Topic: "The Astronaut" Interpretations? (Read 5370 times)

colordeaf · « **on:** July 20, 2007, 11:01:19 PM »

My current song of the moment is Astronaut, the recently uploaded to Youtube solo song by Amanda Palmer. I'm interested in what you think the song is about. For some reason, parts of it remind of a "friendship" over the internet (back of right arm, right arm is usually arm that uses mouse, etc...). I didn't get the chance to discuss it on the old Shadowbox, but I hope this is appropriate to discuss as of now...

(the lyrics are on songmeanings.net, under "Amanda Palmer")

And if it's allowed, could anyone send an audio only version of the video (mp3)?

whitenoise · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2007, 08:35:59 PM »

I would love an audio version as well. I pine for one.
I think it is about relationship frustrations (duh)... Perhaps she's evaluating the relationship, wondering if it's worth it (is it enough to have some love, small enough to __) but is wishing for more, even simple things, something to ground her and just be compensation for...distance? Physically or emotionally? (i want to touch the back of your right arm, i wish you could remind me who i was....i will gladly stay an afterthought
just bring back some nice reminders) and she states what she isn't getting, is frustrated with publicity (because everyone around you wants to look...everybody’s sick for something that they can find fascinating). But despite this, she can't let go because she loves them/him (but you are my love the astronaut...and is it getting harder to pretend, that life goes on without you in the wake).
And part of me says, "Brian?" And the other part says, "Shh, you're being presumptuous." And the first part retorts, "By interpreting it at all you're making all sorts of gross assumptions," and both of them fall silent thinking about how silly it would be to not interpret things in your own way. I wouldn't mind if someone got my song all wrong; it meant something to them if they thought about it long enough to make assumptions.

The parenthesis of the title are "a short history of nearly nothing". Just food for thought.

Niels · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2007, 02:59:02 AM »

audio: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ii98ot
(it was posted on the old box, so I assume it's ok to post here too.)

And I'm interested in hearing other people's interpretations too, because I have no idea.

Amanda Palmer · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2007, 09:22:32 AM »

http://www.annointed.net/Article388.html

colordeaf · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2007, 03:53:25 PM »

Quote from: Amanda Palmer on July 22, 2007, 09:22:32 AM

http://www.annointed.net/Article388.html

I had a feeling the astronaut wife theme fit in there somewhere, but my head was feeling too muddled to think. I feel a little bit awkward right now, since I wasn't exactly expecting this reply. Well actually I was. Excuse my tendency to not notice the obvious :<

Joebear · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2007, 04:17:09 PM »

I've always thought of the song as being about just trying to maintain a relationship with someone who is off on a mission doing something they believe in (ie exploring space, or touring with a band.)

Are we supposed to be paying more attention to the fact that the website is "Reaching Our World For Christ"?

What a beautiful song though, I'm curious as to how the ending has changed sicne November, because that was one of my favorite parts of the song. Amanda never disapoints though and I can't wait to hear how kickass it has become after having the time to mess around with it.

whitenoise · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2007, 04:41:47 PM »

Quote from: Amanda Palmer on July 22, 2007, 09:22:32 AM

http://www.annointed.net/Article388.html

Quote from: Zephyr on July 22, 2007, 02:59:02 AM

audio: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ii98ot

Ooh, thanks.

colordeaf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2007, 08:37:42 PM »

Quote from: Joebear on July 22, 2007, 04:17:09 PM

I've always thought of the song as being about just trying to maintain a relationship with someone who is off on a mission doing something they believe in (ie exploring space, or touring with a band.)

Are we supposed to be paying more attention to the fact that the website is "Reaching Our World For Christ"?

What a beautiful song though, I'm curious as to how the ending has changed sicne November, because that was one of my favorite parts of the song. Amanda never disapoints though and I can't wait to hear how kickass it has become after having the time to mess around with it.

Oh, I overlooked the religious aspect. Well actually I didn't, I assumed the song was referencing the site it was on in some way. There were alternate endings? Any lyrics for those?

Joebear · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2007, 10:35:07 PM »

oh i dont know about alternate endings, I've only heard the paradise one, but Amanda mentioned about the youtube video that the ending has changed since.

Street Magic · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2007, 12:07:33 AM »

The Paradise video's last chorus ends with "I will gladly stay an afterthought/But they couldn't feel like I did". There's another video on Youtube that was taken in January, I think, where those lines have changed to "Just my luck, they found your upper half/It's a very nice reminder". I like the latter lyrics better, they have an ironic feel to them.

tonic pancake. · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2007, 12:10:01 AM »

i always though she said "but they couldn't kill like i did". either way, judging from the most recent recordings, the lyrics are closer now to the january version than the november version.

BATTEREDxBRIDExLUVR! · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2007, 03:19:14 PM »

I never really interpreted it much, I just thought it was a song about desperate/obsessive love with someone who seems to feel the same way, but doesn't act like it, if that makes sense.

fairytalevegas · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:34:46 PM »

I love playing this song. I played it for the talent show and am going to record me playing it probably tomorrow. I love the lyrics. It's brilliance. A+ Ms. Palmer!

tonic pancake. · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2007, 10:36:55 AM »

also, this:
http://www.internal.org/view_poem.phtml?poemID=119

we had to study that poem in my high school ap english class.

oh, and mass, do share the recording please, once you've made it.

fairytalevegas · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2007, 12:06:50 PM »

Quote from: mark on July 29, 2007, 10:36:55 AM

also, this:
http://www.internal.org/view_poem.phtml?poemID=119

we had to study that poem in my high school ap english class.

oh, and mass, do share the recording please, once you've made it.

