Rings of Saturn
Kayak Lyrics


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When the city's fallen silent
Giving way to different dreams
About time and space before you and I were here

Noise of cars and trains subsiding
And surrounding lights grow dim
In my looking glass an image's getting clear
Every night I'm watching you
Every night I'm touching you
Investigate your soul
Completely in control

From the moon to the rings of Saturn
From the sun to the poles of Mars
Through the stormclouds that cover Venus
To the distance between the stars

I can see far beyond Orion
Measure worlds that are cold and dark
To ignore all the laws of science
Travel lightyears to your heart

In a place subject to gravity
Relativity and time
It's so easy to get lost along the way

You're my universal theory
You're my poetry, my rhyme
From the early hours till the dawning day

Every night I'm holding you
Caressing and unfolding you




But all I ever find
Is the mirror of my mind

Overall Meaning

The song "Rings of Saturn" by Kayak paints a picture of a universe that is vast, complex, and full of wonder. The lyrics are full of astronomical references, with the singer moving from the city to the stars, and exploring the cosmos in search of his lover. The song opens by describing how the city has fallen silent, giving way to other dreams. This dream state transitions into a moment of introspection, where the singer looks into the "looking glass" and sees a clearer image of his love. Each verse builds upon this image, with the singer professing his admiration and claiming control over their destiny.


The chorus of the song takes us on a cosmic journey, traveling from the moon to the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond. The singer is able to "see far beyond Orion" and measure "worlds that are cold and dark" as he searches for his love. The final verse brings the focus back to Earth, emphasizing how easy it is to get lost in life's complexities. However, the singer finds solace in his love, saying that they are his "universal theory" and the inspiration for his poetry and rhyme.


The song's themes of love and exploration are complemented by the dreamy, ethereal sound of the music. The use of synthesizers, harmonies, and a slow tempo reinforce the feeling of floating in space. The song was released in 1979, during the height of the progressive rock movement, and showcases Kayak's signature sound of combining complex instrumentation with poetic lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

When the city's fallen silent
As the hustle and bustle of the city dies down


Giving way to different dreams
Making way for different aspirations and hopes


About time and space before you and I were here
Musing over the time and space that existed before our existence


Noise of cars and trains subsiding
The sound of automobiles and locomotives becoming less audible


And surrounding lights grow dim
The surrounding lights getting faded


In my looking glass an image's getting clear
An image is becoming clearer when I look in the mirror


Every night I'm watching you
I am observing you every night


Every night I'm touching you
Reaching out to touch you every night


Investigate your soul
Go deeper into your soul to understand you better


Completely in control
Having complete control of the situation


From the moon to the rings of Saturn
From the moon to the planet Saturn's rings


From the sun to the poles of Mars
From the sun to the poles of the planet Mars


Through the storm clouds that cover Venus
Navigating through the storm clouds that obscure the planet Venus


To the distance between the stars
Moving towards the vast distance among different stars


I can see far beyond Orion
Perceiving beyond the constellation Orion


Measure worlds that are cold and dark
Calculating and comprehending the worlds that are frigid and shadowy


To ignore all the laws of science
To disregard the structured regulations of science


Travel light-years to your heart
Travelling billions of miles to get close to your heart


In a place subject to gravity
In a place where there is pull of gravitational force


Relativity and time
In a place where time and space are interrelated


It's so easy to get lost along the way
It's easy to lose sense of direction while travelling


You're my universal theory
You are the idea that can explain the whole universe


You're my poetry, my rhyme
You are the metaphor that makes my life as beautiful as a poem


From the early hours till the dawning day
From dawn to early morning


Every night I'm holding you
I am holding you every night


Caressing and unfolding you
Stroking and revealing your inner self


But all I ever find
But I only discover


Is the mirror of my mind
Is a reflection of my own thoughts and feelings




Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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