Jas Mann had formerly been in an indie music band, called The Sandkings, which he left in 1992, because of musical differences.
Babylon Zoo was signed to Phonogram Records after A&R rep Clive Black heard their first three-track demo tape in May 1993. When Black moved to Warner Bros. Records in 1993, he took Mann's contract with him. An album had been prepared and sleeves for a single, "Fire Guided Light", were printed, but Babylon Zoo's debut was put on hold again when Black moved once more to EMI in 1995, where the band were signed on to a seven-album contract.
However, promotional copies of the song "Spaceman" had already been distributed, and chosen to tie in with the release of a new Levi's jeans TV advert. The single went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart and also went to Number 1 in the single charts in twenty-three countries.
An album entitled The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes was produced at Mann's New Atlantis Productions music/artwork/video centre. It was released in 1996 and included new-age tracks such as "Is Your Soul for Sale?" and "I'm Cracking Up I Need a Pill". It debuted at #6 on the album charts and reached the Top 20 in 17 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
In 1997, Jas Mann was lampooned on the channel 4 TV series, Brass Eye.
Three years later, in 1999, a follow-up album was released entitled King Kong Groover, but Mann decided not to promote the album as he was not getting support from his label EMI since the departure of the man who had signed him, Clive Black. Mann subsequently decided to move to India and work for an aid agency.
Years active 1992–2000
Honeymoon in Space
Babylon Zoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think we're about to lose control
Space police say to me
Hello, Hello, Hello
Is it me, nobody telephoned
Electric rain hangin' over me
I think we've finally lost control
That's why your garden never grows
But I'm afraid to say hello, hello, hello
*When tomorrow comes they'll wipe your fears away
Celebrating life in space
When the morning comes they'll wipe your fears away
Life on earth will stay the same
She flies with grace (Glides with grace)
How I love the taste (I love the taste)
Honeymoon in space (space, space, space...)
Better day hangin' over me
I think we've finally lost control
Space police say to me
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello (Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello)
Is it me, nobody telephoned
It it me, nobody ever called
*Repeat twice
She glides with taste
I love the taste
Honeymoon in space
The lyrics of "Honeymoon in Space" by Babylon Zoo present a unique experience of electric rain and space police that hang over the persona's head. The persona feels like they are about to lose control, which leads them to interact with the space police who say, "Hello, Hello, Hello." The persona expresses their dissatisfaction and confusion about the situation and wonders if it is them that nobody ever telephoned. The phrase, "That's why your garden never grows," could be a metaphor for being unable to cultivate anything meaningful or productive in one's life because they are too preoccupied with the uncertainty of life. It is like being lost in space where nothing blooms, nothing grows, and nothing lives.
The persona finds solace in the idea that when tomorrow comes, everything will be alright because the fears will be wiped away, allowing them to celebrate life, even in space. However, as much as space is alluring, the refrain, "Life on earth will stay the same," suggests that it is crucial to live in the moment because life on earth is where the persona and the listeners belong. The mention of "Honeymoon in Space" at the end of the song might hint at a paradoxical notion of being able to escape the earth's constraints by having a honeymoon in space.
Line by Line Meaning
Electrics day hangin' over me
A feeling of danger and uncertainty is present
I think we're about to lose control
There is a sense of impending chaos
Space police say to me
Hello, Hello, Hello
There is a message being delivered from an unknown source
Is it me, nobody telephoned
The artist is wondering why they have been contacted
When tomorrow comes they'll wipe your fears away
Celebrating life in space
When the morning comes they'll wipe your fears away
Life on earth will stay the same
In space, there is a sense of freedom from fear and earthly bothers
She flies with grace (Glides with grace)
How I love the taste (I love the taste)
Honeymoon in space (space, space, space...)
The singer is admiring someone who embodies elegance, while dreaming of a romantic, otherworldly experience.
Better day hangin' over me
I think we've finally lost control
Space police say to me
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello (Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello)
Is it me, nobody telephoned
It it me, nobody ever called
Communications are becoming more urgent as things spiral out of control
She glides with taste
I love the taste
Honeymoon in space
The artist is still entranced by the person they admire and still longs for a celestial escape
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.