I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Galileo fell in love as a Galilean boy
And he wondered what in heaven who invented such a joy
But the question got the better of his scientific mind
And to his blind and dying gaze
He looked up high and often sighed
And sometimes cried
Who puts the rainbow in the sky
Who lights the stars at night
Who dreamt up someone so divine
Someone like you and made them mine
Love can make you ask some funny questions now and then
But just remember the alternatives for I remember when
I was lonely and unhappy
And my lips were cold as ice
But you kissed me, and good heavens
Now I'm here in paradise
So if ever I'm not kissing you or looking in your eyes
I won't be blind, and I won't cry
I'll look up high and gladly sigh
And thank the guy
Who puts the rainbow in the sky?
Who lights the stars at night?
Who dreamt up someone so divine?
Someone like you and made them mine?
Someone like you and made them mine?
And he wondered what in heaven who invented such a joy
But the question got the better of his scientific mind
And to his blind and dying gaze
He looked up high and often sighed
And sometimes cried
Who puts the rainbow in the sky
Who lights the stars at night
Who dreamt up someone so divine
Someone like you and made them mine
Love can make you ask some funny questions now and then
But just remember the alternatives for I remember when
I was lonely and unhappy
And my lips were cold as ice
But you kissed me, and good heavens
Now I'm here in paradise
So if ever I'm not kissing you or looking in your eyes
I won't be blind, and I won't cry
I'll look up high and gladly sigh
And thank the guy
Who puts the rainbow in the sky?
Who lights the stars at night?
Who dreamt up someone so divine?
Someone like you and made them mine?
Someone like you and made them mine?
Lyrics submitted by See0Emily0Play
Galileo Lyrics as written by Seamus Paul Mary Cotter Declan Edward O'rourke
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song annoys me every time I hear it because it makes complete travesty of Galileo's life. He was a scientist and astronomer who championed the heliocentric view of the universe in contrast to the earth-centered view then endorsed by the Vatican. I'm pretty sure that he did not "wonder who put the rainbow in the sky" because everyone in those days "knew" it was God who did these things. His interest was in making objective, scientific observations (he discovered the moons of Jupiter) of the solar system and other physical phenomena. For his troubles he was subject to the Inquisition and forbidden from publishing by the Vatican for the rest of his life. These are facts that we know about the man which are much more interesting than the romantic whimsy which this songs imagines about him. Is it just because he has a poetic name with 4 syllables? Pick on someone else...
I believe the point is that a mind such as his, as brilliant and rare as they are, is as susceptible to love and would have throw everything (beliefs) out the window for it - just as we do.