The UK has one of the worst records at Eurovision of late, having finished last in the two most recent editions. But if the tea leaves have it right, then TikTok star Sam Ryder is about to change British fortunes in a very big way.

His song “SPACE MAN” has consistently sat near the top of the odds table, owing to its authentic sound, Sam’s vocal mastery and the undeniably warm feels that ignite whenever he sings it. Beneath the polished production and easy-to-remember chorus, the song carries an uplifting message about loving the things and the people who are already in your life. 

Scroll down for the “SPACE MAN” lyrics

Eurovision 2022: Sam Ryder “SPACE MAN”

Sam Ryder is an Essex-based singer. Despite being in the music industry since 2009, he was relatively unknown until 2020.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Sam went viral on TikTok with his covers of Adele, The Weeknd and more. He became the most popular UK artist on TikTok in 2020, earning big-name fans such as Alicia Keys and Justin Bieber. Sam has since amassed 12 million followers on the social media platform.

Many British Eurovision fans have applauded Sam for his sincerity and love of the contest. Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, he batted away concerns about the possibility of scoring poorly in Turin. He said that he doesn’t want fear to define any aspect of his life.

“I love singing and singing is about connecting with people,” he told hosts Josie Gibson and Phillip Schofield. “And it’s connecting with those people that have been supporting you. And for me over the past two years, so many amazing, lovely people around Europe have been watching my videos on social media and rooting for me.”

“To be able to go over there and go to Turin on May the 14th and sing for some of those people, I can’t think of the boxes right that I’m not ticking as a singer or as an artist and a performer.”

What do the “SPACE MAN” lyrics mean?

In an age when billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are spending a lot of money to shoot people into space, Sam asks a very important question: Why would you want to go up there when everything that makes life matter is right here in front of you?

The song starts with an almost child-like fantasy of the possibilities of leaving Earth: “If I was an astronaut, I’d be floating in mid-air,” he sings. The day dreaming continues at the start of subsequent verses where he imagines he’d “have a bird’s eye view” and “speak to satellites”.

But he tempers each of those possibilities with a very stark reality: he’d miss the people in his life. “Gravity” — which he says “keeps pulling him down” — can be read as his need for connection and love. 

“My navigation systems would search for other life, but I’d be up here thinking ’bout what I’d left behind, ’cause I’m only human with the real world on my mind.”

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Sam spelled it all out. 

“For me it’s about appreciating and realising the things you have in your life that are already absolute treasures that you love. We spend so much of our life going so far away from that in search of a life we think we want only to get there and then look back and go, ‘Jesus, it was there all along.’”

SPACE MAN lyrics — Sam Ryder (United Kingdom ESC 2022)

If I was an astronaut, I’d be floating in mid-air
And a broken heart would just belong to someone else down there
I would be the centre of my lonely universe
But I’m only human, and I’m crashing down to earth
 
If I was an astronaut, I’d have a bird’s eye view
I’d circle ’round the world and keep on coming back to you
In my floating castle, I’d rub shoulders with the stars
But I’m only human, and I’m drifting in the dark
 
I’m up in space, man
Up in space, man
I’ve searched around the universe
Been down some black holes
There’s nothing but space, man
And I want to go home
 
If I was an astronaut, I’d speak to satellites
My navigation systems would search for other life
But I’d be up here thinking ’bout what I’d left behind
‘Cause I’m only human with the real world on my mind
 
I’m up in space, man
Up in space, man
I’ve searched around the universe
Been down some black holes
There’s nothing but space, man
And I want to go home
 
Gravity keeps pulling me down
As long as you’re on the ground, I’ll stick around
Stick around
I’ll stick around
 
I’m up in space, man
Up in space, manI’ve searched around the universe
Been down some black holes
There’s nothing but space, man, no
Oh, I’m in the wrong place, man
Nothing but, nothing but, nothing but space, man
Nothing but, nothing but, nothing but space, man
I’ve searched around the universe
Been down some black holes
Nothing but space, man
And I want to go home
 
What do you think of the “SPACE MAN” lyrics? Do you think that the UK has a winner on its hands? Let us know in the comments box below. 

23 Comments
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Maritta
Maritta
1 year ago

I love the song more and more and I had it in my head since yesterday. The lyrics are wonderful ?

MonsieurMüller
MonsieurMüller
1 year ago

I like this entry. It places a smile in my soul. It’s the mood counterpart to the utterly depressive Ochman’s River.

Frank Arthur
Frank Arthur
1 year ago

I think go to be number one for the U.K. people,but not my cup of tea

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago

United Kingdom never learns…

Numpty
Numpty
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

Seems you also have something to learn my friend…

Lambert
Lambert
1 year ago

Clever song with epic elements. But wasn’t impressed with the Amsterdam live performance.have a feeling it will end somewhere between #6 and #10.

AMAAN STORM
AMAAN STORM
1 year ago

I’ve really enjoyed watching Space Man riding up people’s rankings. I think a massive part of that is Sam Ryder introducing himself to the masses by performing absolutely everywhere…..from televisoon studios to stage to street, he’s performed the song everywhere. Not just that, he’s taken the opportunity to travel to other European countries and allow their media to get to know him. This is crucial when it comes to people becoming aware of the song, and more importantly the artist. This was a huge oversight last year with James Newman and in previous years. The last time a British representative… Read more »

Joe Bloggs
Joe Bloggs
1 year ago
Reply to  AMAAN STORM

Good point. And the UK was basically made a pariah by 2021, so even if others could travel a bit he couldn’t.

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago

A bright, shining and lovely personality singing his incredible entry with his marvelllous voice and sharing his messages with TOTAL HONESTY! I want nothing more! MY ABSOLUTE WINNER!

Hello hi
Hello hi
1 year ago

It’s a strong British entry. However I only see it just about making top 10 at the moment . If the staging is something else and connects with audience then maybe more. I keep in mind that websites like this have a strong U.K. base and might be an echo chamber on how good this song is vs how good on the night of the final people decide it is.
Also the U.K. usually places higher in odds than it’s ever gets in results

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
1 year ago

From zero to hero…Is that possible for the U.K.? Sam is my number 1 this year.

Jack
Jack
1 year ago

Usually I’d say 10th-15th place as a prediction… BUT 1) ESC HoC Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen called the UK “one to watch”. Marvin Dietmann is directing, and Dan Shipton (responsible for Lucie Jones in 2017) is involved too. 2) Televote potential, Sam comes into the contest with the biggest following on socials. Sam has the biggest televote potential out of the jury favourites. 3) The song’s momentum is building now rather than months ago, Parlophone/Warner have played it really well. The song has only just been playlisted by BBC Radio 1, the tour of Europe has continued, and he’s getting… Read more »

Liam Lindsay
1 year ago
Reply to  Jack

Exactly my sentiments, you have entries like Ukraine and Italy are beginning to lose steam and Space Man has been building speed ever since launch. With Dan & Marvin at the helm with the toughest part for the UK being the staging this stands a very good chance indeed. With Italy performing in 9th (a cursed spot for the UK in recent years; 2018 stage invasion and 2021 nul point) there is no real room for error with this now, and as a fun fact; Italy were fourth in the bookies for the longest time last year and where does… Read more »

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

“And I wanna come home” -It’s coming home!

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago

Its a good song but I can’t be optimistic until I see the staging. Chances are that they do again an X factor final performance and as we know, this is a guarantee for bottom 5.

Flavia
Flavia
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

I’m guessing you haven’t been keeping up with staging news otherwise you would say different, research is important

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

Regardless of staging, Sam is a GREAT singer and the song is amazing.

Liam Lindsay
1 year ago

This song sits head and shoulders above the pack for me this year. For UK entries the quality is sublime and superb, the undeniable British identity of the song seems to only strengthen it and we have confirmation of a very competent live vocal. The only concern is staging, however; TaP Music are collaborating with ESC Staging savant Marvin Dietmann; who staged many acts with a high degree of success. The fears and fearmongering that the staging will be a flop for Sam and Space Man are deluding themselves. The staging is based on Sam’s ideas which makes the performance… Read more »

Hanna
Hanna
1 year ago

I love everything about Sam Ryder. Thank you William for writing such a lovely article about him.

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
1 year ago

Great song and singer. My nr.2

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
1 year ago

Sam has now been added to Radio 1s playlist! Radio 1 haven’t added a UK eurovision artist to their playlist since the 1990s! This is surely a turning point for the BBC and their treatment of eurovision.

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
1 year ago
Reply to  Trocatroc

As a side note, I think a really interesting article would be to look at how the different broadcasters find and promote their acts and the variations/evolutions there. I think that would be super interesting.

Boozyfloozy99
Boozyfloozy99
1 year ago
Reply to  Trocatroc

It’s amazing, I think if I’m right the last time this happened was in 1999 when Precious were our entry with “Say it again”.