He returned in April 2010 with a critically acclaimed debut solo album recorded with Midlake. 'Queen of Denmark' was Mojo magazine's Album of the Year for 2010; it was also named as one of the best ten albums of 2010 by the Guardian's music critics and writers.
'Pale Green Ghosts', his second solo effort, was released on 11th March 2013 and it features Sinéad O'Connor as guest vocalist.
Outer Space
John Grant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I've never seen anything like this before
I have a friend who is an astronomer
And he says he cannot help me
'Cause he doesn't have clue
I think that you must be from outer space
Baby, from somewhere beyond the stars
Because you can open up bad habits for me
With just one smile
Just one smile
Just one smile
What is that sound
Coming out of your mouth
Cause I've never heard anything like that before
It sounds like a language from an other galaxy
I want to thank you because you opened the door
I think that you must be from outer space
Maybe from somewhere beyond the stars
I think you must be extra-terrestial
Because you can open up bad habits for me
With just one smile
Just one smile
Just one smile
In John Grant's "Outer Space," he sings about a person he believes is from outer space, and he is perplexed and intrigued by this individual. He opens the song by stating that he still doesn't know what he's looking at, and he's never seen anything like this before. Grant's friend, who is an astronomer, is also unable to assist him, which adds to the mystery.
Grant is convinced that this person is an otherworldly being, and he believes that something about them allows them to open bad habits for him with just one smile. He's fascinated by the sound of their voice, which he describes as though it's from another galaxy. He is grateful to them for opening this door and introducing him to an entirely new way of thinking and being.
In essence, "Outer Space" is a love song about the awe-inspiring power that some individuals have over others. Grant's lyrics convey the feeling of being completely captivated by someone who is unique, mysterious and has the ability to change his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I still don't know what I'm looking at
I am confused and unfamiliar with what I am experiencing
'Cause I've never seen anything like this before
This is a completely new and unexpected encounter for me
I have a friend who is an astronomer
I know someone who studies space and celestial bodies
And he says he cannot help me
But even with their knowledge, they are unable to explain what I am seeing
'Cause he doesn't have clue
My friend is just as bewildered as I am
I think that you must be from outer space
I believe that you are not of this world
Baby, from somewhere beyond the stars
You are from a place far beyond what I know
I think you must be extra-terrestrial
You are not of this planet
Because you can open up bad habits for me
You have the power to make me indulge in things I normally wouldn't
With just one smile
Your smile has a strong influence on me
What is that sound
I am curious about the noises you are making
Coming out of your mouth
Which are emanating from your vocal cords
Cause I've never heard anything like that before
I have not been exposed to these sounds previously
It sounds like a language from another galaxy
Your speech is foreign and possibly extraterrestrial
I want to thank you because you opened the door
I am grateful to you for introducing me to this unusual experience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nicholas Shaw
The quality of our dreams are both a reflection of our thoughts and actions as well as a general foreshadowing of the fate of our souls in the next life...A nightly, temporary karma that beckons us to change - for the good - so as to avoid a more permanent karma...
Complexity(🌎)+Beauty(🌷)
=Intent(❤️)
The Figure 8 Analogy:
An analogy on life, death, the dream-state and the symbolism intertwined within the human experience...
We human beings are not moving in the - abstract - motion of a straight line towards death (for instance, the numerical straight line of say 1-89), rather we are moving in the motion of a figure 8...The Figure 8 is a natural repeating pattern that is divided into two halves and is thus the perfect symbol to represent the human life cycle and our two primary states of existence that we are continuously moving in and out of -the awake state and the dream-state.
When we awake from sleep, we come full circle to when we fall back asleep (represented by the bottom half of the figure 8), and when we go into the dream-state, we come full circle to when we awake from the dream-state (represented by the top half of the figure 8). Upon death, the figure 8 of life untwines, but it is not the body untwining from the mind that this analogy represents. It's two states of mind untwining to form a larger state of mind...(8->0)...Because the awake state is really a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "consciously" intertwined, and the dream-state is also a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "subconsciously" intertwined. Therefore; upon death, these two states "of mind" untwine to form a larger state of mind...A state that has all the potentialities of the dream world (flying, telepathy, psychokinesis, etc) combined with all the actualities of the awake world(nature, form, bonds, etc). This I refer to as the "transitional analogy."
While conceiving this analogy I realized life and death must be perceived - from one point of view - as seperate entities(the transitional analogy(8-0), but must also be perceived - from another point of view - as inseparable entities(the symbolic analogy), both of which are ultimately linked by the dream state.
The symbolic analogy consists of the untwined figure 8 of life/the 'circle of death' - abstractly -overlapping the 'circle of life'/the earth, with the overlappment representing the dream-state (like the common area in a venn diagram) which implies that the dream-state is just as much a part of life as is of death - by which semi-explains precognitive dreams, prodromal dreams, "visitations" by deceased relatives, etc, for the dream-state has a foothold in the afterlife - and is based on the premise that "while our body sleeps, our dream-state symbolically represents the state that awaits upon our body's ultimate rest.
In other words, while we are lying down and -sleeping/dreaming, this natural process symbolizes where we go when we're ultimately lying down/dead -to a place "like" our dream-state...A state "of mind", with our body's physical bonds eternally engrained and intertwined.
👁~8~👁
Donnie Burton
I just discovered this song from the movie: "The Skeleton Twins". Just loved the voice, lyrics with a Pink Floyd'ish sound. Doesn't matter if your straight, bi, or gay. Music brings us all together..
Emin
How this song is not a legendary hit is beyond me.
Lukesters
I will never forget the feeling I had when I first heard the album and racked my brains to imagine which 70’s artist could have recorded such bliss that I had never heard before. It was a total mind fuck...until the friend who bought me the album told me the story of the magnificent John Grant. Absolute genius encapsulated within a kind heart with an old soul. Saw him at Leeds Uni for my birthday a few years ago..I’m way too old for Uni gigs but was one of the greatest nights of my life x
trappist07
I never tire of listening to this - it is so uplifting
Brenda Rolón
This song was perfect for the dance scene in The Skeleton Twins.
Jane Doe
This is such a beautiful song!!!
Mickey Flipper
I'm late to the game and recently discovered this album. But, damn, if I can't stop listening to it. Beautiful. Not only is John Grant amazing but I also have to give props to Midlake for helping him create this album. I'm floored by the band. I do hope they both hook up for another album and maybe tour together as well. My fingers are crossed.
bruhmomentum
i just
gatogreensleeves
What a gorgeous song. Pure love. Reminds me a little of Bob Welch and Elton John. What a voice and the phrasing and melody are just exceptional. The dance scene with this in The Skeleton Twins was as perfect as any scene could be.
Kai Chongloi
heartwarming song! love it.