The Roseburg, Oregon native had a brief acting career spanning from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. On Broadway she starred as 'Chrissy' in the musical "Hair".
Shelley Plimpton recorded a novelty record released in the 1960s on a 45 on the RCA Victor label, record number 47-9357, titled "Frank Mills" which she performed in the musical "Hair".
Plimpton is the mother of actress Martha Plimpton (from a relationship with actor Keith Carradine) and a former wife of theatre director Daniel Sullivan (who directed her in Hair.)
Air
Shelley Plimpton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello! carbon monoxide
The air, the air
Is everywhere
Breath deep, while you sleep
Breath deep
Save me, nicotine lung steam
Incense, incense
Is in the air
Breath deep, while you sleep
Breath deep
Cataclysmic ectoplasm
Fallout atomic orgasm
Vapor and fume
At the stone of my tomb
Breathing like a sullen perfume
Eating at the stone of my tomb
Welcome! sulphur dioxide
Hello! carbon monoxide
The air, the air
Is everywhere
Breath deep, while you sleep
Breath deep
Deep, deep, deep, cough cough
The song "Air" by Shelley Plimpton is a thought-provoking commentary on the ubiquitous and often harmful presence of pollution in the environment. Beginning with a sardonic welcome to sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, two major air pollutants produced by human activities, the singer goes on to evoke the presence of other toxic substances such as nicotine, alcohol, and incense, further emphasizing the unhealthy nature of the air we breathe. The repetitive refrain to "breath deep" while you sleep is both an ironic suggestion and a warning, suggesting that even as we rest, our bodies are being exposed to a dangerous cocktail of pollutants.
The lyrics go on to describe the ominous effects of pollution in even more dramatic terms, using metaphors such as "cataclysmic ectoplasm" and "fallout atomic orgasm" to portray the destructive power of pollutants. The final lines, "Breathing like a sullen perfume/Eating at the stone of my tomb," evoke the idea of the singer's own death being caused by pollution and the toxic environment.
Overall, "Air" is a powerful critique of the harm that human activities have caused to the environment and the need for increased awareness and action to mitigate these effects.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome! sulphur dioxide
The song begins by introducing us to the various air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and invites us to embrace them.
Hello! carbon monoxide
Here, carbon monoxide is also introduced as another air pollutant that we should acknowledge.
The air, the air
This line emphasizes the ubiquity of air, even though it may contain harmful substances. It serves as a reminder of the essential nature of air for all life.
Is everywhere
The last line of the chorus reinforces the pervasiveness of air in our lives.
Breath deep, while you sleep
Despite the presence of air pollutants, we are encouraged to breathe deeply, even while we sleep. The line suggests that we should not be afraid to inhale deep breaths of air.
Bless you, alcohol bloodstream
Here, alcohol is mentioned, and the line plays on the phrase 'Bless you' usually associated with sneezing. Here, the 'blessing' is given to alcohol because it is in one's bloodstream.
Save me, nicotine lung steam
In this line, nicotine in one's lung is referred to as 'lung steam' and the line begs for its saving. It suggests that the character may be dependent on nicotine and desires its continued presence in their life.
Incense, incense
Here, incense is used as a metaphor for the various air pollutants present, which are perceived as a fragrant perfume by the character of the song.
Is in the air
The phrase, 'is in the air' further adds to the idea that pollutants are present in the air, and they should be acknowledged.
Cataclysmic ectoplasm
This is an over-dramatization of the fallout and aftermath of atomic detonation. It is designed to evoke strong imagery and emotional reactions from the listener.
Fallout atomic orgasm
The character describes the atomic explosion as orgasmic, suggesting that the reactions to the event might be perceived as both pleasurable and destructive.
Vapor and fume
This line refers to the gaseous substances present in the air and their impact on our lives. It emphasizes the idea that the air is not just an empty space.
At the stone of my tomb
The image here is one of being buried underground and breathing in the polluted air while doing so.
Breathing like a sullen perfume
This line builds upon the idea of pollutants as incense or perfume. However, it suggests that the character might be unhappy or morose about it, and the metaphorical perfume is not a pleasant one.
Eating at the stone of my tomb
This metaphor portrays air pollutants as something that is slowly eating away at the character, similar to the corrosion of a tombstone over time.
Deep, deep, deep, cough cough
This final line conveys the idea that the pollutants are inescapable, and even though the character tries to breathe deeply, they are still affected and have to cough as a result.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind