420

Goose bumps for sure

@halcyon289

Check out Silent Sorrows in Empty Boats by Genesis.

@nookiebroon4424

Mick's dead too, you know.

14 More Replies...

@toddfoster8705

David Bowies contribution on back ups... inspiring and powerful over Lou's poetry.

@TootsieB

Todd, yes perfect unity of two individually unique voices. Love those high notes Bowie does at the end. So glad they worked together on such an amazing album, we are so lucky to have had them both.

@Wladislav

I love playing this together with Gimme Shelter since both songs are elevated to masterpiece level by the backing vocals.

@qwj68boots

Todd Foster
That's a real good producer, along with Mick Ronson.

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