One interpretation of this song, at least the music, is of being an end, or a departure, like a departing spaceship. But more importantly, it's the end of the B-52s surf-rock sound (or whatever you want to call it), which made up their first 2 albums. They wanted to stop doing this type of music (not get stuck in a rut), and go in other directions, which they did on Mesopotamia and later albums. 53 Miles West of Venus, the last song on Wild Planet, is the end of the B-52s sound introduced with Rock Lobster and Planet Claire. The band remained the same (until Ricky died) and they still play many of those songs live, but they haven't written songs quite like this in 30 years.
One interpretation of this song, at least the music, is of being an end, or a departure, like a departing spaceship. But more importantly, it's the end of the B-52s surf-rock sound (or whatever you want to call it), which made up their first 2 albums. They wanted to stop doing this type of music (not get stuck in a rut), and go in other directions, which they did on Mesopotamia and later albums. 53 Miles West of Venus, the last song on Wild Planet, is the end of the B-52s sound introduced with Rock Lobster and Planet Claire. The band remained the same (until Ricky died) and they still play many of those songs live, but they haven't written songs quite like this in 30 years.