Originally from Sha Tin, Hong Kong, Hung moved to Camden, NJ, United States, in 1993 and graduated from the John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles. He was a student at University of California, Berkeley, and later dropped out to pursue his music career. He later attended Pasadena City College and now attends California State University, Northridge.
Rocket Man
William Hung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zero hour, nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high
As a kite by then
I miss the earth so much
I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Ah, no no no...
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse
Up here alone
Mars ain't the kind of place
To raise your kids
In fact, it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them
If you did
And all this science
I don't understand
It's just my job
Five days a week
A Rocket Man
Rocket Man
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Ah, no no no...
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Ah, no no no...
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse
Up here alone
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
Long, long, time
Long, long, time
Ah, no, no, no...
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...
William Hung's cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" is a simple but curious take on the classic hit. The song talks about a man's experience as an astronaut, being away from earth and away from his wife. He talks about his longing for home and the loneliness of space, saying he is "gonna be high as a kite" by the time he arrives back on earth. Despite the weighty subject matter, Hung's rendition of the song comes across as lighthearted and even humorous. He brings a unique perspective to the lyrics, and the result is memorable.
The song also touches on a few deeper themes, such as the idea that science and space travel are vital, but hard to comprehend. The lyric "all this science I don't understand, it's just my job five days a week" suggests that humanity's quest to explore space is a lofty goal, but perhaps difficult to sustain without support from those who do not fully understand the science behind it. Additionally, the line "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids" speaks to the dangers and uncertainties of space exploration, and the sacrifices that must be made to continue the mission.
Line by Line Meaning
She packed by bag last night, preflight
Last night before launch, my wife packed my bags for me.
Zero hour, nine a.m.
The countdown to launch started at 9 AM.
And I'm gonna be high
As a kite by then
By the time I reach space, I'll be very excited and happy.
I miss the earth so much
I miss my wife
I feel a great sense of nostalgia for Earth and my partner.
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
The journey through space feels long and lonely.
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Ah, no no no...
It will be a while before I can return to Earth and convince people that I am not the same person they think I am.
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse
Up here alone
I am a space traveler, flying through space alone and feeling the intense burning of my engines.
Mars ain't the kind of place
To raise your kids
In fact, it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them
If you did
Mars is not suitable for raising children because it is too cold and there is no support system to care for them.
And all this science
I don't understand
It's just my job
Five days a week
A Rocket Man
Rocket Man
As a rocket man, I do not fully comprehend the scientific principles behind my job, but it is what I do for a living.
Long, long, time
Long, long, time
Ah, no, no, no...
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...
The journey through space feels very long and I feel a sense of despair and loneliness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind