Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground Control to Major Tom (Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six)
Commencing countdown, engines on (Five, Four, Three)
Check ignition and may God's love be with you (Two, One, Liftoff)

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
For 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 circuit's 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 "Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do."


Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by m33rkat, milomojo330

Space Oddity song meanings
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  • +3
    Song Meaning

    Actually you guys, if you understand the "era" he wrote the song:

    1. the fascination with space and the space race was heavily discussed in the mainstream media
    2. the wider acceptance of drugs including psychedelics (LSD, mushrooms, etc)

    So to a public that had never been part of the drug scene, it was a lovely song about space. But the undertone is very clear to the few who had expanded their minds.

    --> Take your protein pills (mushrooms) --> Ignition / take off (the onset of the psychedelic expereince has been described or likened to a take off) --> floating in a most peculiar way (self expanatory) --> stepping theough the door (doors of perception - Jim Morrison based his band on this concept) --> tin can (experiences of ego separation mind from body, insignificance, limiations of our thinking are tied to the physical body) --> far above the world (awareness of high, away from reality) --> stars look different today (see things from a different perspective) --> nothing i can do (letting go is part of the journey, trying to control it can lead to panic in a psychedlic experience)

    So its a clever song with a double meaning.

    markymarkymarkon February 13, 2010   Link

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