I'm pretty sure that the chorus is just Michael Collins, thinking aloud. Pretty straightforward, actually.
"I'm with you L.E.M., though it's a shame that it had to be you. The mother ship is just a blip from your trip made for two. I'm with you boys, so please employ just a little extra care. It's on my mind, I'm left behind when I should have been there, walking with you..."
As Collins orbits around the moon, this is what goes through his mind. Perhaps he's talking to himself a little bit. He knows that where his colleagues are, his shuttle is merely a "blip" in the sky for them, if they're even thinking of him at all in their excitement. He feels envious and regretful, and wishes that he could be there to share what must have been the biggest moment in the lives of his two friends (as I can imagine training for a space trip must create quite special bonds).
I'm not sure that the rest of the lyrics necessarily have to be connected to the chorus. Benefit is a very, very introspective album, and I'm not even gonna attempt to get inside Ian's mind in songs like this one. I get the feeling, though, that it's about humanity, as many of you have said before.
I'm pretty sure that the chorus is just Michael Collins, thinking aloud. Pretty straightforward, actually.
"I'm with you L.E.M., though it's a shame that it had to be you. The mother ship is just a blip from your trip made for two. I'm with you boys, so please employ just a little extra care. It's on my mind, I'm left behind when I should have been there, walking with you..."
As Collins orbits around the moon, this is what goes through his mind. Perhaps he's talking to himself a little bit. He knows that where his colleagues are, his shuttle is merely a "blip" in the sky for them, if they're even thinking of him at all in their excitement. He feels envious and regretful, and wishes that he could be there to share what must have been the biggest moment in the lives of his two friends (as I can imagine training for a space trip must create quite special bonds).
I'm not sure that the rest of the lyrics necessarily have to be connected to the chorus. Benefit is a very, very introspective album, and I'm not even gonna attempt to get inside Ian's mind in songs like this one. I get the feeling, though, that it's about humanity, as many of you have said before.