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Books About UFOs Lyrics
Walking down a sunny street to the library
Checking out the latest books on outer space
Going to the fruit stand to buy a dozen oranges
Then she and the books and the oranges go back to her place
She tells the same old story to everyone that she knows
She's just sitting in her room reading books about UFOs
Sometimes I see her sitting on the rooftop
Perched in a lawnchair and staring into the sky
I know that somewhere in some faraway galaxy
That some gray men with telescopes are gazing right into her eyes
Her life revolves around all of the planets
And she is constantly aware of all the changes that occur
I'm going to turn into a lens and focus all my attention
On finding a new planet and naming it right after her
Checking out the latest books on outer space
Going to the fruit stand to buy a dozen oranges
Then she and the books and the oranges go back to her place
She's just sitting in her room reading books about UFOs
Perched in a lawnchair and staring into the sky
I know that somewhere in some faraway galaxy
That some gray men with telescopes are gazing right into her eyes
And she is constantly aware of all the changes that occur
I'm going to turn into a lens and focus all my attention
On finding a new planet and naming it right after her
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I read one interpretation that said this song was basically mocking hippies and new-agey types, but I'm not so sure... After all, wasn't Grant the hippie of the band?
I just think it's a unique love song. He likes the weird girl. She's kind of an outcast and lonely because everyone thinks she's weird, but he likes her.
@Quonset I always felt it was sympathetic to this dreamer of person the song is about, it feels earnest and that makes it endearing.
@Quonset I always felt it was sympathetic to this dreamer of person the song is about, it feels earnest and that makes it endearing.
They did have some "anti-hippie" type songs, but I think those were more in the hardcore era. Off the top of my head there were "Signals From Above" ("You think the whole world is incense peace and love" and "Indecision Time" ("You're so natural you're so free so don't decide what's best for me"). Wasn't Bob the more anti-hippie and Grant the hippie? The yin and yang of the band!...
They did have some "anti-hippie" type songs, but I think those were more in the hardcore era. Off the top of my head there were "Signals From Above" ("You think the whole world is incense peace and love" and "Indecision Time" ("You're so natural you're so free so don't decide what's best for me"). Wasn't Bob the more anti-hippie and Grant the hippie? The yin and yang of the band!
this song is great. it has an old-timey sound, without compromising the husker's raw power.
i think its just about a girl who is obsessed with outer space.
the story is beautiful, i certainly don't think anybody's mocking anyone here. and i'd go out with the song's protagonist, 'cause i'm just like her :-)
This song explains his admiration or dare I say his love (ill name a planet after you, pretty awesome gesture of love) for a girl because she is "off in her own world" and he feels an affinity with her because of her individualism. probably my favourite Husker Du tune.
@Jodekin I think you're exactly right. As a person who owns many books about UFOs, I love this song!
@Jodekin I think you're exactly right. As a person who owns many books about UFOs, I love this song!
Could this have been inspired by The Byrds and their numerous space-related songs?
@PGH91 The Byrds aren't the only musicians who were interested in outer space. So you're going to need to be more specific.
@PGH91 The Byrds aren't the only musicians who were interested in outer space. So you're going to need to be more specific.
Off the top of my head, other musicians with outer space include Parliament' with their "Mothership Connection" album. Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn and had songs such as "Rocket #9" and "Love in Outer Space".
Off the top of my head, other musicians with outer space include Parliament' with their "Mothership Connection" album. Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn and had songs such as "Rocket #9" and "Love in Outer Space".
@elwyn5150 That is certainly true. However, Hüsker Dü were known to be influenced by the psychedelic movement and the Byrds in particular, having covered "Eight Miles High". In that same vein, they also covered "Ticket to Ride". It's my impression that they were particularly interested in that mid-60s movement—British Invasion, folk rock and the early psychedelic rock of 1965–66. I don't think the same could be said in relation to Parliament or Sun Ra.
@elwyn5150 That is certainly true. However, Hüsker Dü were known to be influenced by the psychedelic movement and the Byrds in particular, having covered "Eight Miles High". In that same vein, they also covered "Ticket to Ride". It's my impression that they were particularly interested in that mid-60s movement—British Invasion, folk rock and the early psychedelic rock of 1965–66. I don't think the same could be said in relation to Parliament or Sun Ra.
When they were recording this record, didn't Bob give Grant a choice between keeping the honkey tonk piano on this song and slide guitar on "Heaven Hill"? I wonder if there is a demo somewhere of thaf version. What tapes and other unfinished creativs works did Grant leave behind?
When they were recording this record, didn't Bob give Grant a choice between keeping the honkey tonk piano on this song and slide guitar on "Heaven Hill"? I wonder if there is a demo somewhere of that version. What tapes and other unfinished creative works did Grant leave behind?
[Edit: fixed typo]