Interpretations:What Is A Shooting Star?

• Song
• Lyrics
• Interpretations
• Credits
• Guitar Tab
• Bass Tab
• Chronology

Interpretation 1

It's rather cynical, don't you think? Other bands would sing song about wishes and stuff... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.87.13.79 (talk • contribs) 16:35, May 1, 2007

Yeah, if this wasn't a science song, I could totally see TMBG making a song with this title, about how shooting stars fill people up with hope and stuff, but really are meteors/meteorites (when they fall down to earth!) coming to kill us all. -AtionSong 02:46, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Maybe y'all don't know that TMBG didn't write this song. I think this subject would otherwise be ripe for the band to tackle in their typical off-kilter way as you suggested. --MisterMe 13:12, 19 November 2012 (EST)

Another Theory Rendered Invalid

Just as the Sun song espouses incorrect scientific theories, so does this song. Specifically, the line "The friction as it falls through air" is problematic.

You see, while the air friction does cause some heat, the vast majority is from the intense pressure of the air in front of the meteor. You know the Ideal Gas Law? Well it states PV = nRT where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles (groups of 6.0221415 × 10²³ atoms), R is the gas constant (equal to 0.082 057 46 L atm K^-1 mol^-1), and T is temperature (in Kelvin). When we apply this to the air in front of a falling meteor with V, n, and R constant, P is increased so T increases.

Source: Phil Plait Any questions? --deathgecko (Evil Emperor of Lizards) 00:42, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

DEATH BIRDS

In the music video, there are two birds conversing about shooting stars, (Flansburgh and Linell,) and then the song ends abruptly, as the meteorite crashes to Earth. These birds, a metaphor for the Johns, are the only two who know of a deadly meteor most are assured is only a “shooting star” and attempt to warn people. When they fail, they come to terms with the end. It is also possible the meteor is metaphorical and it’s just two people who fear death.

-When Cheese Met Chalk