O Superman
L. Anderson Lyrics
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O judge.
O Mom and Dad.
Mom and Dad.
O Superman.
O judge.
O Mom and Dad.
Mom and Dad.
I'm not home right now.
But if you want to leave a message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
Hello?
This is your Mother.
Are you there?
Are you coming home?
Hello?
Is anybody home?
Well, you don't know me, but I know you.
And I've got a message to give to you.
Here come the planes.
So you better get ready.
Ready to go.
You can come as you are, but pay as you go.
Pay as you go.
And I said: OK.
Who is this really?
And the voice said: This is the hand, the hand that takes.
This is the hand, the hand that takes.
This is the hand, the hand that takes.
Here come the planes.
They're American planes.
Made in America.
Smoking or non-smoking?
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice. And when justive is gone, there's always force. And when force is gone, there's always Mom.
Hi Mom!
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
In your automatic arms.
Your electronic arms.
In your arms.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Your petrochemical arms.
Your military arms.
In your electronic arms.
"O Superman" is a highly conceptual song that has puzzled even the most astute music critics for decades. The song is a loop of polyphonic vocals juxtaposed against each other, over an electronic beat. The lyrics' narrative opens up with a series of O's that could be interpreted as strange incantations before slowly transit to a cryptic phone answering machine message, probably directed more at the subconscious realm than the physical reality. The "Mom and Dad" entreaty connotes issues within the nuclear family and personal relationships. Such familial disconnections drive a recurring theme throughout the song, as Superman and the later monologues illustrate. Laurie Anderson makes a statement of escapism through the mythical superhero, acknowledging that the process can be challenging and expensive as well, referring to the lyrics "ready to go. You can come as you are, but pay as you go. Pay as you go. And I said: OK."
The monologue midway in the song appears to be a response to a phone call made to the artist's parents, even though it is uncertain when the conversation took place or what the discussion was about. Amid the echo of the plane's sound, Anderson highlights the automated and industrial society we live in by making comparisons between metallic and biological organisms. Towards the end, the song becomes more poignant, with Anderson seeking comfort from her mother, literally and metaphorically, using the term "automatic arms," almost hinting at technological intervention or artificial intelligence.
* "O Superman" appeared on Anderson's 1982 album "Big Science."
* The song debuted in 1981 and gradually became a success, eventually peaking at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
* Anderson was inspired to write "O Superman" after seeing an advertisement on TV for a brand of surveillance equipment.
* The song's length made it difficult to release as a single, so Anderson's record company cut the song down and added a dance beat, giving it a more commercial appeal.
* The song was initially performed using a tape machine, which Anderson played and sang along to live.
* Brian Eno, musician and producer, assisted Anderson in producing the album, creating the electronic soundscapes that helped bring the song to life.
* Anderson's use of vocoder technology on the song influenced many electronic artists to incorporate it into their music in the years to come.
* The music video for the song, directed by Anderson herself, featured her wearing a costume that appeared to merge Native American and astronaut attire.
* The song became an inspiration for the experimental and avant-garde music movements of the time.
* "O Superman" has been covered by different artists over the years, including Depeche Mode, who incorporated it into their live set.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chord progression is not readily available as the song is primarily electronic.
Line by Line Meaning
O Superman.
Addressing the concept of Superman and his powers.
O judge.
Addressing the concept of justice and its implementer, the judge.
O Mom and Dad.
Addressing the parental figures and their roles.
Mom and Dad.
Focusing again on the parental figures.
Hi.
A greeting to whoever is listening.
I'm not home right now.
Absence of the singer from home.
But if you want to leave a message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
A message for whoever wants to leave one.
Hello?
Answering a call.
This is your Mother.
The artist is the mother.
Are you there?
Asking if the recipient is present.
Are you coming home?
Asking if the recipient is returning home.
Hello?
Answering another call or a continuation of the previous one.
Is anybody home?
Asking if anyone is present at the recipient's home.
Well, you don't know me, but I know you.
The singer is familiar with the recipient but not the other way around.
And I've got a message to give to you.
The singer has a message for the recipient.
Here come the planes.
Introducing the presence of airplanes.
So you better get ready. Ready to go.
A warning to prepare to leave.
You can come as you are, but pay as you go. Pay as you go.
An indication that one can leave however they are, but they will have to pay for it.
