Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark picture of isolation and a desperate, almost cosmic, devotion. The opening lines, "Bitter blue and alone / Lost again and again," immediately establish a tone of profound disorientation and loneliness. This feeling is amplified by the narrator's admission of not knowing their direction or past, suggesting a life adrift.
The central tension arises from the narrator's willingness to perform an impossible, self-destructive act for another person: "I will turn / Turn out the sun for you." This grand gesture, framed by the imagery of a "spacesuit" and "soft skin," highlights the extreme vulnerability of the beloved, who is depicted as "so vulnerable and alone." The narrator's promise is absolute, even accepting whatever consequences may follow, "And take whatever my come."
The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of the mundane and the cosmic. The phrase "turn out the sun" is an act of immense, universe-altering power, yet it's presented as a personal favor. This is further underscored by the casual, almost colloquial, "son of a gun?" in response to the hypothetical question of whether the beloved would reciprocate. The lyrics also introduce the concept of "EVA" (Extravehicular Activity), a term from space exploration, to describe a perilous journey, emphasizing the vast, empty distance between the two individuals.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw, unvarnished expression of a love that borders on the fanatical. The narrator's willingness to extinguish the ultimate source of light and warmth for another, coupled with the uncertainty of reciprocation – "We shall see / If you'll turn out the sun for me" – creates a powerful emotional resonance. It’s a plea born from deep-seated loneliness, offering an almost absurd level of devotion as a testament to that feeling.