This song is a tribute (or cheap rip-off, depends on your perspective) of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) , and Voodoo Chile. Sgt. Pepper and Electric Ladyland were in heavy rotation on the CD player at the time I penned it. It was initially an attempt at a "Lucy" type song, with lots of psychedelic images and what not. The "eagle's wing" and sea imagery is an obvious tip of the cap to Jimi. The title was inspired by Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. My friend Tom wrote some music to put these lyrics to, but we never recorded it, so I'm not sure what it would've sounded like. I transcribed Tom's notes here so if you're interested you can take a peek and try to extrapolate what he was thinking. You can find some of Tom's other stuff over here.
Astral Door
© Copyright 1987 by Richard D. Bramante, Jr. All Rights Reserved
The minstrels play
While the sirens sing
Climb aboard an eagle's wing
Don't you worry
There's nothing else to bring
On our trip
To the outer rings
Rainbows laugh
As the waterfalls roar
Strawberry flavored rain
Feeds the forest floor
Maintain your balance
For what's in store
Turn the knob
To the Astral Door
Words are spoken through the mind
Flowers dance by the oceanside
Clouds change colors so suddenly
The mermaids swim
In the golden sea
An angel's harp in the distance heard
Plays its song with the paradise bird
A pod of whales in the deep gold sea
Adds its song to the symphony
The journey ends, the show is done
Enjoyed your visit, and had your fun
Comeback tomorrow, we're always stocked
And the Astral Door
Is never locked
Never locked
February 1987