The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
"Do you still believe in God?"
Said the Preacher to the astronaut
I heard it's kind of lonesome there
Nothin to talk to but a cold, cold air
Tell me, tell me what was it like?
Did meaning fall from that celestial night?
Did it wrap you up in conversation?
Did it leave you like some ineffible nothin?
Are you feelin alright? right, right.
In the blink of a falshing, blinding light.
Are you feelin alright?
Did you ever really feel anythin?
Tell me are ya gonna come back?
Do you really think that you're one of them?
They're gonna hunt you, they're gonna cut you
They're gonna open up your body and stuff you
Till you say it's written, till you make the payments
Leave ya heavin in the twigs and the toxic
There's nothin inside. Inside, inside
Tell me are the words still paralyzed? Lies, lies, lies.
In the blink of a flashin blindin light.
Said the Preacher to the astronaut
I heard it's kind of lonesome there
Nothin to talk to but a cold, cold air
Tell me, tell me what was it like?
Did meaning fall from that celestial night?
Did it wrap you up in conversation?
Did it leave you like some ineffible nothin?
Are you feelin alright? right, right.
In the blink of a falshing, blinding light.
Are you feelin alright?
Did you ever really feel anythin?
Tell me are ya gonna come back?
Do you really think that you're one of them?
They're gonna hunt you, they're gonna cut you
They're gonna open up your body and stuff you
Till you say it's written, till you make the payments
Leave ya heavin in the twigs and the toxic
There's nothin inside. Inside, inside
Tell me are the words still paralyzed? Lies, lies, lies.
In the blink of a flashin blindin light.
Lyrics submitted by concentric
Astronaut Lyrics as written by Amanda Ghost Kaelyn Behr
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree that the first verse is preacher -> astronaut, but I think it's about losing your faith. The preacher has always doubted his religion, and looks to an astronaut (representing science) to confirm his belief that there is no God. Lines like "I heard it's kinda lonesome there" and "Nothing to talk to but a cold, cold air" deal with the preacher's idea that there's nothing out there. The last line, "in the blink of a flashing, blinding light", is a direct reference to the Big Bang.
In the second verse we have the astronaut's perspective. He's been asked by a devout religious man whether or not he believes in God after going to outer space. The astronaut counters with "Are you feeling alright? Did you ever really feel anything?", which is suggesting that the preacher must have never had faith in what he believed if he is asking the astronaut his opinion. The astronaut talks about how after the preacher has come out and said this, he won't be accepted back into his faith "Do you really think that you're one of them? They're going to hunt you, they're going to cut you..." until the preacher 'says it's written, and makes the payments". It ends with a brilliant bit of lyricism where the last syllable of paralyzed is repeated as "lies, lies, lies", referring to the astronaut's indecision.
Oh, and the song is awesome. The drummer is unbelievable on every song this band makes and, just like every other song on the album, the rest of the band is providing haunting instrumentation. Awesome song on my favourite album.