O Superman
Boys Noize Lyrics

O Superman.
The following lines are a message from an unknown entity who is identifying themselves as Superman.

O judge.
The singer is acknowledging the presence of a judge, possibly impending judgment on something spoken about later in the song.

O Mom and Dad.
The singer is addressing their parents specifically in the message.

Mom and Dad.
The artist repeats their address to Mom and Dad as if speaking directly to them and acknowledging their presence.

O Superman.
The unknown entity, dubbed Superman, starts off the next part of their message.

O judge.
The judge is addressed again, possibly meaning that this message is related to or seeking resolution in a legal situation.

O Mom and Dad.
The entity again addresses the parents, still acknowledging them as being present.

Mom and Dad.
The artist repeats their address to Mom and Dad as if speaking directly to them and acknowledging their presence.

Hi.
The entity greets the listener in a casual tone.

I'm not home right now.
The entity establishes that they are not presently at a location the listener might expect them to be.

But if you want to leave a message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
The entity offers the listener a way to communicate with them, despite not being immediately present.

Hello?
The listener is possibly trying to reach the artist, to whom the entity is relaying this message.

This is your Mother.
The voice switches from the entity to the mother of the listener, possibly suggested by the listener leaving a message on an answering machine or other similar technology.

Are you there?
The mother is attempting to connect with their child and establish their location and availability.

Are you coming home?
The mother may be concerned with the listener coming home or not.

Hello?
Possibly repeated, the mother is trying to find out where their child is and if they are listening to this message.

Is anybody home?
The mother is trying to determine if their child is at their residence or if they need to be contacted elsewhere.

Well, you don't know me, but I know you.
The unknown entity, now speaking again, is establishing a connection with the listener - they have information that only the listener (and possibly their family) would have but the listener is not immediately recognizable to the entity.

And I've got a message to give to you.
The entity specifically has a message to give to the listener.

Here come the planes.
The entity is possibly referring to airplanes or a military invasion, that something is approaching the listener's location from the sky.

So you better get ready.
The listener may need to respond to or flee from whatever is coming.

Ready to go.
The listener must be prepared to leave or potentially face the consequences of not leaving.

You can come as you are, but pay as you go.
The listener can leave with only what they have on them, but they will have to pay, supposedly meaning that there is some sort of cost to fleeing.

Pay as you go.
Reiterating the cost of leaving.

And I said: OK.
The singer confirms that they understand the conditions given to them.

Who is this really?
The listener is questioning or trying to discern the true identity of the message's sender.

And the voice said: This is the hand, the hand that takes.
The unknown entity identifies itself as the hand, possibly in reference to the phrase 'invisible hand', with connotations of operations behind the scenes.

This is the hand, the hand that takes.
Reiterating their identity as a force that takes.

This is the hand, the hand that takes.
Again reiterating their mission as a hand that takes.

Here come the planes.
Reiterating the approach of airplanes or an invasion.

They're American planes.
Identifying the origin of the approaching planes as being American.

Made in America.
Further emphasizing the planes were produced in America.

Smoking or non-smoking?
Possibly referencing the offering of smoking or non-smoking sections of an airplane or more generally a decision the listener must make.

And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Quoting the United States Postal Service motto, the entity would not be deterred in their activity and suggests that the message they're giving is important enough to be delivered regardless of the conditions.

'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice.
The entity speaks on the relationship between love and justice, possibly alluding to the idea that there are consequences when love is not present or justice is not served.

And when justive is gone, there's always force.
Further elaborating on the relationship between love, justice, and force - when one is gone, another takes its place.

And when force is gone, there's always Mom.
Love and Mom are associated here, with Mom possibly being a source of comfort and protection when force is not present or effective.

Hi Mom!
Returning to the mother's voice from earlier.

So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
The singer wants their mother to embrace them.

So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Reiterating the desire for a comforting embrace.

In your automatic arms.
A strange descriptor for the mother's arms, evocative of unfeeling technology or machinery.

Your electronic arms.
Further extrapolating on the idea of the mother's holding arms and casting them in an almost futuristic, industrial light.

In your arms.
Returning to the idea of the mother as the comforting presence that remains when other options are exhausted.

So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Reiterating the artist's desire to be held by their mother.

Your petrochemical arms.
Another odd descriptor for the mother's arms, suggesting not only industry but pollution and environmental concerns.

Your military arms.
The idea of the mother's arms is turned even further from the traditional comforting image and is instead associated with conflict and violence.

In your electronic arms.
Reiterating the idea of industry and technology in relation to the mother and her possible role as a caregiver despite this.