Helicopter
Andy Partridge/XTC Lyrics
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I'm crouching here with a telescope in hand
Looking across our lego land
I really think it's about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
I really think its about time that she came down
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
The air male that she pick up
The air male that she pick up, oh oh oh
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stopped her, stopped her
When she's up there twirling round, round, round
Just like a helicopter, copter
Oh heli, oh heli
Now she's away from convent she's gone wild
She's grown from a nice young lady to a child
I really think its about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
I really think it's about time that she came down
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
The air male that she pick up
The air male that she pick up, oh oh oh
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there twirling round, round, round
Just like a helicopter, copter
Oh heli, oh heli
Oh heli, oh heli
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there twirling round, round, round
Just like a helicopter, copter
Oh heli, oh heli, oh heli, awh
When she's up there twirling round, round, round, round, round, round
Like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town, look out town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there floating round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round, r, r, r, r, r
Oh heli, oh heli
"Heliocopter" is a satirical commentary by Andy Partridge/XTC about the female liberation movement in the late 1970s. The song portrays a woman who is liberated and free to do as she likes, even if it means "laughing, giggling, and twirling round just like a helicopter," which the singer finds disturbing. He watches her from a distance, crouching with a telescope in hand, and feels like it's about time that she came down to earth. The song also criticizes the societal norms imposed on women and the objectification and commodification of their bodies.
The singer's use of the word "heli" or "heliocopter" is a play on words, where heli comes from the Greek word for sun, and copter is a slang word for a woman who flies from man to man. The Lego Land imagery represents the world's plasticine and artificial nature, where the woman is the only thing that is "real" and "obscene" enough to be heard. The singer also dislikes the "airmail" that she picks up or the men she is involved with, conveying his feelings of possessiveness and jealousy towards her.
Overall, "Helicopter" represents the changing views on women's freedom of choice and sexuality, where the singer's feelings of discomfort and jealousy reveal his own insecurity and the rigid societal norms of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh heli, oh heli
The singer is calling out to a helicopter in the sky.
I'm crouching here with a telescope in hand
The singer is keeping a lookout for the helicopter using a telescope from his position.
Looking across our lego land
The singer is using his telescope to observe the familiar toy-like city streets below.
I really think it's about time that she came down
The artist is suggesting that the helicopter needs to come down for some reason.
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
The artist is describing the helicopter as a playful and noisy bird-like machine.
She got to be obscene to be obheard
The singer is interpreting the helicopter’s loud noises as being crude or indecent.
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
The singer is taking issue with the fact that the helicopter is carrying air mail.
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there twirling round, round, round
Just like a helicopter, copter
Oh heli, oh heli
The artist is concern about the helicopter, since it is twirling around up in the air like a toy, and he needs to stop it.
Now she's away from convent she's gone wild
She's grown from a nice young lady to a child
I really think its about time that she came down
The artist is worried that the helicopter, which was once disciplined, has become uncontrolled and dangerous.
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there twirling round, round, round
Just like a helicopter, copter
Oh heli, oh heli
The artist is urging the pilot of the helicopter to land safely, while also emphasizing the dangerous consequences of continuing to circle in the air.
When she's up there twirling round, round, round, round, round, round
Like a helicopter, copter
She's landing on the town, look out town
It's about time that I stop her, stop her
When she's up there floating round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round, round, round, r, r, r, r, r
Oh heli, oh heli
The singer is worried about the helicopter crashing on the ground, and urges the pilot to be careful and land safely.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: A. PARTRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind