The song "Aero Space Age" by Hawkwind is about the excitement and danger of exploring the unknown depths of space. The lyrics describe flying in a spacecraft, feeling the exhilaration of speed and the power of the technology at work. The imagery of the "flight of steel eagles tearing by" and the "ripped silk screaming of the rended sky" convey the intensity and violence of the experience. The song also touches on the idea of sacrifice and rebirth, with lines like "the Phoenix soul is bound for rebirth." This suggests that while the risks of space exploration are great, the potential rewards may be worth the danger. However, the song takes a darker turn towards the end, as the narrator experiences a catastrophic navigational failure and is forced to crash back to Earth. The imagery of the ship disintegrating in a ball of fire conveys the intensity of the danger and the finality of death. Overall, "Aero Space Age" is a celebration of the excitement and potential of space exploration, tempered by the stark reality of the risks involved.
