It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big...I Am So Small...Do I Stand a Chance?
The Flaming Lips Lyrics

The Flaming Lips's song "It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big...I Am So Small...Do I Stand a Chance?" is a psychedelic, dreamy track that contemplates the nature of the universe and the smallness of human existence. The song is built around a simple but catchy guitar riff and features multiple layers of distorted vocals and sound effects. Lyrically, the song focuses on the overwhelming feeling of being overtaken by something bigger than oneself, be it the universe, a higher power, or one's own emotions or fears. The repetition of the phrase "It overtakes me" throughout the song emphasizes the all-consuming nature of this feeling, while the final line "Do I stand a chance?" conveys a sense of helplessness and uncertainty.

The song's title is a reference to a quote by American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who once said that "The universe is in us. When I reflect on that fact, I look up—many people feel small because they’re small and the Universe is big—but I feel big, because my atoms came from those stars." This quote reflects the themes of the song, which explore the relationship between the individual and the cosmos. The song's dreamy, hypnotic soundscapes evoke the feeling of floating through space and contemplating the enormity of the universe, while the repeated refrain of "It overtakes me" suggests a sense of awe and wonder at the vastness of existence.

Overall, "It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big...I Am So Small...Do I Stand a Chance?" is a haunting and introspective song that touches on universal themes of mortality, isolation, and the mysteries of the universe. The lyrics and music combine to create a sense of existential vertigo that is both unsettling and captivating.