Walking in Space
Hair Lyrics


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Doors locked (doors locked)
Blinds pulled (blinds pulled)
Lights low (lights low)
Flames high (flames high)

My body (my body)
My body
My body (my body)
My body

My body
Is walking in space
My soul is in orbit
With God face to face

Floating, flipping
Flying, tripping

Tripping from Pottsville to Mainline
Tripping from Mainline to Moonville

(Tripping from "Pot"sville to Starlight
Tripping from Starlight to Moonville)

On a rocket to
The Fourth Dimension
Total self awareness
The intention

My mind is as clear as country air
I feel my flesh, all colors mesh

Red black
Blue brown
Yellow crimson
Green orange
Purple pink
Violet white
White white
White white
White white

All the clouds are cumuloft
Walking in space
Oh my God your skin is soft
I love your face

How dare they try to end this beauty?
How dare they try to end this beauty?

To keep us under foot
They bury us in soot
Pretending it's a chore
To ship us off to war

In this dive
We rediscover sensation
In this dive
We rediscover sensation

Walking in space
We find the purpose of peace
The beauty of life
You can no longer hide

Our eyes are open
Our eyes are open
Our eyes are open




Our eyes are open
Wide wide wide!

Overall Meaning

"Walking in Space" is a song from the musical Hair, which was first performed in 1967. The song is a psychedelic exploration of space and the human mind, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and social unrest.


The opening lines set the scene for an intimate, sensory experience: the doors are locked, blinds are pulled, lights are low, and flames are high. The repetition of "my body" emphasizes the physicality of the experience. The singer's body is walking in space, while their soul is in orbit, face to face with God. The imagery is abstract and psychedelic, as they float, flip, fly and trip through space.


The lyrics then transition to a journey through different places, with references to Pottsville, Mainline, Starlight, and Moonville. These could represent different locations, states of mind, or planes of existence. The singer is on a rocket to the Fourth Dimension, seeking total self-awareness.


The song then shifts to a social commentary on the Vietnam War and the political climate of the time. The singer recognizes the beauty of life and the purpose of peace, but also acknowledges the oppression and injustice that keep people buried in soot and shipped off to war. The song ends with a triumphant declaration that "our eyes are open wide," suggesting a newfound awareness and potential for change.


Overall, "Walking in Space" is a song that explores both the personal and political dimensions of human experience, using abstract and psychedelic language to create a vivid and immersive atmosphere.


Line by Line Meaning

Doors locked (doors locked)
The doors are locked securely.


Blinds pulled (blinds pulled)
The window blinds are closed.


Lights low (lights low)
The lights are dimmed.


Flames high (flames high)
The flames are burning brightly.


My body (my body)
Referring to the performer's physical form.


My body
Still referring to the performer's physical form.


My body (my body)
Continuing to refer to the performer's physical form.


Is walking in space
The performer feels as though their body is walking in outer space.


My soul is in orbit
The performer's inner being is in orbit.


With God face to face
The performer feels a spiritual connection with God.


Floating, flipping
The performer is experiencing a sense of weightlessness while tumbling around.


Flying, tripping
The performer is flying and stumbling around.


Tripping from Pottsville to Mainline
The performer feels disoriented and is tripping from one place to another.


Tripping from Mainline to Moonville
Continuing to feel disoriented and stumbling around from place to place.


(Tripping from "Pot"sville to Starlight
An alternative reading of "Pottsville" and "Starlight" may be used as replacements for "Mainline" and "Moonville".


Tripping from Starlight to Moonville)
Continuing to feel disoriented and stumbling around from place to place.


On a rocket to
The performer is imagining traveling on a rocket.


The Fourth Dimension
The performer imagines traveling to the fourth dimension.


Total self awareness
The performer feels fully aware of themselves and their surroundings.


The intention
The performer has a sense of purpose.


My mind is as clear as country air
The performer has a clear and focused mind.


I feel my flesh, all colors mesh
The performer is experiencing sensory perceptions and sensations.


Red black
The performer is sensing the color red mixed with the color black.


Blue brown
The performer is sensing the color blue mixed with the color brown.


Yellow crimson
The performer is sensing the color yellow mixed with the color crimson.


Green orange
The performer is sensing the color green mixed with the color orange.


Purple pink
The performer is sensing the color purple mixed with the color pink.


Violet white
The performer is sensing the color violet mixed with the color white.


White white
The performer is sensing the color white mixed with the color white.


White white
Continuing to sense the color white mixed with the color white.


White white
Continuing to sense the color white mixed with the color white.


All the clouds are cumuloft
The performer is imagining experiencing clouds in space.


Walking in space
The performer feels as though they're walking while being weightless in space.


Oh my God your skin is soft
The performer is expressing admiration for someone's soft skin.


I love your face
The performer admires the appearance of the person in question.


How dare they try to end this beauty?
The performer is outraged at the thought of ending something beautiful.


To keep us under foot
Referring to oppression or control over people.


They bury us in soot
Referring to suffocation, smothering, or obscurity.


Pretending it's a chore
Referring to misrepresentation and deception.


To ship us off to war
Referring to sending people to war.


In this dive
Referring to a dive bar or other low-class environment.


We rediscover sensation
Referring to rediscovering a sense of awareness and perception.


Walking in space
Referring to the feeling of walking about weightlessly in space.


We find the purpose of peace
Referring to discovering the root of peace.


The beauty of life
Referring to the beauty of life in general.


You can no longer hide
Referring to something being revealed or discovered.


Our eyes are open
Our eyes being open to things we hadn't previously noticed.


Our eyes are open
Continuing to refer to our eyes being open.


Our eyes are open
Continuing to refer to our eyes being open.


Our eyes are open
Concluding the repetition of our eyes being open.


Wide wide wide!
Referring to the width and depth of awareness and perception.




Contributed by Jack N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Carly Carlucci

I grew up on this movie & think the way they executed “Walking in Space” is part of why it’s BY FAR my fave song from Hair.

CraigFrancisSoto

The young girl's singing voice is dubbed in by Betty Buckley. Her marvelous voice is instantly recognisable to me.

Dave Richardson

How dare they try to end this beauty ❣️

irreverend100

As the wife of a Canadian soldier, the most poignant moment for me in this song comes at 3:08. Soldiers in this country may sign up willingly but governments everywhere, including our own need to take that offering more seriously and treat it with much greater respect. Questioning war and working for peace and the best possible ways to "support our troops".

jasmaart

Always, I mean always my tears start dropping when this little girl start singing.

Kristina B.

me too

Kristina B.

Me too

Ivy Dragonn

Me too

Elvir De Romeri

me too...

CraigFrancisSoto

That's the great Betty Buckley singing for the Vietnamese girl. I'd know that wonderful voice anywhere

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