They reformed and recorded the track "Open a Can of Human Beans" in 2003 for a charity album. The track was later re-released on Andy Partridge's Fuzzy Warbles, Vol. 7.
Under another pseudonym, Terry and the Lovemen, XTC appeared on its own tribute album A Testimonial Dinner and thanked The Dukes of Stratosphear for the loan of their instruments.
The pseudonymous personnel included:
Sir John Johns (Andy Partridge) - singing, guitar, brain buds;
The Red Curtain (Colin Moulding) - electric bass, song stuff;
Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) - mellotron, piano, organ, fuzz-tone guitar;
E.I.E.I. Owen (Ian Gregory) - drum set;
and their preferred producer at that time, Swami Anand Nagara (John Leckie).
Bike Ride to the Moon
The Dukes Of Stratosphear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a bike ride to the moon
Lots of room for everyone
On a bike ride to the moon
And we'll bring back cheese for my Auntie Jane
And some magic moon dust that'll stop the rain
On my poor Uncle Alfred's head, even though he stays in bed (silly Alfred)
Why not bring a pot of tea
On a bike ride to the moon
Angel cake for you and me
On a bike ride to the moon
And we'll pack a tent 'case it's cold at night
And I'll share your sleeping bag if I might
And might be a positive boon
To protect you from the man in the moon (Who happens to be me, look out!)
Racing forward can't look back
On a bike ride to the moon
What did I omit to pack
On a bike ride to the moon?
With the stars all glinting in the shiny Chrome
Then I suddenly remembered what I left at home
Now I shan't be peddling any higher
'Cos a sharp sputnik has given me a cosmic flat tyre
The Dukes of Stratosphear's "Bike Ride to the Moon" is a whimsical and fanciful song that celebrates the joy of adventure and exploration. The lyrics describe a bike ride to the moon, with the singer and a companion bringing back souvenirs such as cheese and magic moon dust for their family members. They also bring along tea and cake, as well as a tent in case it gets cold at night. As they race forward on their bikes, the stars glint in the shiny chrome, and they are suddenly interrupted by a sharp sputnik that gives the singer a cosmic flat tire.
The lyrics are charming and playful, evoking a childlike sense of wonder and imagination. The idea of a bike ride to the moon is clearly impossible, but the song encourages listeners to dream big and embrace their sense of adventure. The references to cheese, tea, and cake give the song a distinctly British feel, as does the use of phrases such as "shan't" and "positive boon." Overall, the song is a delightful confection that invites listeners to join in on the journey to the moon and back again.
Line by Line Meaning
Push me off to start the fun
Let's start this adventure
On a bike ride to the moon
We're going on an imaginative journey
Lots of room for everyone
There's plenty of space for us all
And we'll bring back cheese for my Auntie Jane
Let's collect some lunar souvenirs
And some magic moon dust that'll stop the rain
Maybe we can even find something that can help us back on Earth
On my poor Uncle Alfred's head, even though he stays in bed (silly Alfred)
We can play a harmless prank on someone
Why not bring a pot of tea
Let's have a picnic
Angel cake for you and me
And enjoy some sweet treats
And we'll pack a tent 'case it's cold at night
Be prepared for any circumstance
And I'll share your sleeping bag if I might
We can rely on each other
And might be a positive boon
It would be helpful to have each other's company
To protect you from the man in the moon (Who happens to be me, look out!)
We'll overcome any obstacle, even imaginary ones
Racing forward can't look back
Let's keep moving ahead
What did I omit to pack
I hope we're not missing anything important
With the stars all glinting in the shiny Chrome
We can appreciate the beauty of the night sky
Then I suddenly remembered what I left at home
But don't let it distract us from enjoying the moment
Now I shan't be peddling any higher
But we'll still persevere even when things don't go as planned
'Cos a sharp sputnik has given me a cosmic flat tyre
Because we might experience setbacks, but they won't hinder us forever
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDY PARTRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind