In various combinations and guises, the group had already played a long time together before the "crystalization event" in July 2000 on the slopes of the famous volcano Mt. Hood. Since then they have performed for audiences of all ages and socioeconomic groups, mostly playing close to home and for many years distributing recordings like itinerant madmen, for free.
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Astronaut
Blitzen Trapper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the leaf in the top of a tree
You better watch your step when you're comin' back down
From the city on out to the sea
And if your brothers come after me
With their horses so wild and so free
I'll be waitin' at the gate in a terrible state
With the man who holds the key
For he knows my face from a previous place
From a country in a foreign land
Throwin' dice in a game of chance on the sand
But I lost my cool and fate loves a fool
Now I'm standin' on the edge of the pack
In my spacesuit hopin' that this women will call me at last
'Cause I'm an astronaut on the shores of this grand illusion
And I'm fallin down at the sound of this beating heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Your friends all tell ya that ya gotta make a change
Gotta make this fake in so many kinda ways
Snap to the trees from the trees to the earth
From the earth to your grave from the grave to your birth
Your heart's been rappin' with ?
But the world ain't yours 'cause this heart's been sold
Gonna pay your lovers way and the ship it sails today
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my children to light the way
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my brothers to light the way
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my sisters to light the way
Gotta pave your lovers way
And the ship it sails today
So if you're gonna play your games with me
Better use some real chicery
Better get smart 'cause that lock on your heart
It ain't as heavy as it used to be
In the land without no gravity
In this windless place on the edge of space
Where the saints and the sinners have passed
With the dead satellites and the trash
In my spacesuit hopin' that this woman would call me at last
'Cause I'm an astronaut on the shores of this grand illusion
And I'm fallin' down at the sound of this beating heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
The lyrics to Blitzen Trapper's song "Astronaut" can be interpreted in multiple ways, but at the core, it seems to be about a person who has been hurt by someone they loved and is now trying to navigate life on their own. The opening lines suggest that the other person might be playing games with them or leading them on, likening them to a "leaf in the top of a tree" that is easily swayed. The singer warns them to be careful because they might "fall down" when they come back to reality.
Throughout the song, there are hints at a past relationship that went sour, where the singer lost their cool and ended up on the "edge of the pack." They seem to be trying to move on, but they are struggling, feeling lost and isolated. The space imagery that runs through the song evokes a sense of floating and detachment, as if the singer is adrift and searching for something to anchor them.
The repeated phrases "got my children to light the way," "got my brothers to light the way," and "got my sisters to light the way" suggest that the singer is seeking comfort and support from their family. They are trying to forge a new path forward, but it is a difficult journey, and they are grappling with feelings of loneliness and heartbreak. In the end, they are hoping for a connection with someone new, represented by the longing for a woman to call them.
Line by Line Meaning
Now if you're gonna play your games with me
Like the leaf in the top of a tree
You better watch your step when you're comin' back down
From the city on out to the sea
If you plan to deceive or toy with me, beware that I am perched up high like a leaf on a tree and when you come down, I will be waiting to confront you.
And if your brothers come after me
With their horses so wild and so free
I'll be waitin' at the gate in a terrible state
With the man who holds the key
And he'll treat you quite carelessly
If your associates come to retaliate, I will be prepared and will partner with someone who can defeat them. They will not treat you kindly as they know who I am and the harm you caused me earlier.
For he knows my face from a previous place
From a country in a foreign land
Throwin' dice in a game of chance on the sand
But I lost my cool and fate loves a fool
Now I'm standin' on the edge of the pack
My partner recognizes me from our past where we gambled on the beach. However, I messed up and now I am at a disadvantage in a dire situation.
In my spacesuit hopin' that this women will call me at last
'Cause I'm an astronaut on the shores of this grand illusion
And I'm fallin down at the sound of this beating heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Wearing my astronaut suit, I hope this woman will finally contact me. I am lost in a world of false promises and unrealism, and the sound of my beating heart reminds me of my struggles and disappointments.
Your friends all tell ya that ya gotta make a change
Gotta make this fake in so many kinda ways
Snap to the trees from the trees to the earth
From the earth to your grave from the grave to your birth
Your heart's been rappin' with ?
But the world ain't yours 'cause this heart's been sold
Gonna pay your lovers way and the ship it sails today
Your acquaintances are advising you to make transformations and move on from the fraudulent reality you live in. Our time on earth is limited, and your possessions and desires will not change this inevitable fate. You need to recognize the extent to which you sold out and to mend that with the people you hurt.
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my children to light the way
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my brothers to light the way
Whoa my mind now we're rollin' by and by
Got my sisters to light the way
Gotta pave your lovers way
And the ship it sails today
My thoughts are at ease, as my children, siblings, and family support me. You also need to make amends with your loved ones, and then you can take action and move forward.
So if you're gonna play your games with me
Better use some real chicery
Better get smart 'cause that lock on your heart
It ain't as heavy as it used to be
If you plan to manipulate me, make sure you know what you're doing, as my past has given me the insight to notice these tricks. Don't take my emotions for granted, as they have healed and are lighter.
In the land without no gravity
In this windless place on the edge of space
Where the saints and the sinners have passed
With the dead satellites and the trash
In my spacesuit hopin' that this woman would call me at last
'Cause I'm an astronaut on the shores of this grand illusion
And I'm fallin' down at the sound of this beating heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
Yeah, this beatin' heart
In this place without gravity, where good and bad have gone through, even with the ruins and garbage of past lives, I am still yearning for the woman's call to distinguish reality from the illusion. With the beating of my heart, I am losing hope and falling.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ERIC EARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind