satellite
Irons Lyrics
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Desperation in my voice
I'm drifting way off course now
With very little choice
The loneliness is hard to bear
I try to calm my fear
Just hoping any second now
Desperate calls
Signal back from satellite
As my life
Flashes right in front of me
Try again, must get through
Hear me now
For I've very little time
Not much time, hear my call
Please get through
I am here
I'm stranded in space
I'm lost with a trace
I haven't a chance of getting away
Too close to the Sun
I surely will burn
Like Icarus before me
Or so legend goes
I think of my life
Reliving the past
There's nothing but wait 'til my time comes
I've had a good life
I'll do it again
Maybe I'll come back some time afresh
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
To tell them one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
If I could survive
To live one more time
I wouldn't be changing a thing at all
Done more in my life
Than some do in ten
I'd go back and do it all over again
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
And tell them that one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
There isn't much time
Must say my last rites
Nobody is here to read them to me
Must say my goodbyes
If only a line
A message to tell them in case they might find
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
To tell them that one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
In “Satellite,” Irons sings from the perspective of a space traveler who is lost and alone in the vast emptiness of space. The astronaut is trying to contact Earth but to no avail. The isolation and fear are overwhelming, and the only solace is the memory of their life on Earth. The astronaut reflects on the joys and sorrows of their life and wishes they could say goodbye to their family. Despite the circumstances, the astronaut faces death with acceptance and a sense of satisfaction, having lived life to the fullest.
The lyrics touch on themes of isolation, fear, nostalgia, and acceptance of death. The space traveler is cut off from all humanity and left to face their mortality alone. It’s a powerful message about human resilience in the face of adversity, and the importance of cherishing the people and experiences that make life meaningful.
Interestingly, the song was inspired by a radio broadcast that Irons heard in the early 1980s, in which an astronaut was struggling to communicate with Earth while on a spacewalk outside the orbiting space shuttle. The astronaut was eventually rescued, but the experience left a lasting impression on Irons and inspired him to write “Satellite.”
Line by Line Meaning
I try to call the Earth's command
Attempting to make contact with Earth for help.
Desperation in my voice
Feeling hopeless and out of options.
I'm drifting way off course now
Losing control and headed in the wrong direction.
With very little choice
Options are limited, if any.
The loneliness is hard to bear
Feeling isolated and cut off from the world.
I try to calm my fear
Attempting to control the overwhelming sense of panic.
Just hoping any second now
Anticipating contact from Earth at any moment.
Some contact filters through
Communication from Earth is received.
Desperate calls
Urgent attempts to make contact.
Signal back from satellite
Response received from the satellite.
As my life
Reflecting on my past.
Flashes right in front of me
Memories come to mind quickly and vividly.
Try again, must get through
Continuing to make attempts to contact Earth.
Hear me now
Urgently requesting attention.
For I've very little time
Limited time to communicate.
Not much time, hear my call
Urgently requesting attention with little time left.
Please get through
Requesting successful communication.
I am here
Confirming my presence and need for help.
I'm stranded in space
Trapped and unable to move or escape.
I'm lost with a trace
Unable to determine location or direction of movement.
I haven't a chance of getting away
Without help, I won't be able to escape.
Too close to the Sun
Approaching the Sun with dangerous consequences.
I surely will burn
Expecting harm or danger.
Like Icarus before me
Referencing a well-known historical myth of someone who flew too close to the Sun.
Or so legend goes
Acknowledging the uncertainty of the story.
I think of my life
Reflecting on past experiences.
Reliving the past
Replaying memories vividly.
There's nothing but wait 'til my time comes
Inability to act and waiting for fate to determine the outcome.
I've had a good life
Satisfied with experiences and accomplishments.
I'll do it again
Desire to repeat previous experiences or make the most of limited time left.
Maybe I'll come back some time afresh
Hoping to come back in another life or experience.
For I have lived my life to the full
Fully content and satisfied with previous experiences.
I have no regrets
Fully satisfied with previous experiences without any remorse.
But I wish I could talk to my family
Desire to communicate with loved ones before the end.
To tell them one last goodbye
Final farewell to loved ones.
The final frontier
Referring to the exploration of space as the last unknown frontier.
If I could survive
Hypothetically wanting to survive the current situation.
To live one more time
Desire to live and experience more.
I wouldn't be changing a thing at all
Content with previous experiences without wanting to change anything.
Done more in my life
Satisfied with the amount of experiences and accomplishments gained throughout life.
Than some do in ten
More accomplished than other people with similar lifetimes.
I'd go back and do it all over again
Desire to repeat previous experiences or make the most of limited time left.
There isn't much time
Limited time left to communicate and say goodbye.
Must say my last rites
Preparing for death with religious rituals.
Nobody is here to read them to me
Abandoned and alone without any support or help.
Must say my goodbyes
Final farewell to loved ones.
If only a line
Limited ability to communicate.
A message to tell them in case they might find
Leaving behind communication in anticipation of a potential discovery.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adrian Frederick Smith, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind