Satellite City
Orange Juice. Lyrics

Orange Juice's Satellite City is a melancholic and reflective ballad that speaks to the pain of relationships that have soured. The opening lines, "Whisper it all, cry wolf discreetly," suggest a sense of secret pain and deception, as if the singer is holding on to a hurt that they cannot fully express. The following line, "I answered your call, now I moan despairingly," speaks to the sense of obligation that can make it difficult to extricate oneself from a toxic relationship. The singer seems to be in pain and questioning the value of continuing such a relationship.

The next verse, with its reference to a "knife edge caress," suggests a relationship that is both physically and emotionally painful. However, the singer notes that there is no bitterness, despite the hurt they have experienced. This speaks to a sense of emotional maturity and acceptance, even as the singer recognizes the harm that has been done. The chorus, with its repeated question, "Would it hurt you so, if I told you to go?" underscores the sense of conflict and pain that the singer is experiencing.

The final lines, "You smash your heart against the rocks," suggest a sense of futility and pain that comes from trying to make a relationship work despite its inherent flaws. Overall, Satellite City speaks to the human experience of love and loss, and the difficulty of letting go of something that we know is not healthy for us.