The song was first recorded as Astral Projection in 2003 on a demo EP produced by Stephen Street. This demo has never been heard.
It was first played in Belfast on May 29th 2003. Different recordings of this song in 2003 are available.
The song first reappeared on September 22nd 2010 – Tampico during the first date of the South American leg of the Reunion Tour. Dolores introduced the song as “the first new song in a lot of time”.
It was probably re-recorded in 2011 along with 14 other tracks during the first studio session at the Metalworks Studios, Toronto.
Played live, the song usually does not include the following line “I woke up but I’m still sleeping here, is this lucid dreaming I am (dreaming)” as it did back in 2003.
On December 23d, 2011 a preview of the album version of Astral Projections was put online on the Australian iTunes store along with the other tracks of Roses.
After Astral Projections was released on Roses, the band played it live for the first time in Auckland (New-Zealand) on March 15th, 2012.
Astral Projections
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you see, am I hallucinating?
I woke up and I was walking down the stairs
I woke up but I'm still sleeping here
Is this lucid dreaming I am (dreaming)
I look down a thousand mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i)
mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i) mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i)
I-I will go down, will go down, lalilala
Can you see me I'm floating in the air
Can you wake me I'm crying
I can see you, you're lying next to me
I can't wake you, I'm trying
Astral Projection can get me out of here
Astral Projection ahahahahahahah, ahahahahahahah
I-I will go down, will go down, lalilala
I-I will go down, will go down, lalilala
I fly away away away away
I fly away away away away
I fly away away away away
I fly away
In the song Astral Projections, The Cranberries explore the idea of astral projection, which is the ability to leave one's body and travel through an astral plane. The lyrics describe a surreal experience where the singer is questioning whether they are seeing colors in the air and hallucinating. The song creates an ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere, emphasizing the theme of lucid dreaming, where the line between reality and imagination is blurred.
The chorus contains the repeated phrase “I will go down” which could be interpreted as either entering a dream state or descending into the subconscious. The verses, on the other hand, depict the singer's physical body lying next to someone else while their spirit is trying to separate or escape from their physical form, suggesting a sense of disconnection or dissatisfaction with their waking life.
The imagery and language used in the song create a fascinating glimpse into the world of astral projection, lucid dreaming, and surreal literature. The Cranberries explore the ideas of escape, self-discovery, and the desire for something more than just the mundane reality of our waking lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you see the colors in the air?
Are you capable of perceiving the various shades and hues present in the surrounding atmosphere?
Can you see, am I hallucinating?
Do you observe the same as me, or is it just a figment of my imagination?
I woke up and I was walking down the stairs
After awakening, I found myself descending a staircase
I woke up but I'm still sleeping here
Although my eyes opened, I'm still in a slumbering state
Is this lucid dreaming I am (dreaming)
Could this be a dream in which I'm consciously aware of my actions and surroundings?
I look down a thousand mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i) mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i) mi-i-i-i-i-i-iles (mi-i-i-i-i-i)
I peer downwards, covering an extensive distance of several thousand miles
I-I will go down, will go down, lalilala
Repeated vocalizations of the phrase 'I will go down' set to a melodic hum
Can you see me I'm floating in the air
Do you perceive me levitating in mid-air?
Can you wake me I'm crying
Is it possible to rouse me from my slumber as I'm sobbing?
I can see you, you're lying next to me
I'm able to observe you lying next to me
I can't wake you, I'm trying
Despite my attempt to arouse you, I'm unsuccessful
Astral Projection can get me out of here
The technique of Astral Projection may help me escape this situation
Astral Projection ahahahahahahah, ahahahahahahah
Laughing sounds follow a reference to Astral Projection
I fly away away away away
I take off and soar far away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dolores Mary O'Riordan, Noel Anthony Hogan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind