Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of escalating chaos and a strange sort of triumph, starting with a defiant "top deck of the bus" mentality where "nothing they can do to stop us." This initial energy feels like a joyous, albeit aggressive, surge, with "punching and kicking below the belt" suggesting a disregard for conventional rules. The imagery shifts to a surreal, almost superheroic "big man in space," who is "loose as a goose" and visible "from China," amplifying a sense of immense, perhaps unwieldy, power. The tone then takes a sharp turn, introducing a protective, almost reverent, plea for a "gentle giant." The warnings to "hunters" and "snipers" to "aim your darts low" and ensure "no harm must come" create a stark contrast with the earlier aggression. This suggests the "big man" is not just powerful but also vulnerable, deserving of protection despite the initial depiction of unrestrained force. The repeated refrain "Now we're on the top deck of the bus" anchors the narrative, but the meaning shifts. It transforms from a statement of defiance to a more philosophical observation: "It doesn't matter where you sit on the bus." This leads to the pronouncement that "Art has no purpose," a surprising conclusion that seems to question the very nature of expression or perhaps the futility of trying to contain or define something as immense as the "gentle giant." The final section shifts entirely to a list of names and groups, all declared "in Heaven." This includes specific wrestling figures like Shirley Crabtree and Giant Haystacks, alongside "grapple fans" and "old ladies." The instruction to "leave your handbags in the cloakroom" adds a touch of dark humor, implying even the most mundane objects are left behind in this celestial gathering. The cumulative effect is a peculiar, affectionate memorial, a final, grand ascension for those who occupied a significant, perhaps larger-than-life, space in the narrator's world.