The Red Weed
Featuring Richard Burton Lyrics
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We're getting great pictures
Hhere at NASA Control, Pasadena
The landing craft touched down on Mars
Twenty eight kilometers from the aim point
We're looking at a remarkable landscape
Littered with different kinds of rocks
Fantastic, look at the dune field
Hey, wait. I'm getting a no go signal
Now I'm losing on of the craft
Hey, Bermuda, you getting it?
No, I lost contact
There's a lot of dust blowing up there
Now I've lost the second craft
We got problems
All contact lost, Pasadena
Maybe the antenna's
What's that flare? A green flare, coming from Mars
Kind of a green mist behind it
It's getting closer, you see it, Bermuda?
Come in, Bermuda, Houston, come in, what's going on?
Tracking station 43, Canberra, come in, Canberra
Tracking station 63, can you hear me, Madrid?
Can anybody hear me? Come in, come in
The lyrics of "The Red Weed" by featuring Richard Burton narrate the moment of a space mission attempting to land on Mars. The NASA control back on Earth reports on the progress of landing the craft on the planet. They describe the diverse array of rocks on the Mars landscape, some reddish, others purple. There is excitement for the viewers back on Earth, as the controllers watch the craft reach the aim point.
Suddenly, the narrative of the lyrics takes a turn as contact is lost with one of the crafts, followed by contact loss with the second one, which leads to panic at the NASA Control in Pasadena. They try to contact different tracking stations in Canberra and Madrid, but there's no response. Then, they spot something coming out of Mars, a green mist behind a green flare, which is mysterious and unsettling.
Overall, the lyrics describe the experience of the mission and the excitement, confusion, and apprehension it brings. They paint a vivid picture of the mission and the terror that comes with technical difficulties that lead to a breakdown of contact.
Line by Line Meaning
It's looking good, it's going good
The situation is currently favorable and progressing satisfactorily.
We're getting great pictures
We are capturing impressive visual data.
Here at NASA Control, Pasadena
This communication is originating from the NASA Control center located in Pasadena.
The landing craft touched down on Mars
The vehicle successfully landed on the surface of Mars.
Twenty eight kilometers from the aim point
The landing site is located 28 kilometers away from the targeted point.
We're looking at a remarkable landscape
The terrain is highly impressive and noteworthy to observe.
Littered with different kinds of rocks
The landscape is covered with a variety of rocks.
Red, purple, how 'bout that, Bermuda?
The rocks come in different colors such as red and purple, don't you think Bermuda?
Fantastic, look at the dune field
This dune field is truly impressive and inspiring to behold.
Hey, wait. I'm getting a no go signal
Hold on, I have received an order to stop or discontinue something.
Now I'm losing one of the craft
One of our vehicles is losing contact or malfunctioning.
Hey, Bermuda, you getting it?
Are you receiving the same signal, Bermuda?
No, I lost contact
I am no longer able to communicate with the vehicle or person in question.
There's a lot of dust blowing up there
The presence of debris or cloud of particles being propelled into the atmosphere.
Now I've lost the second craft
We have also lost contact with the second vehicle.
We got problems
There is an issue or challenge that we are currently facing.
All contact lost, Pasadena
We have lost all communication, originating from the control center in Pasadena.
Maybe the antenna's
Perhaps the issue has to do with the transmission/receiving device.
What's that flare? A green flare, coming from Mars
What is that bright burst of green light? It appears to be originating from the planet Mars.
Kind of a green mist behind it
It appears there is a green colored cloud-like emission in the wake of the flare.
It's getting closer, you see it, Bermuda?
It's moving in our direction, can you make visual observation of it, Bermuda?
Come in, Bermuda, Houston, come in, what's going on?
Please respond, we need to establish contact to understand the situation.
Tracking station 43, Canberra, come in, Canberra
Requesting communication from tracking station 43 in Canberra.
Tracking station 63, can you hear me, Madrid?
Confirmation of signal reception from tracking station 63 in Madrid.
Can anybody hear me? Come in, come in
Calling out for response from anyone who is able to receive this message.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF WAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffstone2136
The track everyone skips. Yet it is the most alien and eerie piece of the album.
@TayoEXE
I actually tend to skip the Artillery Man Returns. This song is too good. It makes me feel so... alien, beautiful, terrified, all at the same time. I don't know how though.
@hamishwhitehenderson5197
I skip anything in the album with singing- this is my absolute favourite track. It's almost like something the BBC radiophonic workshop would do.
@Hydro66
I skip absolutely none of the tracks. They’re all amazing.
@HollowHandCollective
Never! This track changed me when I was about eight. I'd never heard anything like it.
@Noobsaibot21
@_ Hydrociraptor _ Good call. At a stretch, the final track (or even the epilogue with modern day NASA) but really, I skip none when I go to listen to the album.
@jordythecat7181
I love how this combines the vibes of “the beauty of alien wildlife” and “the horror of an invasive species”
@helannavanbrakel6537
This album, musical, music has always been in my mind ever since I first heard it. Such a masterpiece Such a beautiful voice Richard Burton has. Such perfect sound, words. It's a masterpiece and so it always will be in my mind, ears, and heart.
@TaylorZanderFrancis
As a kid, the first 21 seconds used to freak me out. I have auditory sensitivity, so those low pitched drones used to play hell with my ears as a kid. Especially with that low pitched bell heard only in the original 1978 version
@mutmeista
The root of my inspiration always comes back to this album. It has NO EQUAL.