Starship
The MC5 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Starship, starship take me
Take me where I wanna go
Out there among the planets
Let a billion suns cast my shadow

Starship, starship take me
Stretch your legs in time and space
[Incomprehensible] a passage through the vacuum
Let me feel the stars burnin' on my face

Ten for the gravity, checkpoint
Nine for polarity, checkpoint
Eight for the [Incomprehensible]
Seven for the prismatic time warp

Six for the spirit of the captain, captain
Five for the power of the nucleus nebula
Four for the eyes, ears, nose, think, feel, speak

Three for the many levels
Two for the chromosome
One for the energy
One for the energy

One check, one check
One check, one check
One check, one check

Leaving the solar system
Leaving the solar system
Leaving the solar system
Leaving the solar system

Leaving, leaving
Leaving, leaving
Leaving

It's cold in sun fire glory
From this point, I rise to infinity

There is a land whose beauty is almost
Unimaginable to the human mind
In a daze we stand there and look further
Than the ordinary eye can see

Children, far above the roof of this world
We can encompass vistas of the worlds
There is a land where the sun shines eternally
Eternally, eternally

Out in outer space




A living, blazing fire, so vital and alive
That it burns our eyes to witness it's splendor

Overall Meaning

The MC5's song "Starship" is a cosmic journey expressed through rock and roll. The song speaks of a longing to escape from the mundane world and experience outer space. The lyrics suggest a yearning to be taken away by a starship that can transcend the limitations of time and space. The singer's goal is to explore the planets and bask in the warm glow of a billion suns. The lyrics express a deep desire for adventure and discovery, a wanderlust that can only be satisfied by leaving the solar system.


In the song, the singer speaks of the technical aspects of space flight. The countdown to takeoff is punctuated by checkpoints for gravity, polarity, and time warp. The song also refers to the importance of the captain's spirit, the power of the nucleus nebula, and the senses necessary for space exploration.


The song's lyrics are filled with imagery that captures the vastness and beauty of space. The imagery hones in on the contrast of cold and fire, and the beauty of an eternal sun. The words express a sense of awe and wonder at the sight of the living blaze of stars.


Overall, "Starship" is a song about chasing adventure, excitement, and exhilaration. It also communicates the idea that the boundaries of the mundane world can be broken through imagination and exploration.


Line by Line Meaning

Starship, starship take me
Asking for a starship to take them on a journey


Take me where I wanna go
Requesting to be taken to their desired destination


Out there among the planets
Describing the location of their desired destination


Let a billion suns cast my shadow
Wishing to experience the grandeur of space and be engulfed by the light of the stars


Stretch your legs in time and space
Asking the starship to travel through both time and space


[Incomprehensible] a passage through the vacuum
Requesting a path through the vacuum of space


Let me feel the stars burnin' on my face
Expressing a desire to experience the heat and brightness of the stars


Ten for the gravity, checkpoint
Listing the factors necessary for a successful journey


Nine for polarity, checkpoint
Listing the factors necessary for a successful journey


Eight for the [Incomprehensible]
Listing the factors necessary for a successful journey


Seven for the prismatic time warp
Listing the factors necessary for a successful journey, including the possibility of time travel


Six for the spirit of the captain, captain
Highlighting the importance of having a strong, capable captain


Five for the power of the nucleus nebula
Listing the factors that contribute to the power of the starship


Four for the eyes, ears, nose, think, feel, speak
Acknowledging the importance of utilizing all of their senses to fully appreciate the experience


Three for the many levels
Describing the complexity of the experience they hope to have


Two for the chromosome
Acknowledging the biological components that make the journey possible


One for the energy
Highlighting the importance of energy in making a successful journey


One check, one check
Double-checking that everything is in order for the journey


Leaving the solar system
Announcing that they have left the solar system


Leaving, leaving
Reiterating that they are leaving


It's cold in sun fire glory
Describing the coldness of space despite the heat of the stars


From this point, I rise to infinity
Expressing excitement for the limitless possibilities of their journey


There is a land whose beauty is almost
Describing an otherworldly, unimaginable destination


Unimaginable to the human mind
Emphasizing the extraordinary nature of their destination


In a daze we stand there and look further
Describing the overwhelming awe they feel at their destination


Than the ordinary eye can see
Stating that their destination is beyond the comprehension of the typical human


Children, far above the roof of this world
Addressing their fellow travelers as child-like wonderers


We can encompass vistas of the worlds
Expressing the expanse of their experience and the sights they have seen


There is a land where the sun shines eternally
Describing the eternity and the majesty of their destination


Eternally, eternally
Repeating the emphasis on the eternal nature of their destination


Out in outer space
Describing where they have traveled


A living, blazing fire, so vital and alive
Describing the beauty and vitality of the stars


That it burns our eyes to witness it's splendor
Expressing the strength of the star's light




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS A. TOMICH, FREDERICK D. SMITH, MICHAEL DAVIS, ROBERT W. DERMINER, WAYNE KRAMER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions