Explanations

Most lyrics that I have written tell two different stories. While one is a work of fiction, the other is a little closer to the truth. I’ll tell them both.

The Last Satellite tells the story of a boy and a girl, quite possibly the last on earth. The sun and moon have disappeared from the sky leaving a world that is black. I know the death of the sun would have catastrophic effects on the earth, most likely destroying all life over time (or perhaps more immediate), but as a poet I prefer to think of it as a barren earth with no light, where technology has died. This earth is old and as Roland of Gilead would say, “the world has moved on.” The main characters lose hope as time goes by as they do not know where they are, where they are going, when/if this will end, or if there is any hope at all. One night, they spot a blinking light in the sky. They decide to head towards it as it is the only “sign of life” they have ever seen. As they are walking, they often wonder what the light is. On one point, it could be one last remaining satellite that continues to orbit the earth (remnants of a past that is long dead), or on the other, it could indeed be some sort of signal that is meant for the survivors to follow (hope for a new future). They walk for an immeasurable amount of time, but measured best in years. Over the years, they lose each other and walk on alone, not knowing if the other is continuing to seek the light. The next part of the tale follows the boy. As he walks toward this hope, he passes through reminders of the turmoil the world was in in its last days (which discourage him). As he gets closer, however, he can hear transmissions being sent out from the light telling him how important they (the boy and girl) are to it. It tells him how valuable he is. It gives him hope. The closer he gets, the lighter his heart feels. It is only just enough. The story leaves the boy as he has almost reached the blinking light. His heart is heavy from the dark. The discouragement. The despair. He has all but given up. He raises his head and hears this proclamation, “My heart is for you still, and My glory will come again. That pale green light blinking in the sky above your head is My life that you might survive.” He knows for certain that there is life in that light. He knows whoever is there loves him deeply, and he knows the light was sent just for him, that he might find his way there. The story leaves the girl’s whereabouts unknown. The light was sent for her too, with the same intent. It is left up to her to find it. Will she continue to seek it alone, or will she give up?