Desdemona
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics


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Desdemona's building a rocket ship, Desdemona's going away
Desdemona's building a rocket ship, blasting off today
She's got a passion for cookies, a crew full of rookies
It's gonna be a helluva blow
Desdemona's building a rocket ship , and I've got to go

A woman on a mission, quite familiar with quasars
Her heart is in the kitchen but her soul is in the stars
Crystal clear on logic but short on expertise
This is a very ancient puzzle, she feels herself a piece

Desdemona's building a rocket ship, Desdemona's going away
Desdemona's building a rocket ship, blasting off today
She's got a passion for cookies, a crew full of rookies
It's gonna be a helluva blow
Desdemona's building a rocket ship
Guess I've got to go

She was down in Puerto Rico, doin' a scientist
True, he was no geek though she was taken with his kiss
It was under a giant telescope where she heard the calling voice
It came screaming through the light years, she never had a choice

Pleiades callin' her home
Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Pleiades callin' me home
Seven Sisters, she hears her Seven Sisters

Pleiades callin' her home
Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Pleiades callin' me home
Seven Sisters, she hears her Seven Sisters

A woman on a mission, quite familiar with quasars
Her heart is in the kitchen but her soul is in the stars
Her engines fuel with logic and navigation expertise
It's very distant puzzle, she's gonna get her piece

Desdemona's building a rocket ship, Desdemona's going away
Desdemona's building a rocket ship, blasting off today
She's got a passion for cookies, a crew full of rookies
It's gonna be a helluva blow
Desdemona's building a rocket ship , I've just got to go

Seven Sisters
Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Seven Sisters, she hears her Seven Sisters

Pleiades callin' her home
Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Pleiades callin' me home
Seven Sisters, she hears her Seven Sisters
Pleiades callin' her home




Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Pleiades callin' me home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmy Buffett’s song “Desdemona’s Building a Rocket Ship” tell the story of a woman named Desdemona who was working on building a rocket ship with a crew of inexperienced “rookies”. Despite her lack of expertise, she was committed to her mission to blast off to the stars, driven by her passion for cookies and a lifelong yearning to answer the “ancient puzzle” of the universe. Desdemona’s motivation is revealed when she hears a “calling voice” from the Seven Sisters, or Pleiades, constellation. The song is an ode to the dreamers and the explorers who seek answers to the mysteries of the universe, no matter how impossible it may seem to achieve.


The lyrics of “Desdemona’s Building a Rocket Ship” are filled with poetic and metaphoric language, making every line open to interpretation. Desdemona can be seen as a representation of the human quest for exploration and understanding, a metaphor for the universe’s “ancient puzzle”. The rocket ship she builds represents the power of human ingenuity and technology to propel us beyond the limits of our own imagination. The song acknowledges the risks and uncertainties of exploration while also celebrating the human desire to push boundaries and seek new horizons.


Line by Line Meaning

Desdemona's building a rocket ship, Desdemona's going away
Desdemona is constructing a vessel for space travel and she intends to use it to depart from her current location.


Desdemona's building a rocket ship, blasting off today
Desdemona's rocket is set for takeoff in the immediate future.


She's got a passion for cookies, a crew full of rookies
As she carries out her mission, Desdemona is devoted to baking cookies and has recruited inexperienced crew members.


It's gonna be a helluva blow
The culmination of Desdemona's project will be a significant event with huge consequences.


Desdemona's building a rocket ship, and I've got to go
As Desdemona departs, the artist of the song acknowledges that he has to move on as well.


A woman on a mission, quite familiar with quasars
Desdemona is a determined woman who has a solid grasp of quasars, a type of celestial object.


Her heart is in the kitchen but her soul is in the stars
Desdemona enjoys cooking, but is drawn toward the cosmos.


Crystal clear on logic but short on expertise
Though she understands logical principles clearly, she has limited familiarity with the expertise relevant to her project.


This is a very ancient puzzle, she feels herself a piece
Desdemona considers her undertaking to be part of an old, complex puzzle, in which she is a small but significant component.


She was down in Puerto Rico, doin' a scientist
Desdemona was collaborating with a scientist on a project in Puerto Rico.


True, he was no geek though she was taken with his kiss
Although the scientist was not stereotypically nerdy, Desdemona was attracted to him and they shared a romantic moment.


It was under a giant telescope where she heard the calling voice
Desdemona experienced an epiphany related to her mission while standing beneath a huge telescope.


It came screaming through the light years, she never had a choice
Her realization was a powerful one, conveyed to her from far away, and she felt compelled to pursue it.


Her engines fuel with logic and navigation expertise
Desdemona's rocket is powered by a combination of her logical acumen and expert navigation skills.


It's very distant puzzle, she's gonna get her piece
The challenge of her mission is great, but Desdemona is undeterred and determined to succeed.


Seven Sisters, she hears her distant Sisters
Desdemona is metaphorically connected to the Pleiades star cluster and feels a bond with the seven stars.


Pleiades callin' me home
Desdemona is compelled by a sense of duty or destiny related to the Pleiades cluster.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM MAYER, JIMMY BUFFETT, PETER HAGEN MAYER, ROGER GUTH, RUSS KUNKEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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