Praying to the Aliens
Tubeway Army Lyrics

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Slowly the thought
"There is no one to replace"
Came into view
And he began to cry
Now only boys
That love only boys
The perfect picture
Of a boy/girl age

I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens

Grey overcoat
And he could be anyone
A random poll check
"Do you ever think of women?"
They broke him down
Into a torn old queen
Living somewhere
Between dead and dying

I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens

There are no more
Do you begin to see?
The corner of my eye
Could give me away
Isn't it strange
How times change?
I can't imagine
Living any other way

I'm praying to the aliens
I'm praying to the aliens

Overall Meaning

The song "Praying to the Aliens" by Tubeway Army is a melancholic reflection on gender identity, societal norms, and the yearning for acceptance. In the first verse, the singer laments that there is no one to replace him/her, implying that society does not have room for someone like him/her. This leads to a sense of despair, symbolized by the tears that well up in his/her eyes. The second verse is more direct in its exploration of queer identity, with the lines "Now only boys/That love only boys/The perfect picture/Of a boy/girl age" painting a picture of a person who is neither fully male nor female, and is attracted to those of the same gender. Despite the challenges he/she faces, the singer clings to the hope that there might be some otherworldly force out there that might accept him/her, hence the refrain "I'm praying to the aliens."

The imagery of the song is poignant, with the grey overcoat symbolizing the singer's invisibility and anonymity in a heteronormative society. The random poll check asking whether he/she thinks of women is a cruel reminder of the pressure to conform to rigid gender roles. The reference to being "between dead and dying" suggests a feeling of being stuck in limbo, neither fully alive nor dead, and the final lines about living in no other way implies that the singer has come to accept his/her identity, despite the challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Slowly the thought
Gradually, the idea

"There is no one to replace"
That there is no one who can take his place

Came into view
Came to his attention

And he began to cry
And it made him emotional, causing him to cry

Now only boys
Only boys remain

That love only boys
Who only have romantic/sexual feelings for other boys

The perfect picture
The ideal image

Of a boy/girl age
A youthful androgynous appearance

I'm praying to the aliens
I am appealing to extraterrestrial beings for help

Grey overcoat
A nondescript gray coat

And he could be anyone
And he could pass for anyone