I'm uploading from my camera as we speak. I'll try and have it up later today.

colordeaf · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:28:03 PM »

Quote from: MASS on July 29, 2007, 12:06:50 PM

Quote from: mark on July 29, 2007, 10:36:55 AM
also, this:
http://www.internal.org/view_poem.phtml?poemID=119

we had to study that poem in my high school ap english class.

oh, and mass, do share the recording please, once you've made it.
I'm uploading from my camera as we speak. I'll try and have it up later today.

I want to play the song too D:

It has a lot of meaning for me, er net drama issue. Somebody I know had an estalker. Reminds me of him.

Street Magic · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:53:24 PM »

Quote from: colordeaf on July 30, 2007, 06:28:03 PM

I want to play the song too D:

A couple of weeks ago I uploaded the sheet music to the Yahoo! group "dresden_doll_x". It's really crude, but if you want to play Astronaut, go ahead and get the sheet music and improvise from there.

It's for Finale NotePad, which is a free sheet music software. Just Google it and you can find their website.

colordeaf · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:17:01 PM »

Quote from: pumpkinking0192 on July 30, 2007, 06:53:24 PM

Quote from: colordeaf on July 30, 2007, 06:28:03 PM
I want to play the song too D:
A couple of weeks ago I uploaded the sheet music to the Yahoo! group "dresden_doll_x". It's really crude, but if you want to play Astronaut, go ahead and get the sheet music and improvise from there.

It's for Finale NotePad, which is a free sheet music software. Just Google it and you can find their website.

ARRRRG I can't download any programs! Can't anyone share a jpg version?

SeeAnne · « **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2007, 10:15:38 PM »

Quote from: colordeaf on July 31, 2007, 07:17:01 PM

Quote from: pumpkinking0192 on July 30, 2007, 06:53:24 PM
Quote from: colordeaf on July 30, 2007, 06:28:03 PM
I want to play the song too D:
A couple of weeks ago I uploaded the sheet music to the Yahoo! group "dresden_doll_x". It's really crude, but if you want to play Astronaut, go ahead and get the sheet music and improvise from there.

It's for Finale NotePad, which is a free sheet music software. Just Google it and you can find their website.

ARRRRG I can't download any programs! Can't anyone share a jpg version?

why don't you get the guitar chords instead?? don't worry none of the chords are written as Gaug(add9)

colordeaf · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2007, 02:29:34 PM »

Quote from: BlondeRedhead on August 04, 2007, 10:15:38 PM

Quote from: colordeaf on July 31, 2007, 07:17:01 PM
Quote from: pumpkinking0192 on July 30, 2007, 06:53:24 PM
Quote from: colordeaf on July 30, 2007, 06:28:03 PM
I want to play the song too D:
A couple of weeks ago I uploaded the sheet music to the Yahoo! group "dresden_doll_x". It's really crude, but if you want to play Astronaut, go ahead and get the sheet music and improvise from there.

It's for Finale NotePad, which is a free sheet music software. Just Google it and you can find their website.

ARRRRG I can't download any programs! Can't anyone share a jpg version?

why don't you get the guitar chords instead?? don't worry none of the chords are written as Gaug(add9)

Done. Eh, for some reason I get this image in my head of The Astronaut being a popular book in an alternate universe and the song being sung about an author. This because I have a friend who hates Harry Potter, and I *gasp* I read the books, being gullible to the writing style/cover art.

whatlanguagenodutch · « **Reply #20 on:** January 15, 2013, 06:19:19 AM »

^bump

Does anyone have any new thoughts on this song? Also, which ending did she use on the tour this year--anybody remember?

GlassSlipper · « **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2013, 09:45:23 AM »

http://whokilledamandapalmer.com/history.php#continue

edit:
...reading now that Grown Man Cry was already done during WKAP recording

Shaeon · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2013, 05:41:18 AM »

Quote from: whatlanguagenodutch on January 15, 2013, 06:19:19 AM

^bump

Does anyone have any new thoughts on this song? Also, which ending did she use on the tour this year--anybody remember?

Outside of what this song means to Amanda Palmer, I've been pondering lately what it means to me. It's full of questions. "Is it getting harder to pretend/That life goes on without you in the wake/And can you see the means without the end/in the random frantic action that we take" gets me every time. the first part, about life going on without you in the wake, makes me think of my ex. We were together so long. I was heart-broken when the relationship ended, but there's been a lot of healing. But sometimes it crosses my mind to wonder what my ex thinks when she thinks about me. I want her to know I'm doing ok. I kind of want her to know that I'm better than I was with her. I have no idea why I care, but I want her to know that life really does go on without her.

Can you see the means without the end - that one, I get twisted around. The end justifies the means - so does it take an ending for you to become aware of the means, to see what exactly you've been willing to do in order to get to this end? Is that what that means?

Also, the "is it enough to have some love?" parts at the beginning absolutely slay me. I think the answer is no. $:-\$

So that was a deeply personal interpretation and sadder than I really meant to be. Not sure if that's what you are looking for, but yeah. The song's been on my mind a bunch, lately.

Cirque · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:15:56 PM »

I just listened to the recording from 2008 of when Astronaut was first played with drums.
Still blown away by that performance (I think it has Meredith Yayanos on violin)

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Author Topic: "The Astronaut" Interpretations? (Read 5370 times)