Space Monkey
Patti Smith Lyrics
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Souls are invaded, heart in a groove.
Beatin' and beatin' so outta time.
What's the mad matter with the church chimes?
Here comes a stranger up on Ninth Avenue.
Leanin' green tower, indiscreet view.
Over the cloud, over the bridge,
Sensitive muscle, sensitive ridge of my
Space monkey, so outta line-line.
Space monkey, sort of divine.
And he's mine, mine, all mine.
Pierre Clementi, snot full o' cocaine.
The sexual streets, why it's all so insane.
Humans are running, lavender room.
Hoverin' liquid, move over moon for my
Space monkey. Sign of the time-time
Space monkey, sort of divine-vine
Space monkey, so out of line and he's mine, mine, oh he's mine
A stranger comes up to him; hands him an old, rusty Polaroid.
It starts crumbling in his hands.
He says, "Oh man, I don't get the picture. This is no picture.
This is just this just-a this just-a
This is my jack-knife. This is my jack-knife.
This is my jack-knife. This is my jack." [shriek]
Rude excavation, landin' site.
Boy hesitatin', jack-knife.
He rips his leg open, so out of time.
Blood and light runnin'. It's all like a dream.
Light of my life, he's dressed in flame.
It's all so predestined. It's all such a game for my
Space monkey. Sign of the time-time.
Space monkey, sort of divine-vine.
Space monkey, so out of line and it's all just space, just space.
There he is, up in a tree.
Oh, I hear him callin' down to me.
That banana-shaped object ain't no banana.
It's a bright, yellow U.F.O.
And he's coming to get me. Here I go.
Up, up, up, up, up, up, up ,up, up
Oh, goodbye mama. I'll never do dishes again.
Here I go from my body.
Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Help!
Patti Smith's lyrics in her song 'Space Monkey' convey a cynical perspective of the time's contemporary society. The first verse refers to different events happening in the world, with a television broadcasting the news as souls are invaded, and life is mechanical, with no desire or passion. She mentions the church chimes, a traditional sound that should provide comfort, but which is out of sync, perhaps speaking to the current state of society where the church is becoming less prevalent. The song then talks about a stranger, Pierre Clementi, and his drug use, and how society has become highly sexualized and perverse.
Smith also talks about the human propensity for violence, as the stranger hands over a rusty Polaroid which begins to crumble, and the stranger speaks of his jack-knife. The chorus repeats the line 'Space Monkey,' perhaps indicating the societal labels with which humans brand each other. This is emphasized when Smith sings about the boy who hesitates as he reaches for his jack-knife and rips his leg open. Blood and light run through his wound, and it appears as if all this is just a surreal dream, as fate and destiny take over, leaving humans powerless.
The final stanza has the singer experience an otherworldly transformation, as the space monkey comes to call. She realizes that the bright and yellow object is, in fact, a U.F.O. that has come to rescue her from the dreary earthbound existence. She rises toward, perhaps signifying ascension to her true destiny, leaving this world behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood on the T.V., ten o'clock news.
The news is replete with images of violence and death.
Souls are invaded, heart in a groove.
People are becoming increasingly numb to the violence in the world.
Beatin' and beatin' so outta time.
With so much chaos happening, everything seems out of sync.
What's the mad matter with the church chimes?
Even the sounds of religious bells have become distorted and chaotic.
Here comes a stranger up on Ninth Avenue.
A mysterious figure appears, bringing with him the unknown.
Leanin' green tower, indiscreet view.
The tower is hard to ignore, visible from any vantage point.
Over the cloud, over the bridge,
The clouds and bridges serve as a metaphorical backdrop for adventure.
Sensitive muscle, sensitive ridge of my
The physical body isn't the only thing that reacts to new experiences.
Space monkey. Sign of the time-time
The 'space monkey' is symbolic of changes occurring in the world.
Space monkey, so outta line-line.
The 'space monkey' is also seen as being unconventional.
Space monkey, sort of divine.
Despite being peculiar, the 'space monkey' occupies a holy or spiritual space.
And he's mine, mine, all mine.
The singer feels a personal connection to the mysterious 'space monkey'.
Pierre Clementi, snot full o' cocaine.
A stranger arrives on the scene; he's wild and unpredictable.
The sexual streets, why it's all so insane.
Amidst the backdrop of the city, there is a feeling of eroticism and madness.
Humans are running, lavender room.
People are fleeing through the streets, seeking safety.
Hoverin' liquid, move over moon for my
The phrase is cryptic, but suggests a certain level of madness or confusion.
Space monkey. Sign of the time-time
The 'space monkey' continues to be a symbol of the changing times.
Space monkey, sort of divine-vine
The 'space monkey' maintains its mystique.
Space monkey, so out of line and he's mine, mine, oh he's mine
Despite his odd behavior, the singer is attached to the 'space monkey' personally.
A stranger comes up to him; hands him an old, rusty Polaroid.
A stranger interacts with the 'space monkey', opening up new possibilities.
It starts crumbling in his hands.
The Polaroid is disintegrating, suggesting that memories cannot be preserved.
He says, "Oh man, I don't get the picture. This is no picture.
The stranger struggles to understand the significance of the moment.
This is just this just-a this just-a
The stranger's words don't make any sense.
This is my jack-knife. This is my jack-knife. This is my jack-knife. This is my jack." [shriek]
The stranger is seemingly babbling, making funny noises and holding out his weapon.
Rude excavation, landin' site.
Something new is emerging, and it is not polite, gentle, or refined.
Boy hesitatin', jack-knife.
A young man is reluctant to move forward, but his knife suggests he is still willing to fight.
He rips his leg open, so out of time.
He makes a serious mistake, one that will throw everything off.
Blood and light runnin'. It's all like a dream.
The scene becomes chaotic and surreal, like a nightmare.
Light of my life, he's dressed in flame.
The young man who ripped his leg open has a fiery spirit.
It's all so predestined. It's all such a game for my
Despite the chaos, there is a feeling of inevitability that exists.
Space monkey. Sign of the time-time.
The 'space monkey' reappears as a symbol of change.
Space monkey, sort of divine-vine.
The idea of the 'space monkey' as a divine symbol persists.
Space monkey, so out of line and it's all just space, just space.
The 'space monkey' represents something that is out of the ordinary, pushing the limits of what is defined.
There he is, up in a tree.
The 'space monkey' appears once again.
Oh, I hear him callin' down to me.
The singer continues to feel a personal connection to the 'space monkey' despite everything.
That banana-shaped object ain't no banana.
The 'space monkey' has something completely unexpected in store.
It's a bright, yellow U.F.O. And he's coming to get me. Here I go. Up, up, up, up, up, up, up ,up, up.
The UFO may represent something otherworldly or unpredictable.
Oh, goodbye mama. I'll never do dishes again.
The situation is becoming more momentous, and the singer is propelled into something new.
Here I go from my body. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Help!
The singer is losing control, and the situation is becoming increasingly chaotic.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IVAN KRAL, JAY DEE DAUGHERTY, LEONARD J KAYE, PATTI SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind