Get it On

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of deferred dreams and a yearning for a vibrant, uninhibited present. The opening lines juxtapose a mundane future of "writing postcards" and "wondering if there's life on Mars" with an imagined, exhilarating future for the addressee, who will be "grabbing stars" and "swimming naked." This contrast immediately establishes a tension between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the passive and the active. The central conflict seems to stem from a desire to break free from perceived limitations and embrace a more passionate existence. The narrator expresses a wish for shared experience, asking, "Would you come try some with me?" This plea is underscored by the image of "Kissing your love's eyes / While he just lay there sleeping," suggesting a longing for genuine connection and perhaps a critique of complacency or unresponsiveness in a current relationship. The repeated, almost chant-like refrain, "Hey kids / Get it on / Get it on now," acts as an urgent call to action. It's a direct exhortation to seize the moment and live fully, contrasting sharply with the passive, future-oriented scenarios described earlier. The phrase "Love to watch them fly / Come watch them fly" further amplifies this sense of exhilaration and vicarious enjoyment, as if the narrator finds satisfaction in witnessing others embrace life with abandon, even if they aren't fully participating themselves. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their evocative imagery and the palpable sense of longing they convey. The juxtaposition of mundane future possibilities with the raw energy of the "Get it on" chorus creates a powerful emotional pull. It speaks to the universal desire to escape routine and embrace experiences that feel alive and meaningful, even if that embrace is sometimes observed from a distance.