Rocket Man
Bernie Taupin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
Zero hour, nine A.M.
And I'm gonna be high
As a kite by then

I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no no no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone

Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact, it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them
If you did

And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job, five days a week
A rocket man
Rocket man

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time




And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Bernie Taupin's Rocket Man describe the preparations for a space launch, with the singer indicating that his bags have been packed and that he is about to leave for his space mission. He is aware that it is going to be a long journey and that it is going to be an isolating experience, and he reflects on how much he misses his life back on Earth. As the rocket takes off, he realizes just how far away from home he really is, remarking how lonely it is out in space.


As the song progresses, the singer contemplates the scientific and social implications of space travel. He observes that Mars, one possible destination for space missions, is not a place where people can make their homes or raise their children. He also reflects on the idea that science can be a challenging subject to understand, but nonetheless, he is motivated by his job as a rocket man, spending five days a week exploring the furthest reaches of space.


Rocket Man is a poignant exploration of the isolation that can come with space travel and the sense of disconnection that can arise from being so far away from home. In addition to speaking to the experience of astronauts, the song has also been interpreted as a reflection on the sense of alienation that people can feel in contemporary society. At its heart, the song is a poignant meditation on the human longing for connection and the challenges that can arise when that connection is broken.


Line by Line Meaning

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
My wife helped me pack for my trip, knowing that I would be leaving soon.


Zero hour, nine A.M.
My journey will begin at precisely 9 in the morning.


And I'm gonna be high As a kite by then
I will be exhilarated by the experience of flying to space by then.


I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife
I feel homesick and miss being with my loved ones on Earth.


It's lonely out in space On such a timeless flight
The loneliness of being in space and the duration of the journey make time seem to stand still.


And I think it's gonna be a long, long time 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh, no no no
I anticipate that it will take a while for me to come back home and when I do, people may not recognize me for the person I have become due to my experiences in space.


I'm a rocket man Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse up here alone
I am an astronaut who lives a solitary life in space, burning through resources, and trying to accomplish my mission.


Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids In fact, it's cold as hell And there's no one there to raise them If you did
Mars is not suitable for human habitation and raising children in the harsh environment is nearly impossible.


And all this science I don't understand It's just my job, five days a week A rocket man Rocket man
I am not a scientist, but my job is to explore space using the latest technologies, and I work on this mission five days a week.


And I think it's gonna be a long, long time 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh, no, no, no I'm a rocket man Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse up here alone
I repeat my earlier thoughts about my journey being a long one, and how my experience will change me, and my life is nothing but isolation, space travel and pursuing my job in space.


And I think it's gonna be a long, long time 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh, no, no, no I'm a rocket man Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse up here alone
I reiterate my inner turmoil about my life in space and my life back on Earth after I come back home.


And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
I repeat my thoughts about the duration of my journey in space, underscoring how long it will feel and the fear of the impact it will have on my life.




Contributed by Kaelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Harper Craven

Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell had absolutely perfect chemistry and my favorite scenes in this movie had the two of them

Rebecca

One of my favorite scenes. The instant connection is so heartwarming and cute.

Erik the Green of Ireland

I bet Elton John and David Furnish's kids call Bernie Taupin their uncle or godfather.

Ace Ofspades

aww uncle bernie

I'm just some Canadian guy and I say

They have better romantic chemistry than most romcoms!!! And they're not even romantically entwined!

Billy Garcia

The musical cue at the start makes me think the song they’re talking about is Tiny Dancer...

Lolo Lolo

Does someone know what the glasses that Elton is wearing are called???

KatarínaSK

I've heard "You must be Altamont"😂😂

Patrick

superb

alohakat

NO YOU’RE CRYING

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