It was also released twice as a single, both very rare. One 7'‘ vinyl was released by Canadian label Forced Exposure and features a live version of the song, with some other live experimentalisms for B-Sides. A Spanish label also released a different live version of the song as a split 7’‘ b/w a couple of live pieces by the Miracle Workers.
Silver Rocket
Sonic Youth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
TV amp on fire, blowin' in the hall
Gun your sled, close your peeping toms
Turbo organizer crankin' on the knob
You got it
Yeah, ride the silver rocket
Can't stop it
Hit the power, psycho helmets on
You got to splice your halo, take it to a moon
Nymphoid clamor, fuelling up the hammer
You got to fake out the robot and pulse up the zoom
You got it
Yeah, ride the silver rocket
Can't stop it
Burnin' hole in your pocket
I can't forget the flashing, can't forget the smashing
The sending and the bending, the atmosphere re-entry
You gotta have the time, got a letter in your mind
Gotta heart injection that you got yourself a line
You got it
Yeah, ride the silver rocket
I can't stop it
Burnin' hole in your pocket
The lyrics to Sonic Youth’s “Silver Rocket” are an enigma to many, but they are actually a reference to a rocket ship. The “snake” in the beginning refers to the shape of the rocket, while “jack into the wall” and “TV amp on fire, blowin’ in the hall” refer to the electrical power required to launch the rocket. “Gun your sled” is a reference to the rocket ignition, while “close your peeping toms” means to keep the rocket launch top secret. “Turbo organizer crankin’ on the knob” refers to the engine ignition.
The chorus “ride the silver rocket, can’t stop it, burning hole in your pocket” is a reference to the intense burning sensation of riding a rocket ship into space. The second verse refers to putting on a “psycho helmet” and splicing your “halo” (a reference to the spacecraft’s halo or frame), to prepare for space travel. “Nymphoid clamor, fueling up the hammer” refers to the sounds and activities of space travel, while “fake out the robot and pulse up the zoom” is a reference to the need to outsmart the technology and maneuvers necessary to succeed in space travel.
Overall, Sonic Youth’s “Silver Rocket” is a fast-paced, energetic song that captures the exciting world of space exploration and serves as a tribute to the human desire to push beyond the boundaries of what is known.
Line by Line Meaning
Snake in it, jack into the wall
Plugging in and cranking up, ready for action
TV amp on fire, blowin' in the hall
Loud and fierce, creating a racket
Gun your sled, close your peeping toms
Zoom ahead and ignore the onlookers
Turbo organizer crankin' on the knob
Driving forward with intense focus
You got it
You understand and are ready
Yeah, ride the silver rocket
Embrace the excitement and energy
Can't stop it
No slowing down or turning back
Burnin' hole in your pocket
Experiencing an intense and costly rush
Hit the power, psycho helmets on
Powering up and embracing a wild ride
You got to splice your halo, take it to a moon
Pushing yourself beyond your limits and reaching new heights
Nymphoid clamor, fuelling up the hammer
Creating a chaotic and energetic atmosphere
You got to fake out the robot and pulse up the zoom
Outsmarting the opposition and stepping up the intensity
I can't forget the flashing, can't forget the smashing
Remembering the excitement and intensity
The sending and the bending, the atmosphere re-entry
Experiencing a wild ride and coming back down to reality
You gotta have the time, got a letter in your mind
Making time for this exhilarating experience and holding onto a goal
Gotta heart injection that you got yourself a line
Feeling the adrenaline rush and knowing you created this experience for yourself
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM GORDON, LEE M. RANALDO, STEVEN JAY SHELLEY, THURSTON JOSEPH MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tveye1398
[Verse 1]
Snake in it, jack into the wall
TV amp on fire blowing in the hall
Gun your sled, close your peeping toms
Turbo organizer cranking on the knob
[Chorus]
You got it
Yeah, ride your silver rocket
Can't stop it
Burnin' hole in your pocket
[Verse 2]
Hit the power, psycho helmets on
You got to splice your halo, take it to a moon
Nymphoid clamor fueling up the hammer
You got to fake out the robot and pulse up the zoom
[Chorus]
You got it
Yeah, ride your silver rocket
Can't stop it
Burnin' hole in your pocket
[Verse 3]
Can't forget the flashing
Can't forget the smashing
The sending and the bending
The atmosphere re-entry
You gotta have the time
Got another in your mind
Got your heart injected
And you got your soul aligned
[Chorus]
You got it
Yeah, ride your silver rocket
Can't stop it
Burnin' hole in your pocket
@TheSecondNature
The amount of inventiveness in their songs is astonishing. They always managed to write somewhat catchy songs always retaining an experimental attitude that can have any deep music aficionado drooling in pleasure
@tawata6363
Essa banda é demais mano!
@evanm5256
I'm barely checking them out (wayyyy too late) and I just noticed that yes! They're so diverse
@rgruber88
I remember taping this video off of MTV in '89. For about a month afterward, whenever my band got together to practice, we'd watch this video first, then we'd spend about an hour or so just making glorious noise.
@Brannington
god i love the sound that lee's guitar makes when he slaps it at the beginning
@lupodelupis3672
I remember when this was rightfully called "noise-rock".
@hellkammer
I remember when this was rightfully called "Rock bruitiste" in France ;)
@lupodelupis3672
@@hellkammer Here in Italy you could translate it in "rock rumoroso" 😃
@puredragonn
as if its not still called noise-rock?
@MrHarvey1968
Before or after it was called New York art noise?