Praying To The Aliens
Gary Numan / Tubeway Army Lyrics
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"There is no one to replace"
Came into view
And he began to cry
Now only boys
That love only boys
The perfect picture
Of a boy/girl age
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens
Grey overcoat
And he could be anyone
A random poll check
"Do you ever think of women?"
They broke him down
Into a torn old queen
Living somewhere
Between dead and dying
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens
There are no more
Do you begin to see?
The corner of my eye
Could give me away
Isn't it strange
How times change?
I can't imagine
Living any other way
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens
In Gary Numan's Praying to the Aliens, the lyrics discuss a person who is coming to terms with their sexuality and gender identity. The line "Now only boys, that love only boys, the perfect picture of a boy/girl age" suggests that the person is realizing that they are attracted to people of the same gender and are struggling to fit into societal norms around gender expression. The line "Grey overcoat and he could be anyone" refers to the anonymity that comes with hiding one's true identity from the world. The person is afraid to be themselves because of the potential consequences, which has led them to feel like they are "living somewhere between dead and dying".
The chorus, "I'm praying to the aliens, I'm praying to the aliens" suggests that the person feels like an outsider and that they don't belong on Earth. They are praying to an unknown entity, hoping that they will find acceptance and understanding. The song ends on a hopeful note, "I can't imagine living any other way", suggesting that the person has come to embrace their identity and find comfort in who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Slowly the thought
As time passed, the idea
"There is no one to replace"
"There is no one who can take the place of the person who has gone away"
Came into view
Came to his mind
And he began to cry
And he started tearing up
Now only boys
Now he only loves boys
That love only boys
That only love other boys
The perfect picture
The ideal image
Of a boy/girl age
Of someone who appears androgynous
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
Grey overcoat
The man wore a gray coat
And he could be anyone
And he was anonymous
A random poll check
A spontaneous survey
"Do you ever think of women?"
"Have you ever considered romantic relationships with women?"
They broke him down
They destroyed him emotionally
Into a torn old queen
Turning him into a broken, aging homosexual man
Living somewhere
Existing in an unspecified place
Between dead and dying
Somewhere in between living and deceased
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
There are no more
They don't exist anymore
Do you begin to see?
Do you start to understand?
The corner of my eye
Something I can barely see
Could give me away
Could reveal my true identity
Isn't it strange
Don't you think it's weird
How times change?
How the world, culture, and society evolve over time?
I can't imagine
I can't even comprehend or envision
Living any other way
Living my life differently
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
I'm praying to the aliens
I'm looking for help from extraterrestrial beings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ANTHONY JAMES WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind