Alien
Robert Wyatt · Shleep [2008]
Above the rainclouds
Blown by the wind (no roots on earth)
No ground below (no ground below)
Just ruins (timeless)
Dandelion clocks (drifting)
Am I from Venus? (higher, higher)
No ocean bed, no west-wind drift
No desert sand, land or sea
No world below, blown by the wind (limbless) (homeless)
Not human
Lost in longing (lost in longing)
Never belonging (never belonging)
Am I from Venus? (higher, higher, higher)
No roots on earth (I sleep on the wing)
Nowhere I search (above the rainclouds)
No roots on earth (blown by the wind)
No ground below
Timeless (just ruins)
Drifting (dandelion clocks)
Higher, higher, higher, higher
Blown by the wind
Above the rainclouds (no roots on earth)
Evening starlight
The night's below (no lights below)
Just ruins (no ocean bed) (rootless)
Dandelion clocks (no west-wind drift) (drifting)
Am I from Venus? (higher, higher) (no desert sand)
Alien
Robert Wyatt's "Alien" stands as a poignant song within his 2008 album Shleep, a record that marked a significant shift in his later career. Following a period of physical recovery, Wyatt embraced a more introspective and experimental sound, often blending soft rock textures with avant-garde sensibilities. This track reflects the album's overarching themes of vulnerability and emotional distance, delivered through Wyatt's distinctive, weathered vocal style. The recording captures his ability to transform personal reflection into universal art, maintaining the melodic warmth that characterizes much of his post-1970s output. As part of a celebrated discography that spans decades of innovation, the song remains a testament to Wyatt's enduring influence on British art rock and his capacity to explore complex human emotions with subtlety and grace.