U.F.O.
Jim Sullivan Lyrics
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His daddy's got a bang that's hard to beat
I bought me a ticket got a front row seat
I'm checking out the show
With a glassy eye
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky
Did he come
Lotta chicks will pull in the book I read
Only man I know that got up from the dead
Lot of people living by the words that he said
I'm checking out the show
With a glassy eye
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky
Did he come
By ufo
Think he'll ever come again a different way
Maybe he is coming though while I was away
Too much goodness is a sin today
I'm checking out the show
With a glassy eye
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky
Did he come
By ufo
There is something happening
It isn't to clear
Just a little different from the previous year
I think that happiness is getting very near
I'm checking out the show
With a glassy eye
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky
Did he come
By ufo?
Did he come
By ufo?
Did he come
By ufo?
The lyrics to Jim Sullivan's song "U.F.O." seem to be referring to a religious experience, likely inspired by the counterculture movements of the 1960s. The singer of the song is "checking out the show" - likely meaning that they are observing and perhaps participating in the various cultural and spiritual movements of the time - and they reference "the book I read" and "the words that he said," which are likely religious texts or teachings. The lines "Did he come / By ufo?" indicate that the singer is considering the possibility that their religious/spiritual experience was extraterrestrial in origin - perhaps referencing theories that ancient religious figures were actually misunderstood visitors from other planets.
The repeated chorus of "I'm checking out the show / With a glassy eye / Looking at the sun dancing through the sky" seems to be both literal and metaphorical - the singer is literally observing a performance of some kind (possibly a religious ritual or festival), but their "glassy eye" suggests that their perception of reality is somewhat altered, perhaps through drugs or meditation. The imagery of the sun dancing through the sky could be interpreted in various ways - perhaps as a metaphor for enlightenment or spiritual awakening.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the idea of spirituality in a changing cultural landscape, and the possibility that religious experience could have an otherworldly origin. It's a thought-provoking and somewhat ambiguous piece of music that leaves a lot open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Shaking like a leaf on the desert heat
I'm nervous and anxious in anticipation
His daddy's got a bang that's hard to beat
His father has something impressive or unbeatable
I bought me a ticket got a front row seat
I've secured the best spot to watch the show
I'm checking out the show
I'm observing and investigating
With a glassy eye
I'm staring blankly or dazed
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky
I'm watching the beauty and wonder of nature
Did he come
Is the person I'm waiting for here
Lotta chicks will pull in the book I read
Many people will be attracted to what I believe in
Only man I know that got up from the dead
The only person I know who has risen from the dead
Lot of people living by the words that he said
Many people follow his teachings and ideas
Think he'll ever come again a different way
Will he return in an unexpected or different form
Maybe he is coming though while I was away
Perhaps he's already arrived while I was absent
Too much goodness is a sin today
Too much kindness or virtue can be seen as negative
There is something happening
Something is going on or changing
It isn't to clear
It's not very obvious or easy to understand
Just a little different from the previous year
Slightly contrasting from the year prior
I think that happiness is getting very near
I feel that joy or contentment is close by
Did he come
Has the one I'm waiting for arrived
By ufo?
In the form of a UFO
Did he come
Has the one I'm waiting for arrived
By ufo?
In the form of a UFO
Did he come
Has the one I'm waiting for arrived
By ufo?
In the form of a UFO
Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Krissentials
(Thank you for uploading this!)
U.F.O.
"Shakin' like a leaf on the desert heat,
his daddy's got a bog that's hard to beat
Bought me a ticket got a front row seat.
I'm checkin' out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Lotta tricks were pulled in a book I read.
Only man I know that got up from the dead.
Lotta people living by the words that he said.
I'm checkin' out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Think he'll ever come again a different way
and maybe he has come and gone while I was away.
Too much goodness is a sin today.
I'm checkin' out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
There is something happening that isn't too clear.
Just a little different than in previous years.
I think that happiness is getting very near.
I'm checkin' out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Did he come by UFO?
Did he come by UFO?"
* * *
Matt Sullivan (no relation), the founder of Light in the Attic, (The indie label that reissued the record,) said, ..."One thing that one of Jim's friends pointed out was that the guitar was left in the car. If Jim was going to disappear, that would have been the one thing that he would have taken, because wherever he was in the world, he could always stand on a street corner and make a few bucks playing his guitar."
Source: NPR
@pn5119
This song seems to be about an extraterrestrial Jesus.
The first verse sets the tone. The narrator is shaking with excitement or fear as he looks at the sky through a telescope ("glassy eye") wondering whether Jesus came from outer space ("Did he come by U.F.O.?").
The second verse references Biblical miracles ("A lot of tricks were pulled in the book I read"), Jesus's resurrection ("Only man I know that got up from the dead") and Christianity ("Lot of people living by the words that he said").
The third verse speculates about the Second Coming, wondering if perhaps it has already occurred or how Jesus would fit into the modern world ("Too much goodness is a sin today").
The last verse suggests that a change is occurring ("something happening that isn't too clear") and that a big event is approaching ("happiness is getting very near"), perhaps some kind of apocalypse or rapture.
~copied~
@ChuckDeFuque
Shakin like a leaf on the desert heat,
His daddy's got a bog that's hard to beat
Bought me a ticket got a front row seat.
I'm checking out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Lotta tricks were pulled in a book I read.
Only man I know that got up from the dead.
Lotta people living by the words that he said.
I'm checking out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Think he'll ever come again a different way
And maybe he has come and gone while I was away.
Too much goodness is a sin today.
I'm checking out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
There is something happening that isn't too clear.
Just a little different than in previous years.
I think that happiness is getting very near.
I'm checking out the show with a glassy eye.
Looking at the sun dancing through the sky.
Did he come by UFO?
Did he come by UFO?
Did he come by UFO?
@sunher3434
Imagine being an artist around the same time as he not knowing of the countless of artists who are so tastefully talented yet undiscovered. Hell even up to today, cheers to all you artists. Though I might have not discovered your sound (yet) I know I’ll be as grateful as I am now listening to the good sir Jim Sullivan. We would have smoked good by the river and just played music fam. To the next life
@stephenbusscher
beautiful 😍
@mirzamaniart4311
loveee
@nayamartin5894
This song isn't as scary as i thought it was. I actually like it.
@rodneysanders9706
Naya Martin that’s exactly what I said! Lol I was scared to play it but this shit slaps
@ashleycole3260
Same
@joshl3323
I agree lmaoo
@singsong8362
Me to wtf
@EnterTheSoundscape
It’s a really beautiful song.
@Coco-mh2hm
I am from Santa Rosa, the town where Jim checked into the motel before he disappeared. I heard one of his songs for the first time while at a New Year's Eve party in my hometown last night, and also heard the story of his disappearance with some local's speculation about what happened to him. I just listened to the whole U.F.O. album and think it's great from start to finish... you did good on this one Jim, RIP