Interpretations:Rocket Ship
- Song
- Lyrics
- Interpretations
- Credits
- Guitar Tab
- Bass Tab
- Chronology
I think that this song is about an attempt to travel through space that instead ends in a horrible crash, but I could be wrong.
Considering this song is a version of "Spiraling Shape" This song is about LSD.
"Here I sit, feeling low, wishing I had anywhere to go. Want to go for a ride, for a ride inside a rocket ship? Rocket ship, rocket ship want to ride inside a rocket ship? On a trip, on a trip, on a trip inside a rocket ship."
The narrator is bored and a little depressed and wants to do something fun and crazy. "Trip" is the street term used for LSD's effects.
"Here I go, I make the rocket ship go. Goin' slow, I make the rocket ship go."
The narrator decides to take his LSD. His own mind is what makes "the rocket ship go". "Goin' slow" refers to how long it takes to kick in (30 to 90 minutes) compared to other drugs.
"Fogging the view"
His grasp on reality loosens. He can't be sure what he is seeing is real.
"Cupping face to the window"
Possibly referring to covering his eyes to help to see the famous "spiraling shape". Or just looking out the window because he's on LSD.
"In darkness: the shape of a nose and a mouth"
Often users see faces during their trip.
"Head in the way of the viewers And everyone standing around like there's something to get"
Fellow psychedelic wikians, help me out here.
"The thing that you'll see will make you go insane (Everyone wants to see that groovy thing) And everyone wants to see that groovy thing (Everyone wants to see that thing)"
He is talking about the fantastic images that one sees with either their eyes closed or in the dark. He also makes it very clear that LSD will make you go insane and that everyone wants to try it. Using the word "groovy is another reference.
"Second day of the trip Of the trip inside the rocket ship Second week, second year"
These lyrics perfectly explain how the user wants to know more and more about the alternate states of consciousness.
"We're a thousand miles from anywhere"
And these lyrics explain why it is pointless to learn all there is about the alternate states of consciousness because you can't know all there is about them, they are endless. You are just going farther and farther from reality.
"Rocket ship, rocket ship We're all riding in a rocket ship. On a trip, on a trip On a trip inside a rocket ship"
Bears a strong resemblance to "We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine." Referring to hippy lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I love hippies.
"Messed up my face when we fell off the sofa. I injured my hair when we fell from the plane. But nothing can hurt me; I have no nerve endings. I lost so much blood that I'm ready to faint"
If you don't have anyone looking after you, you can really hurt yourself on LSD.
"As I understand it, the thing in the window. The word on the street isn't so, I have read. According to sources the thing in the window. And based on reports and from what we've been told."
Of course everyone who has any say in anything says it's bad for you, but that's not the word on the street. "Street" references the fact that LSD is a street drug.
"Ahhhhh!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!"
I could see myself saying that while tripping.
