Shortly after, they recruited their good friend and photographer Glenn Gregory on vocals to complete their lineup for Heaven 17. Contrary to popular belief, they were not 'New Romantics' per se and had different visual characteristics than groups such as Spandau Ballet and the Culture Club. Like The Human League, Heaven 17 heavily used synthesizers and drum machines while taking influence from the minimalist electronica music of the 70s.
They had a few minor hits in their early days, including the song "Play To Win" that featured on the album 'Penthouse and Pavement'. Their debut single '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' from the same album attracted some attention, became a left-wing anthem for a while, and was banned by the BBC because of its overtly political lyrics, but it still reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.
Major chart success eluded them until the single 'Temptation' (in which they were augmented by the vocalist Carol Kenyon) reached number 2 in the UK charts in summer 1983. Other songs from the same album, The Luxury Gap, also charted though not as high - 'Come Live With Me' reached number 5 in the UK, 'Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry' reached number 17, and 'Let Me Go', reaching 41 in November 1982. The album itself charted at their best ever position, number four.
At the end of 1983, the band helped re-launch Tina Turner's solo career, producing and providing backing vocals on her debut hit 'Let's Stay Together'. 1984 featured the release of the moderately successful How Men Are, which reached number 12.
The band also worked on the Band Aid single at the end of 1984, with Gregory supplying vocals alongside Midge Ure and Sting. However, they did not perform at Live Aid the following year.
Pleasure One (featuring the single 'Trouble') appeared in 1986 and it was followed up in 1988 with Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho (featuring the single 'Train Of Love In Motion'). The early 90's were a quiet period for the band and they wouldn't work together as Heaven 17 until 1996's Bigger Than America. In the preceding years, Marsh and Ware produced a second B.E.F. album to 1981's original Music of Quality and Distinction and Gregory formed the band Ugly. Ware became an in-demand producer, working for the likes of Terence Trent D'Arby, Alison Moyet and Erasure. 2005 saw the release of the long-awaited Before After; the album having a much more contemporary dance sound compared to previous albums.
Rocket Man
Heaven 17 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zero hour nine AM
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Heaven 17's "Rocket Man" is a song about an astronaut's journey to space. The astronaut packs his bags, says goodbye to his wife, and prepares for the journey. He expresses his longing for his wife and for Earth as he embarks on the lonely and timeless flight. He knows that it will be a long time before he returns and that he will not be the same person when he does. The astronaut is depicted as a "rocket man" who is burning out his fuse up there alone. He acknowledges that he doesn't understand all the science behind what he does, but that it's just his job five days a week.
The song is a poignant commentary on the isolation and loneliness that can come with pursuing scientific advancement and exploration. The "rocket man" is a symbol of the sacrifices that must be made for progress, including leaving behind loved ones and familiar surroundings. The song also addresses the possible consequences of seeking life on other planets, highlighting the harsh realities of Mars and the difficulty of raising children in such an environment. Overall, the song is a reminder that while scientific exploration is important and exciting, it comes with its own unique set of challenges and sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
My wife prepared my belongings for my mission ahead of time
Zero hour nine AM
My launch is scheduled for 9:00am
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I will be experiencing the effects of space travel, feeling weightless and free
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
I feel a great longing for the planet and people left behind
It's lonely out in space
The vastness of the universe can feel isolating and desolate
On such a timeless flight
The journey feels infinite and unchanging, as time takes on a new meaning
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
I anticipate that my return to Earth will take a significant amount of time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
It will take returning to the planet to break the spell of space travel and readjust to life on Earth
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Those who have not experienced space travel cannot fully understand the profound changes that occur within an astronaut
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
I have become someone new, transformed by my experiences in space
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
The intensity of space travel can take a toll on the astronaut's physical and mental health
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
The harsh conditions and lack of resources on the red planet make it unsuitable for raising a family
In fact it's cold as hell
Mars' freezing temperatures make it inhospitable to human life
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
There are no people on Mars to help raise children, making it even more difficult
And all this science I don't understand
The complexity of space travel and exploration is beyond my comprehension
It's just my job five days a week
As an astronaut, I perform my duties on a scheduled basis like any other profession
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Once again, I anticipate a lengthy time away from Earth
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
Returning to Earth will end my time in space and allow me to reconnect with the familiar
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
As gravity reclaims me, I will feel the full force of the planet again
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
I will never be the same after my experiences in space
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
The solitude and challenges of space travel can take a heavy toll
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The length and challenges of the journey will stick with me for a long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
Finally returning to Earth will be a pivotal moment of reintegration and adjustment
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Even upon my return, the person who left for space is forever transformed by the experience
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
The transformation and challenges I have endured have shaken me to my core
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
The harsh realities and emotions of space travel are inescapable
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The lasting impact and implications of space travel cannot be overstated
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The enduring impact of space travel will stay with me for the rest of my life
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The gravity of the experiences I have had will stay with me for a long time to come
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The journey, the transformation, and the memories will always be with me
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The profound changes that have occurred will forever be a part of me
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
The journey of life has been altered in significant ways due to my time in space
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sol As
Glen's voice sounds amazing here!
Thomas Rabone Jr
Can’t get enough of this version. Does precisely what a cover should- reimagine a classic.
882richie
One of my all time favourite records covered by one of my all time favourite bands! Doesn't get better than that.🙂
Diarmuid Buckley
Oh wow ...that bass...bring it up in mix someone its amazing. Glen Gregory's vocals have never got as much credit as they deserve..my teen soundtrack was penthouse and pavement, if you don't know it check it out !!
Kevin Wilkinson
Absolutely fantastic đź’–
R W
Great cover. Let's give the bassist a bit of credit here.
Solon V
Absolutely fantastic cover of this song!
estudiom142
Excelente trabajo c un clasico! SDS
Eric Jourdain
Splendid!
Julian Abrego
VersiĂłn Epica