I absolutely love HUM; they’ve been my favorite band since 1994, and I still listen to their albums monthly (usually on a road trip since they’re great from start to finish).
Back in college, I dissected “You’d Prefer an Astronaut” as term paper for an English comp class (we had to pick a piece of literature, and I argued the lyrics were poetry; the prof agreed). I no longer have the paper, but I still recall the gist of it.
For as beautiful and ethereal as the lyrics are, the album tells a relatively simple but heartfelt story of a relationship’s inception, duration and aftermath. In short:
Little Dipper — two “star-crossed lovers” get together despite parental disapproval
The Pod — This relationship used to rock, but now it’s full of drug-related drama
Stars — The girl is becoming disillusioned, feeling that she’s missed better opportunities in life because of the choice to be together; resentment builds
The Suicide Machine — this is the man’s perspective. He feels like he’s stuck in a boring rut of the same old B.S.; drugs help him cope.
Very Old Man — the decision is made to break up. Ironically, the climax of the story is “softly recorded”
Why I like the Robins — After the break-up, the woman is hoping that all the guys who used to want her still will. The guy just wants to sleep around.
I’d Like your Hair Long — He’s annoyed and conflicted because he wants her back, but not the way she was. He’s angry that she wasn’t what he expected.
I Hate it Too — meaningless sex isn’t as awesome as it sounds; he misses her.
Songs of Farewell and Departure — this is kinda like when a play has a narrator who leaves the audience with some final thoughts about the “moral of the story” that was just told.
So, the last few songs are almost like the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Eventually, the guy copes and is alright.
I absolutely love HUM; they’ve been my favorite band since 1994, and I still listen to their albums monthly (usually on a road trip since they’re great from start to finish).
Back in college, I dissected “You’d Prefer an Astronaut” as term paper for an English comp class (we had to pick a piece of literature, and I argued the lyrics were poetry; the prof agreed). I no longer have the paper, but I still recall the gist of it.
For as beautiful and ethereal as the lyrics are, the album tells a relatively simple but heartfelt story of a relationship’s inception, duration and aftermath. In short:
Little Dipper — two “star-crossed lovers” get together despite parental disapproval
The Pod — This relationship used to rock, but now it’s full of drug-related drama
Stars — The girl is becoming disillusioned, feeling that she’s missed better opportunities in life because of the choice to be together; resentment builds
The Suicide Machine — this is the man’s perspective. He feels like he’s stuck in a boring rut of the same old B.S.; drugs help him cope.
Very Old Man — the decision is made to break up. Ironically, the climax of the story is “softly recorded”
Why I like the Robins — After the break-up, the woman is hoping that all the guys who used to want her still will. The guy just wants to sleep around.
I’d Like your Hair Long — He’s annoyed and conflicted because he wants her back, but not the way she was. He’s angry that she wasn’t what he expected.
I Hate it Too — meaningless sex isn’t as awesome as it sounds; he misses her.
Songs of Farewell and Departure — this is kinda like when a play has a narrator who leaves the audience with some final thoughts about the “moral of the story” that was just told. So, the last few songs are almost like the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Eventually, the guy copes and is alright.