Space Oddity
William Shatner Lyrics
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Ground control to major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
(Ten) Ground control (Nine) to major Tom (Eight)
(Seven, six) Commencing countdown (Five), engines on (Four)
(Three, two) Check ignition (One) and may Gods
(Blastoff) Love be with you
This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare
This is major Tom to ground control, I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do
Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles,
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows
Ground control to major Tom, your circuits dead,
there's something wrong
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear am I sitting in my tin can far above the moon
Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do
"Space Oddity" is a song that tells the story of an astronaut named Major Tom in space. The song's lyrics depict Ground Control's communication with Major Tom during his voyage, as well as Major Tom's own thoughts and experiences. The song is divided into three parts: Ground Control's communication with Major Tom before launch, Major Tom's description of his journey and feelings in space, and Major Tom's final phase where he is lost in space.
In the first part of the song, Ground Control is communicating with Major Tom prior to takeoff. They are reminding him to take his protein pills and put on his helmet. The countdown for launch is then initiated. The second part of the song describes Major Tom's experience in space. He is floating in a peculiar way, and the stars look different. He acknowledges that even though he is far above Earth, he feels still, and his spaceship seems to know where to go. He then sends a final message to Ground Control, telling them to communicate his love to his wife. In the third and final part of the song, Ground Control tries to communicate with Major Tom again, but his circuits are dead, and he cannot hear them. Major Tom is left in his tin can far above the moon, and there is nothing he can do.
Line by Line Meaning
Ground control to major Tom
Ground team calling astronaut Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Preparing for take-off, Tom is instructed to take his protein pills and put on his helmet
And may Gods love be with you
Wishing Tom a safe journey into space
This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade
Ground control congratulating Tom on his achievements
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Media interest in Tom's mission details, even insignificant facts like his clothing choices
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare
Tom is encouraged to take a bold step and exit the secured pod of the spacecraft
This is major Tom to ground control, I'm stepping through the door
Tom informing the ground team that he has decided to venture out of the spacecraft
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
Tom is experiencing an unusual sensation of drifting without gravity
And the stars look very different today
The view from space is surreal and unfamiliar
Here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Tom's realization of his current location - in a small spacecraft far away from Earth
Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do
Tom's sense of helplessness being so far away from home and being able to do nothing to impact Earth
Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles, I'm feeling very still
Despite being a great distance away from Earth, Tom feels calm and still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tom is confident in the direction of the spacecraft as it travels through space
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows
Tom sends his love to his wife back home, acknowledging that she already knows his feelings
Ground control to major Tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong
Ground team senses an issue with Tom's communication systems and alerts him to this
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Ground team checks Tom's communication system
Can you hear am I sitting in my tin can far above the moon
Tom acknowledges that he hears the ground team despite being in his spacecraft above the moon
Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do
Tom reflects again on his distance from planet Earth and his inability to help or impact it
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrew P.
SHATNER'S "Rocket Man" is incredible.... I get so mesmerised by it... I listen over and over and can't get it outta my head.
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@Shadow warrior Dad?
Shadow warrior
@bbbb lies
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It's garbage
John42ification
My condolences ...
Rodolfo Borges
Ritchie Blackmore is such a genius... What a wonderful guitar solo!
João Pedro Vaz Álvaro
Unmistakable playing!
Andrew Hillis
@Rodolfo Borges Pereira And good vocals too from Mr Shatner!!!
Fredi Long
10 years later, William finally made it to space... What a man.
Malcolm Coghill
Shatner is the King of Karaoke. He renders any pop song into something us mere mortals can sing