From the Air
Navigating Existential Turbulence: Laurie Anderson's Poetic Flight
Lyrics
Good evening.
Introduction; setting the scene for a critical event.
This is your Captain.
The speaker identifies as the Captain, taking charge.
We are about to attempt a crash landing.
Announcement of an imminent crash landing.
Please extinuish all cigarettes.
Request to extinguish cigarettes for safety.
Place your tray tables in their upright, locked position.
Instructions for passengers to prepare for impact.
Your Captain says: Put your head on your knees. Your Captain says: Put your head on your hands. Captain says: Put your hands on your head.
Various commands from the Captain for passenger safety.
Put your hands on your hips.
Additional command, perhaps for stability or readiness.
Heh heh.
Expression, possibly indicating nervousness or irony.
This is your Captain-and we are going down.
The Captain reaffirms the impending crash.
We are all going down, together.
Emphasis on shared fate; passengers and Captain face the same destiny.
And I said: Uh oh.
Personal reaction to the situation; realization of a challenging day ahead.
This is gonna be some day.
Acknowledgment of the impending difficulty.
Standby.
Preparation or readiness for an event.
This is the time.
Indication that the current moment is significant.
And this is the record of the time.
Linking the present to a historical record or documentation.
This is the time.
Repetition for emphasis; a reminder of the critical moment.
And this is the record of the time.
Reiteration of the significance of the present time.
Uh-this is your Captain again.
Return of the Captain with another message.
You know, I've got a funny feeling
The Captain expresses familiarity with the situation.
I've seen this all before.
Questioning the repetition, suggesting a sense of déjà vu.
Why?
Prompting the question "Why?" to explore the cause.
Cause I'm a caveman.
The Captain identifies as a caveman, possibly suggesting primitive instincts.
Why?
Continuation of the questioning, seeking an explanation.
Cause I've got eyes in the back of my head.
Claiming an ability to see beyond the immediate; metaphorical or literal vision.
Why?
Attributing the situation to external factors, in this case, the heat.
It's the heat.
Reiteration of readiness or alert status.
Standby.
Repetition of the critical moment.
This is the time.
Reemphasizing the importance of the current time.
And this is the record of the time.
Linking the present to historical documentation.
This is the time.
Repetition for emphasis; a reminder of the critical moment.
And this is the record of the time.
Reiteration of the significance of the present time.
Put your hands over your eyes.
Additional commands for passengers, possibly for self-preservation.
Jump out of the plane.
Suggesting drastic actions for survival.
There is no pilot.
Assertion of the absence of control or guidance.
You are not alone.
Assurance that others share the same predicament.
Standby.
Reiteration of readiness or alert status.
This is the time.
Reemphasizing the importance of the current time.
And this is the
Partial repetition of the line; anticipation builds.
record of the time.
Linking the present to historical documentation.
This is the time.
Repetition for emphasis; a reminder of the critical moment.
And this is the record of the time.
Final repetition, concluding the record of the critical time.
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