"Alligator Sky" is the lead single of Owl City's third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful. It was released on March 22, 2011. The song features rapper Shawn Chrystopher in the verses. A no-rap version of the song was released as an iTunes exclusive.
Adam's comments[]
In an interview with AOL, he explained that he experimented with different sounds in his album, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and that "Alligator Sky" is where he "pulled the hip-hop vibe", stating that "[he's] a big fan of the way hip-hop music is put together and everything that goes into it — being so beat-heavy and just focusing on the rhythm side of it, sometimes more than melody. But [he] wanted to marry those two ideas and just focus on the rhythm side of it then have this rapper do verses just as a new look to it."
Music video[]
Young released a music video for the version featuring Shawn Chrystopher on May 6 and was made by Endeavor Media. Young also uploaded a "Behind the Scenes" footage of the video a few days prior to the release on May 2, which explained the concept for the video, saying that it's about two men (Young and Chrystopher) leaving Earth, but unlike many videos with a similar theme, they aren't leaving a post-apocalyptic Earth, but instead, there is a big celebration about leaving a very polluted Earth.
In the video, the Earth is shown as a planet that has terrible living conditions. They are leaving Earth to find a better planet in outer space. As shown in the music video, the duo is taking samples of Earth with them to outer space to archive them.
Young's "Alligator Sky" self makes an appearance at the end of the music video for "Deer in the Headlights" where he nearly ran over by himself driving the DeLorean (from Back to the Future) after coming to the year 2015.
Trivia[]
- This is the only Owl City song to contain a rap part.
- In the main version and the version featuring B.o.B, it is possible that the lyrics refer to the 90s television show The Outer Limits.
- It is assumed that the song "I'm On" samples the first verse of "Alligator Sky", but this has not been confirmed yet.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus: Adam Young]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go
[Verse 1: Shawn Crystopher]
Uh uh, that's not a plane, that's me
I'm sitting where I'm supposed to
Floating on the cloud, can't nobody come close to
The concrete and the sky switch places
So now my ceiling is painted with cosmic spaces
Firecracker to the moon, keep your eyes shut
Blasting off like a rocket from the ground up
Heh, I used to catch a cab on the Monday
Now the taxi's selling lights on the runway, fly high
Condo on the Milky Way
A house on the cloud and God's my landlord
And for my rent, all I pay is my drive
Got that, so if you need me, you can find me in the alligator sky
[Chorus: Adam Young]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go
[Bridge: Adam Young]
Rollercoaster through the atmosphere
I'm drowning in this starry serenade
Where ecstasy becomes cavalier
Imagination's taking me away
Reverie whispered in my ear
I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid
Rollercoaster through the atmosphere
Imagination's taking me away
[Verse 2: Shawn Chrystopher]
Uh, now I'mma dance like I never danced
Sing like I never sing, dream like I've never dreamed
Or-or tried to, because we've been lied to
That the sun is something that we can't fly to
Well, I sit on my star and see street lights
Look up, ha, you'll miss me if you blink twice
Imagination is high and if you got it you can meet me
When you see me in the alligator sky
[Chorus: Adam Young & Shawn Chrystopher]
Where was I when the rockets came to life (Boom)
And carried you away into the alligator sky? (Into the alligator sky)
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead (I never know)
I'm never letting go (Never letting go)
I'm never letting go (Owl City)
Where was I when the rockets came to life (Keep your eyes shut)
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
(Uh, like a rocket from the ground up)
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead (On the Milky Way)
I'm never letting go (I'ma dream like I've never dreamed)
I'm never letting go
[Outro: Adam Young & Shawn Chrystopher]
Never letting go (Ih, yeah)
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky
Look up, ha, you'll miss me if you blink twice
In the alligator sky
[Chorus]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go!
[Verse 1]
Remember to breathe, because it'll take your breath away
When the engines cough, and you blast off
Ignite the night with a firecracker flash
Remember to live, because you're gonna be thrilled to death
When the stars collide and your eyes grow wide
Take it in with your breath against the glass
Remember to dream because it's going to be a starry night
Over every town, as you look down
So harmonize with the singing satellites
And remember to scream because you're going to be lost for words
When the sparks erupt and they light you up
Dip your toes in the galaxy because it's yours to explore tonight
[Chorus]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go!
[Verse 2]
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
I'm drowning in this starry serenade
Where ecstasy becomes cavalier
My imagination's taking me away
Reverie whisper in my ear
I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
My imagination's taking me away
Let's hear it for the Universe
Where it never hurts
Diving in head-first
Take a taste of the melting Milky Way
And remember to laugh because you're living in a crazy world
Where you'll never guess what could happen next
Give the outer limits my regards as you float to fly away
[Chorus]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go!
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go!
[Outro]
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky
[Chorus: Adam Young]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go
[Verse 1: B.o.B]
I'm a hundred thousand feet up, galaxies above me
Addicted to the sky, me and gravity be grudging
'Cause gravity is nothing
And as I'm traveling through time, I take my time for this discussion
Don't get distracted if things happen to get ugly
That just means things have to be adjusted
And when you understand, actually, it’s lovely
The sea is my champagne so I tap into that bubbly
Trust me, don't let them intimidate you, really, they just bluffing
Bad news, there's another interruption
But they miscalculated how we will erupt for the eruption
Light up the Richter scale all across the board
Make it play us something lovely
Like we were conducting, so find me the instruction
So welcome to the outer limits homie you have been inducted
I mean abducted
[Chorus: Adam Young]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky? (Yeah, yeah)
Even though, I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go
[Bridge: Adam Young & B.o.B]
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
I'm drowning in this starry serenade
Where ecstasy becomes cavalier
My imagination's taking me away
Reverie whispered in my ear
I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
My imagination's taking me away
[Verse 2: B.o.B]
Well, this is how I groove when I jam
Welcome to my world it's a psychedelic... trance
The moon and the stars are a band
So pull up a seat and watch the constellations... dance
This probably wasn't in your plans
You woke up on Jupiter, but fell asleep in France
The world is normal at a glance
But you probably wouldn't notice 'till I land
[Chorus: Adam Young & (B.o.B)]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky (Alligator Sky)
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (Yeah)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go (Go-go-go)
Where was I when the rockets came to life (Yo)
And carried you away into the alligator sky
(Yo, well, this is how I groove when I jam)
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (Yo, yo, yo, yo)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go (I'm never letting go, I'm never letting go)
[Outro: Adam Young and (B.o.B)]
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky (Well, this is how I groove when I jam, yo)
In the alligator sky
In the alligator sky (In the alligator sky)
[Chorus: Adam Young & (Big Boi)]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (You never know)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go
[Verse 1: Big Boi]
Never letting go, although sometimes I slip
Like banana peels for heels, my skill is so legit
Notice this - every time I pick the microphone and spit
Eyes wide, ears open like you're on a doctor's visit
But this ain't physics or rocket science
This is a little tune to keep you motivated and inspired
I am not a motivational speaker, but people get easily motivated When they hear B-I-G wreakin'
Havoc on this mic, block rabbit holding tight out
Sit and growl with me - cruising, grooving through the night skies
Put your fly bowtie, make my mark like the craters on the moon Rockin' alligator shoes
[Chorus: Adam Young & (Big Boi)]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (you never know)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go
[Bridge: Big Boi & (Adam Young)]
Ro-roller coaster through the atmosphere
(I'm drowning in this starry serenade)
Where ecstasy becomes cavalier
(My imagination's taking me away)
Reverie whispered in my ear
(I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid)
I'm on a roller coaster through the atmosphere
(My imagination's taking me away)
[Verse 2: Big Boi]
Ta-ta-taking me away like Calgon in a bubble bath
You gon' need the Hubble telescope to see where the landing gear stops
Can the tear drops?
The commander of the space shuttle to end me fear, no
The final frontier, flashlight in the abyss
This little light of mine gon' shine above your distant
Cross it off your bucket list, destiny fulfilled
Be a fish out of water, live your life full of thrills
[Chorus: Adam Young & (Big Boi)]
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (You never know)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go
Where was I when the rockets came to life
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead (You never know)
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go (Letting go)
[Outro: Big Boi]
Okay, take me away
Where all the wild things go, we say
Okay, take me away
Where all the wild things go
Okay, take me away
Where all the wild things go, we say
Okay, take me away
Where all the wild things go
| Songs from All Things Bright and Beautiful |
|---|
| The Real World • Deer in the Headlights • Angels • Dreams Don't Turn to Dust • Honey and the Bee • Kamikaze • January 28, 1986 • Galaxies • Hospital Flowers • Alligator Sky • The Yacht Club • Plant Life • How I Became the Sea • Lonely Lullaby • Shy Violet • To the Sky |