Satellite of love...

[Trigger]

Hi!

I'm a German guy who wants to know:

What does the metaphor "satellite" stand for? And what might be a "satellite of love"..?

And what does it mean to "read the writing on the wall"?

Thanx for your answers!

Yours Trigger

P.S.: Anyone interested in Songwriting? I'm into it and if you like to write: [email protected]

[Bysshe]

I assume you're referring to Lou Reed's 'Satellite of Love'...

As for your question, I'm afraid I have no idea what a Satellite of Love is meant to be. I don't know if it's particularly symbolic... :confused:

[Nightshade]

To read the writing on the wall is to heed the warning signs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handwriting_on_the_wall
funny that Ive always associatted it with the tale of 2 cities when somoen writes on the wall in wine http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif
well you learn somthing new every day:nod: :D

[kathycf]

I don't really know how one would use "satellite" as a metaphor, but when you say "Satellite of Love" I can only think of this fun, yet very silly program that used to be on TV:
http://www.mst3kinfo.com/

*EDIT* Ooops, I only just noticed the writing on the wall question was already answered. Oh well. ;)

As far as to read the writing on the wall, I think I can probably explain it best by example..."After her last fight with her boyfriend, Andy, Sue could read the writing on the wall" So, this means Sue knows after they argue, that her relationship with Andy is pretty much over now. I hope that helps out a little bit.

Just as an aside I have a few friends to whom English is a second language and they are often puzzled as well by some of the odd little sayings and proverbs in English. I see you are a newcomer (as am I) so I will take the opportunity to say Hello and welcome. :)

This might help you out better:
" read/see the writing on the wall (British, American & Australian, American)
to understand that you are in a dangerous situation and that something unpleasant is likely to happen to you. They saw the writing on the wall and started to behave better. Those who failed to read the handwriting on the wall lost a lot of money. "

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/read+the+writing+on+the+wall

[kathycf]

Ok, editing because I misunderstood that the question about a specific song. Sorry.

[beer good]

Trigger, sorry about not answering your PM; it just slipped my mind. I apologize.

Perhaps it would help if we have the lyrics? Things always work so much better in context.


Satellite's gone
up to the skies
Things like that drive me
out of my mind
I watched it for a little while
I like to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
satellite of love
Satellite of love
satellite of...

Satellite's gone
way up to Mars
Soon it will be filled
with parking cars
I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
satellite of love
Satellite of love
satellite of...

I've been told that you've been bold
with Harry, Mark and John
Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday through Thursday
with Harry, Mark and John

Satellite's gone
up to the skies
Things like that drive me
out of my mind
I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
satellite of love
Satellite of love
satellite of...
Lou Reed has said it's simply a song about a guy watching television. Which could work. Though to me it looks more like a song to a person he admires from afar, circling her (or him, after all this is Lou Reed we're talking about), never getting too close yet unable to break away completely. Not necessarily someone he sees on TV, but perhaps someone he's unable to connect to so that they might as well be separated by a screen...?

I don't think "satellite" in itself is some sort of fixed metaphor, anymore than, say, "dog" or "stone" are metaphors. They're fairly simple nouns. But put them in context - "I Wanna Be Your Dog" or "Like A Rolling Stone" - and you got something else. But you can't just take one word out of a finished work and ask what it means.

Hope that helps!

[britomart]

I love Lou Reed's words.

Reed could be using very vague double meanings in the word satellite as he does elsewhere. His metaphors can leave strange vague trails of meaning.

The word satellite in English can be used emotionally - a person can be a satellite to someone else. In my reading there is the possiblity that the word refers to someone in this way, someone who may possibly become a lover.

Otherwise the word satellite can refer to the fact that Love will always come back, but only once in an orbit.

In the word satellite there are overtones of radio transmission and isolation.

As the word is to do with Outer Space there is also an available sense of alienation - as in aliens from outer space (see the film "The Rocky Horror Show").

Reed saying that the song is simply about someone watching television could just be a masterful bland quip, as television in English is often referred to as a T.V., as is a transvestite. The song could be about a man who watches transvestism.

Following on from this, I have strained to see the relationship between Andy Warhol and Reed as the governing metaphor for the entire album ("Transformer"), but songs are thinner in meaning than poetry and there isn't enough information there as evidence.

Happy listening