And I said: OK.
The recipient gives their acceptance.
Who is this really?
The recipient asks for the artist's identity.
And the voice said: This is the hand, the hand that takes.
The artist identifies as 'the hand that takes.'
This is the hand, the hand that takes. This is the hand, the hand that takes.
The repetition of the previous statement.
Here come the planes. They're American planes. Made in America. Smoking or non-smoking?
Reintroducing the planes now identified as American-made and offering the choice between smoking and non-smoking sections.
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Quoting the postal service creed that nothing should prevent them from delivering the mail.
'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice. And when justive is gone, there's always force. And when force is gone, there's always Mom.
The singer proposes three possible solutions: justice, force, or the comfort of a mother.
Hi Mom!
A greeting to the mother as the chosen solution.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. In your automatic arms. Your electronic arms. In your arms.
The recipient requests a comforting embrace from the mother, describing them as long, automatic, and electronic, emphasizing the use of technology.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. Your petrochemical arms. Your military arms. In your electronic arms.
Further emphasizing the technological association with the mother, they describe her arms as petrochemical or military, stressing the idea of power and protection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mllerosediamant
O Superman
O judge
O Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad
Hi. I'm not home right now. But if you want to leave a
Message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
Hello? This is your Mother
Are you there?
Are you coming home?
Hello?
Is anybody home?
Well, you don't know me, but I know you
And I've got a message to give to you
Here come the planes
So you better get ready
Ready to go
You can come as you are, but pay as you go
Pay as you go
And I said: OK. Who is this really? And the voice said:
This is the hand, the hand that takes
This is the hand, the hand that takes
This is the hand, the hand that takes
Here come the planes.
They're American planes
Made in America
Smoking or non-smoking?
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom
Of night shall stay these couriers from the swift
Completion of their appointed rounds.
'Cause when love is gone
There's always justice
And when justive is gone
There's always force
And when force is gone,
There's always Mom.
Hi Mom!
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms
In your automatic arms.
Your electronic arms.
In your arms.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms
Your petrochemical arms
Your military arms
In your electronic arms
@stevekovalic3546
Thanks for sharing....
Two great performance pieces!
Also love pastoral symphony...so evocative!
Listen to Beethoven piano concerto #5.
Sublime.
Make sure it's a good performance...and pianist.
Grimaud
Andsnes
Uchida
Barenboim
It's just ethereal.
@stxrzrxvzn
For those who are curious about what this song means is that the line, “Hello? This is your mother, Are you there? Are you coming home?” Is from a mother writing to her son in war and the line “Well you don't know me, but I know you” Is the Chief of her son's military team writing a letter back to the mom letting her know that her son has died due to not surviving the war.
@albertogregory9678
Hey sorry to bug you, Ive been looking for the letter and can’t find jack. Do you have a name or a url? Thank you!
@donewhiskey
@@albertogregory9678 You won't because there isn't anything. That's stxrzrxvzn's interpretation. Just search the song meaning online and you will find much better information. For example, Anderson drew from the aria from Jules Massenet's 1885 opera Le Cid. The first lines ("O Superman / O Judge / O Mom and Dad") echo the aria. It is also considered a commentary on the Cold War.
@petepleeb9675
"Died due to not surviving the war"... I mean.. you aren't wrong I guess?
@s1lkwyrm205
I think this song is delightfully surreal and by nature evades this kind of direct interpretation. I think its less about war and more about change, sudden and inevitable. A dialogue between a person and the things about to happen to them. On the one side is a person, a strange one, or perhaps made strange only by the context - and something more, unknowable and eldritch. The person attempts to make sense of what they're being told now, but they don't have the tools to do so. They can only wait and see what the voice was talking about, seek comfort in justice force and mom before the shoe drops. That's how I interpret it
@leahsmith5814
The song is criticizing the use of cold war-era military technology. I think the "parents" are referring to the idea that the military industrial complex keeps citizens safe like parents keep children safe. The synth voice beat is meant to mimic an artificial heartbeat to show how there is an offputting and dark side to this. "so hold me mom, in your long arms, in your petrochemical arms, your military arms"
@lizziethompson6232
this song is the definition of art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable
@chrisjhart
Damn right
@ShakeeSnake
Wow that's such a good quote
@oliviaybarra7888
this is so scary 😢😅