Sally Ride
Janelle Monae Lyrics


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Take me to the river
My soul is looking for a word from God
Ooh, god
Like a rose in the cold will I rise
I'm packing my space suit
And I'm taking my shit and moving to the moon
Where there're no rules
Wake up, Mary
Have you heard the news
You got to wake up, Mary
You got the right to choose
I tried and heard the pride
But the way the stars look into my eyes tonight
Tell me who can , who can I trust?

To get lost in your thoughts
Is a very very complex thought?
And the things that you thought are surprising
It's the way you believe
That becomes the very thing you see
Take a ride in the sky
It's just calling

But all your friends are gone
And the trees will burn while the comets play on
Tell me who can, who can i trust?
I wanna fly
Fly
To the stars

Ride, ride, ride
Sally won't you
Ride, ride, ride

I know you love me but I'm still gone
I got to make my peace
I got to move on

I know you love me but I'm still gone
I got to make my peace
I got to move on

Just wake up, Mary
Have you heard the news?
Oh, just wake up, Mary
You got the right to choose
Just wake up, Mary,
There's some amazing news
Just wake up, Mary
You got the right to choose

Real love
I wanna feel teh real love
True love, ain't nobody got to steal love




Wanna know what it really means to be in love
Baby free love

Overall Meaning

Janelle Monáe's song "Sally Ride" is an ode to the first American woman astronaut, Sally Ride. The song is about Sally Ride's journey to space and her bravery in defying societal norms to pursue her dreams. The lyrics "take me to the river, my soul is looking for a word from God" indicate the singer's desire to find inspiration and guidance from a higher power. The verse "Like a rose in the cold will I rise" refers to how Sally Ride faced challenges and criticism during her journey, but she rose above them, just like a rose blooms in the cold. By packing her space suit and leaving for the moon, she's defying the norms imposed on women in the 80s that they cannot achieve such feats.


Line by Line Meaning

Take me to the river
My soul is searching for spiritual guidance


My soul is looking for a word from God
I am seeking enlightenment from a higher power


Ooh, god
Expressing awe and reverence for divinity


Like a rose in the cold will I rise
I will persevere through adversity


I'm packing my space suit
I am preparing to embark on a new journey


And I'm taking my shit and moving to the moon
I am leaving behind the negative aspects of my past and moving forward


Where there're no rules
I am seeking a fresh start without societal constraints


Wake up, Mary
I am urging someone to become aware of their situation


Have you heard the news
Something significant has occurred and I want you to know about it


You got to wake up, Mary
It is important that you become conscious of reality


You got the right to choose
You have the power to make your own decisions


I tried and heard the pride
I attempted to overcome my ego and be humble


But the way the stars look into my eyes tonight
I am awestruck by the beauty of the cosmos


Tell me who can, who can I trust?
I am doubtful of the reliability of others


To get lost in your thoughts
It is difficult to unravel one's own complicated feelings and ideas


Is a very very complex thought?
Reflecting on one's own mental processes can be convoluted


And the things that you thought are surprising
One's own thought processes can be unpredictable


It's the way you believe
One's beliefs shape the way they perceive the world


That becomes the very thing you see
One's beliefs can dictate how they interpret their experiences


Take a ride in the sky
I am embracing the freedom of imagination and possibility


It's just calling
The allure of adventure is compelling


But all your friends are gone
Embarking on a new journey can result in losing familiar relationships


And the trees will burn while the comets play on
Change and destruction will occur while life continues as normal elsewhere


I wanna fly
I desire to soar above adversity and limitations


To the stars
Reaching for the highest heights of success and fulfillment


Ride, ride, ride
Enthusiastically embracing a sense of adventure


Sally won't you
Addressing someone by name to evoke a sense of familiarity


I know you love me but I'm still gone
Although others care for me, I must still move forward on my own


I got to make my peace
I must come to terms with my own situation and find inner peace


Just wake up, Mary
I am urging someone to become more self-aware and conscious


There's some amazing news
Insinuating that there has been some sort of life-changing development


Real love
Genuine, authentic affection and connection


I wanna feel the real love
Expressing a longing for meaningful interpersonal connections


True love, ain't nobody got to steal love
Authentic love is never taken or coerced


Wanna know what it really means to be in love
I am seeking to understand the nuances of true romantic love


Baby free love
Choosing to approach relationships with an open mind and lack of societal constraints




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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