Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.
Dutton, still in high school at Germantown Friends School, began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After a year of college, he relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The name G. Love doesn't really have that much of a story to it. The 'G' stands for Good as said in many radio interviews. He said in an interview that the 'Love' was just there because it sounded right.
G. Love featured Jack Johnson on his 1999 LP Philadelphonic playing an early version of Jack Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" when Jack was an unknown artist. Jack later featured the song on his 2003 LP On and On.
Known nowadays for his excellent live shows, he is often seen touring with Jack Johnson, who signed G. Love to his record label Brushfire Records. He has made appearances on the records of artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Donavon Frankenreiter.
Astronaut
G. Love Lyrics
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Some of these days
I just can't seem to get out of bed
Waking up spider webs growing up in my hair
I've been last; tumbleweeds growin up in my face
It seems just like it's a good time to blast off to space
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Yeah
Some of these days despite all the things that in my head
Some of the days I love you despite all the shit you said
Tumbleweeds, rolling on rolling on around this town
I'm blasting off; I don't even think I hang around
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Yeah
Should I leave?
I should have left a long time ago
Should I leave?
I should have left a long time ago
Should I leave?
I should have left a long time ago
Should I leave?
I should have left a long time ago
I just need a spaceship to get me right out of here
I wish I had never met you let you in my stratosphere
Spider webs getting in my brain
I'm the brother that you drove insane
I'm just a kid from the Milky Way
I'm blasting off momma I can't stay
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Right about now
Momma I'm an astronaut
Yeah
Beam me up, beam me up Scotty
Beam me up yeah
Beam me up, beam me up Scotty
Get me out of here
Beam me up, beam me up Scotty
Beam me up yeah
Beam me up, beam me up Scotty
Get me out of here
The song "Astronaut" by G. Love begins with lyrics describing the singer's state of mind, which is one of feeling stuck and unmotivated. The imagery of spider webs growing in his hair and tumbleweeds growing on his face create a sense of lethargy and neglect. However, the singer has found a way to escape this feeling by imagining that he is an astronaut. He repeats the phrase "Momma I'm an astronaut" throughout the song, as if to remind himself and convince himself of his newfound sense of purpose.
The second verse of the song shifts to the topic of a failed relationship. Despite the negative things that were said, the singer still feels love towards the other person. However, he becomes resolved to leave the town and the relationship behind. He needs a spaceship to do so, and wishes he had never let the other person into his life in the first place.
The repetition of "beam me up, Scotty" towards the end of the song conjures up imagery of Star Trek and the idea of being transported to a different place, providing a fitting end to the theme of the song.
Overall, the song "Astronaut" is about escapism and the desire to leave behind negative emotions and situations. The idea of imagining oneself as an astronaut serves as a metaphor for finding a way to escape such situations and move on to a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of these days
On certain days
I just can't seem to get out of bed
It's hard to find the motivation to leave bed
Waking up spider webs growing up in my hair
Feeling groggy and disheveled
I've been last; tumbleweeds growin up in my face
Feeling neglected and alone
It seems just like it's a good time to blast off to space
Wanting to escape from current circumstances
Right about now
At this moment
Momma I'm an astronaut
Feeling like an explorer on an otherworldly adventure
Some of these days despite all the things that in my head
On certain days, despite inner turmoil
Some of the days I love you despite all the shit you said
On certain days, despite conflict and negative words
Tumbleweeds, rolling on rolling on around this town
Feeling a sense of emptiness and loneliness in their surroundings
I'm blasting off; I don't even think I hang around
Wishing to leave soon and not looking back
Should I leave?
Questioning the decision to stay or go
I should have left a long time ago
Regretting not leaving earlier
I just need a spaceship to get me right out of here
Desiring a means of escape
I wish I had never met you let you in my stratosphere
Regretting the relationship and its impact
Spider webs getting in my brain
Feeling weighed down and trapped
I'm the brother that you drove insane
Feeling driven to madness by someone else
I'm just a kid from the Milky Way
Feeling small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things
Beam me up, beam me up Scotty
Requesting to be taken away from the current location
Get me out of here
Desperately wanting to leave
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARRETT DUTTON, JASON BROWN, JAMES H PRESCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind