Meaning of Stargazer by Rainbow

The composition Stargazer from the album Rising (1976) is one of the most famous songs of the rock band Rainbow. Slightly spiced with oriental notes, it delights with the piercing voice of Ronnie James Dio, the virtuoso guitar of Ritchie Blackmore, the frenzied pressure of the drums of Cozy Powell and, of course, the powerful sound of the Munich Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

Is it any wonder that in reviews from foreign publications it is often called “epic”.

The history of creation and the meaning of the song Stargazer Rainbow

The authors of the words and music are Blackmore and Dio. Interesting song title. Translated from English, it means “stargazer”, “astrologer”, but can also be translated as “dreamer”, “dreamer”. In context, both options are suitable, although the second may seem even more preferable.

To understand the meaning of the song, Ronnie James Dio’s explanations will help:

Stargazer is written from the point of view of an ancient Egyptian-era slave. He serves as an Enchanter who watches the sky and stars and becomes obsessed with the idea of flying. The slaves build a tower of stone for him so that the Wizard can jump from the top and take to the air. In the end, this Wizard, this Stargazer, tries to fly and, of course, crashes to his death. The slaves are freed and that’s where Stargazer ends and Light in the Black begins. The sorcerer is dead and the slaves are free, but all they have known in life is devotion to the Stargazer. They don’t know where to go or what to do until they see the light in the darkness.

Rainbow – Uncensored on the Record,
Jeff Perkins

Many Rainbow fans see hidden subtext in the words of the composition. As a rule, two versions of the interpretation of the main idea are expressed: a call to never give up and a warning not to create idols for yourself. If you have your own assumptions, you can express them in the comments.

Recording and release

The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra took part in the recording of the song. The musicians used a mellotron and some Turkish musical instrument, which gave the composition a bit of oriental flavor.

The track opens the second side of Rising, released in May 1976. Let’s watch the live video clip of Stargazer Rainbow and listen to the legendary rock ballad.

Stargazer has been covered by Metallica, Dream Theater, Lane Lane and other bands.

Interesting Facts

The first version of the song had a keyboard intro. This version of the song can be heard on the deluxe edition of the album, released in 2011.

Stargazer Lyrics

High noon, oh I’d sell my soul for water
Nine years worth of breakin’ my back
There’s no sun in the shadow of the wizard
See how he glides, why he’s lighter than air
Oh I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, is it far?
When do we leave?
I believe, yes, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
To see him fly
So many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
Just to see him fly
But don’t know why
Now where do we go?

Hot wind moving fast across the desert
We feel that our time has arrived
The world spins, while we put his dream together
A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky
Oh I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, is it far?
When do we leave?
Hey, I believe, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
Just to see him fly
Too many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But we don’t know why
Ooh, now where do we go

All eyes see the figure of the wizard
As he climbs to the top of the world
No sound, as he falls instead of rising
Time standing still, then there’s blood on the sand
Oh I see his face!

Where was your star?
Was it far, was it far
When did we leave?
We believed, we believed, we believed
In heat and rain
With the whips and chains
To see him fly
so many died
We built a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But why
In all the rain
With all the chains
Did so many die
Just to see him fly

look at my flesh and bone
Now, look, look, look, look,
Look at his tower of stone
I see a rainbow rising
Look there, on the horizon
And I’m coming home, I’m coming home, I’m coming home

Time is standing still
He gave back my will
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Going home
I’m going home

My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
But it’s not home
But it’s not home
take me back
He gave me back my will
Going home
I’m going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
But it’s not home
But it’s not home
Take me back, take me back
Back to my home ooh, ooh, ooh

Stargazer Lyrics

Exactly noon, I’m ready to give my soul for a sip of water
Here I’ve been tearing veins for nine years
I can hide from the sun in the shadow of only a sorcerer
Look how it floats, how lighter than air can it be?
Oh, I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is she far, is she far, is she far?
When do we leave?
I believe yes I believe
In heat and rain
Under whips, in chains
To see him fly
So many people died
We are building a stone tower
With your flesh and bones
To see him fly
But we don’t know why
And where are we going?

Dry wind rushes through the desert
We feel that our hour has come
The earth keeps spinning while we realize his dream:
A tower of stone to ascend to heaven
Oh, I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is she far, is she far, is she far?
When do we leave?
Hey I believe, I believe
In heat and rain
Under whips, in chains
To see him fly
So many people died
We are building a stone tower
With your flesh and bones
To see him fly
But we don’t know why
And where are we going?

All eyes are riveted on the figure of the sorcerer,
As he climbs to the top of the world
Silently, not rising, but falling
Time stops and blood appears on the sand
Oh, I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is she far, is she far, is she far?
When do we leave?
We believed, we believed, we believed
In heat and rain
Under whips, in chains
To see him fly
So many people died
We built a stone tower
With your flesh and bones
To see him fly
But why
Under rain
All in chains
So many died
Just to see him fly

Look at my flesh and bones
Now, look, look, look, look
Look at this stone tower
I see a rainbow appear
Look over there at the horizon
And I’m coming home, I’m coming home, I’m coming home

Time is frozen
He gave me back my willpower
I am going home,
I’m going home

My eyes are bleeding
And the heart stays here
But this is not a house
But this is not a house
Take me back
He gave me back my willpower
I am going home,
I’m going home
My eyes are bleeding
And the heart stays here
But this is not a house
But this is not a house
Take me back, take me back
Back home