Nashvi… Read Full Bio ↴Catching Up With David Mead (In Four Scenes and Three Cities)
Nashville, TN, mid-1990s. . . After bouncing around the club scene in a few bands, David Mead takes the leap as a solo artist. A copper-topped kid with a tender heart and wicked sense of humor, he has one unfailing secret weapon - the kind of singing voice that can stop drunks in mid-drink and A & R guys in mid-schmooze. “A soaring but unshowy falsetto,” says Uncut. “Honeyed and compelling,” adds Entertainment Weekly.
New York City, NY, early-2000s. . . Mead signs a major label deal with RCA, former home to Elvis Presley and David Bowie. Aspiring to similar career longevity and variety, Mead locks in for a steady climb. Honing a songwriting gift that improbably takes in Broadway, Beatles, Prog and New Wave then ups the ante to something all his own, he releases a pair of critically-acclaimed records, The Luxury Of Time and Mine and Yours. “Infectious melodies,” says The Guardian. “A major tunesmith,” affirms MOJO.
Middle Of Nowhere, Indiana, mid-2000s. . . Mead tours from town to town, meeting crowds sparse or sold-out with equal gusto, leaving true believers in his wake. When he’s not on the road, he’s writing, recording (Indiana, Wherever You Are, Tangerine, Almost and Always) and lending songs to screens big (The Sweetest Thing, Boys and Girls) and small (Ed, Private Practice). He’s making loads of fans and friends. Some of them in high places. John Mayer says, “David Mead is one of my favorite singer-songwriters.” Taylor Swift tweets, “I can’t get David Mead’s ‘Nashville’ out of my head.” Joe Jackson, Fountains Of Wayne, Shelby Lynne, Ron Sexsmith all feel it too, enough to invite Mead to share stages and tours.
Nashville, 2011 . . . . 253 of Mead’s most-dedicated fans rally around his Kickstarter campaign to raise over $20K to
fund his new record Dudes. The yield on the investment? Pure pleasure, with humor, mystery, emotional wallop and dudes of all ages lurking behind a hundred unforgettable hooks. “There is no easy way for me to express the gratitude I feel for all the generous support,” Mead
says, “except to try to back it up with what I feel might be my best album to date.”
Astronaut
David Mead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cinder blocks for feet
Shufflin' through all the gazes I know better than to meet
Finally I found a home
I finally have to leave
another permanent place I'd always hoped I'd make it to
I'm not the first of the astronauts to reach first avenue
[chorus]
Cause I'm leavin the ground tonight
I'm over your ceilin'
?????????????
Life is but a dream
And though you may pretend
This is how it ends
Gone again
Gone again
so baby open your canyons up
And sweep me right along
Won't you give me your cold embrace
I'll give you one more song
Then you tell me a lie
And say you'll miss me when I'm gone
[chorus]
couldn't tell you for sure the view is better from above
I'm not the first of the astronauts to leave the place I love
The song "Astronaut" by David Mead is a contemplative reflection on the difficulties and challenges of leaving behind a comfortable and familiar life for the unknown, and perhaps even scary, parts of life. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of a person who is hesitant to leave: "So I'm hittin the town tonight, Cinder blocks for feet, Shufflin' through all the gazes I know better than to meet." This person is weighed down by the burdens of life and reluctant to face the challenges that lie ahead. However, the lyrics also suggest that this person has found a sense of security in this place, making it hard to leave.
The metaphor of an astronaut is used throughout the song as a symbol of someone who is venturing into the unknown. The line "I'm not the first of the astronauts to reach first avenue" is a reference to the first astronauts to land on the moon. By using this metaphor, the songwriter is comparing the experience of leaving one's comfort zone to the experience of venturing into outer space - both are daunting and potentially dangerous experiences. The chorus of the song is an ode to taking chances and embracing the unknown: "Cause I'm leavin the ground tonight, I'm over your ceilin'. Life is but a dream, And though you may pretend, This is how it ends, Gone again, Gone again."
Overall, the song "Astronaut" is a poignant reflection on the challenges of leaving behind a familiar life for the unknown. Using the metaphor of an astronaut, David Mead encourages us to take chances, face our fears and venture into new territory, even though it may be difficult and scary.
Line by Line Meaning
So I'm hittin the town tonight
I am going out in the city tonight.
Cinder blocks for feet
I feel weighed down and slow.
Shufflin' through all the gazes I know better than to meet
I avoid eye contact with the people I am familiar with.
Finally I found a home
I have found a place where I belong.
I finally have to leave
Unfortunately, I have to move on from this new home.
another permanent place I'd always hoped I'd make it to
I had always dreamed of finding a place to settle down.
I'm not the first of the astronauts to reach first avenue
Others have paved the way for me to discover new things.
A suburban flower tryin' to break some city rules
I am trying to explore things that are outside of my comfort zone.
Cause I'm leavin the ground tonight
I'm over your ceilin'
?????????????
I am taking off into the unknown, away from my current surroundings.
Life is but a dream
And though you may pretend
This is how it ends
Gone again
Gone again
Life is fleeting and we should make the most of it while we can.
so baby open your canyons up
And sweep me right along
Let me in and show me everything that you have to offer.
Won't you give me your cold embrace
I'll give you one more song
Even though it may not be comfortable, I am willing to stay if it means experiencing more.
Then you tell me a lie
And say you'll miss me when I'm gone
I know deep down that things will continue without me and that no one will truly miss me.
couldn't tell you for sure the view is better from above
I'm not the first of the astronauts to leave the place I love
I don't know if leaving is truly better, but I know it's been done before.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Mead
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind