Lyric discussion by hello981 

This song is about the Sputnik program. The following supports:

  • It caught the US by surprise ("Are you what I think you are?")
  • it reflects Western Cold War paranoia ("Always the first star that I find", i.e, cannot think of anything else)
  • it spurred the US space program ("Elevator to the moon")
  • it scaled the arms race ("Maybe you will always be / Just a little out of reach")
  • it encouraged the formation of ARPA [now DARPA] ("Passenger side, lighting the sky")
  • it indirectly led to the rule of Vladimir Putin ("Shining like a work of art", also "Just a little favorite tune")
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