About The Song

“Rocket Man” is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released on April 17, 1972, as the lead single to John’s album Honky Château. The lyrics of this iconic song were heavily inspired by a 1950s short story titled “The Rocket Man” by the late American author Ray Bradbury. The song has been performed live by John on numerous occasions, including at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 1972 and at Madison Square Garden in 2000.

The song tells the story of an astronaut who is filled with mixed feelings about leaving his family and friends behind to embark on a mission to space. While in space, the lonely astronaut misses his wife back on Earth so much he can’t wait to get back home. The song has also been covered by other artists, including Kate Bush and William Shatner.

Video

Lyrics

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
Zero hour: 9:00 AM
And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife
It’s lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man!
Burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man!
Burning out his fuse up here alone

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact, it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all the science, I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man
A rocket man

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man!
Burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man!
Burning out his fuse up here alone

And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time