This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
That November night, looking up into the sky
You said hey wish that was me up there
It's the biggest rocket I could find
And it's holding the night in its arms
If for only a moment
I can't see the look in its eyes
But I'm sure it must be laughing
But it seemed to me the saddest thing I'd ever seen
And I thought you were crazy wishing such a thing
I saw only a stick on fire
Alone on its journey
Home to the quickening ground
With no one there to catch it
I put on my pointed hat
And my black and silver suit
And I check my gunpowder pack
And I strap the stick on my back
And dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge
Nobody seemed to see me
Then with the fuse in my hand
And now shooting into the night
And still as a rocket
I land in the river
Was it me said you were crazy?
I put on my cloudiest suit
Size five lightning boots too
'Cause I am a rocket
On fire
Look at me go with my tail on fire
Tail on fire
On fire
You said hey wish that was me up there
It's the biggest rocket I could find
And it's holding the night in its arms
If for only a moment
I can't see the look in its eyes
But I'm sure it must be laughing
But it seemed to me the saddest thing I'd ever seen
And I thought you were crazy wishing such a thing
I saw only a stick on fire
Alone on its journey
Home to the quickening ground
With no one there to catch it
I put on my pointed hat
And my black and silver suit
And I check my gunpowder pack
And I strap the stick on my back
And dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge
Nobody seemed to see me
Then with the fuse in my hand
And now shooting into the night
And still as a rocket
I land in the river
Was it me said you were crazy?
I put on my cloudiest suit
Size five lightning boots too
'Cause I am a rocket
On fire
Look at me go with my tail on fire
Tail on fire
On fire
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by ladyamanda
Rocket's Tail Lyrics as written by Kate Bush
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
When I first listened to this song I was literally blown away by it's wildness. Just over a minute and 20 seconds into the track the song explodes into a musical frenzy - an explosion that would launch a rocket itself. After reading Kate's lyrics I feel that it's an exploration of the unknown by throwing yourself into something you disagree with/don't understand and then finding joy and energy from it. It's such a powerful song, quite unlike anything I've heared before.
This song deals with the performing artist - It has a sad humour, like Janis Joplin saying: “I just made love to 25,000 people, but I’m going home alone!”
A tells B how they wish they could experience the brilliant thrill suggested to them by the rocket. But B regards this wish as crazy. To B, the rocket symbolises not to be - brevity, sadness, aloneness, etc.
Years later, B is a performer, like the firework… holding the night in its arms… But when a performer is on stage, most of us can’t see the look in their eyes… (‘I put on my pointed hat…’ Kate wore a pointed hat for ‘Sat in Your Lap’… and a black and silver suit ON STAGE… and Waterloo Bridge is very close to the London Palladium where she began her first and last tour in 1979.)
B puts so much effort in, but still feels unfulfilled when the show is over… Nobody seems to see me… (The Dreaming met with a mixed critical reception…) So B tries again and again to fill “the gap”… (‘I put on my cloudiest suit…’ may refer to Cloudbusting, etc.) B is ‘on fire’ with the need to perform, to express herself artistically…
So the song is about B, looking back on that November night, and ironically thinking, ‘Gosh, was it me who said you were crazy!’
This is a really wild, free and expressive song. solar_powered's explanation sounds like a potentially reasonable one to me now I read it, but being slightly morbid myself, I had interpreted it as about freedom found in death, haha.
As I see it, it starts off with the first person and second person on Guy Fawkes' Night watching a rocket. The second person is talking about how much he wants to be the rocket, but the first person thinks that the rocket is only going to die, so it's not a happy thing at all.
But then later on the first person realises that was exactly why the second person was envious of the rocket - because it was full of energy and beauty for a moment before it dies. She is dressed as a rocket and jumps off Waterloo Bridge, and as is shown in the last few lines, she's euphoric for a moment as she flies like the rocket did, until she also dies like the rocket did, as illustrated by where she's cut off in the last line - "look at me go, look at me..." - she doesn't finish the sentence. A little long-winded I know, but that's just what it said to me. xD
I also love how English this song is. Guy Fawkes' Night, Waterloo Bridge, British shoe sizes (or so I assume, since size 5 is quite small for an adult in America!)
Well, Kate Bush is English, so it would make sense.
Overall I agree with solar powered. She finds herself caught up in a moment which she had not expected to enjoy. (Was it me said you were crazy?) The rocket symbolises the energy but also the vunerability as she launches herself into the unknown. This is such a lovely song.
The song looks at the unexpected and turns self-doubt into a motivating force…
The preparing to perform… the rocket suit and gunpowder pack… A rock star shooting into the night… the self-doubting ‘I land in the river!’ … And The Trio Bulgarka! A beautiful song!
But Kate was never a performing ‘stick on fire’!!! … She was and always will be a wonderful star! Kate Towers …the biggest rocket I could find… Ever for Ever!