"The Arms of Orion" is a slow, romantic duet written by Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...

, performed with Prince

Prince (musician)

Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...

 from the 1989 Batman

Batman (album)

Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival...

soundtrack. Released after "Batdance

Batdance

"Batdance" is a song by Prince, from the 1989 Batman soundtrack. Helped by the film's popularity, the song reached number one in the U.S., becoming Prince's fourth number-one single, and first since 1986's "Kiss".-Song development:...

" and "Partyman

Partyman

"Partyman" is a song by Prince from his 1989 Batman album, and the follow-up to his number one hit, "Batdance". The song is one of the few on the album that is prominently featured in the film, accompanying the scene where the Joker and his minions gleefully desecrate the Gotham City Art Museum...

" had both gone top 20 in UK/U.S. charts, the single was a top 40 hit single on the US Billboard's Hot 100 at #36. "The Arms of Orion" is a ballad that is accompanied mainly by the piano. Synthesizers also play a strong role throughout the song, programmed to emulate a string section. The track also uses a subdued drum machine loop, and samples of rain and thunder. The lyrics allude to the constellation of Orion

Orion (constellation)

Orion, often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous, and most recognizable constellations in the night sky...

, implying that the arms of the figure in the sky are wide enough to hold him and his lover together, although the lovers are far apart.

Track listings

7" single

1. "The Arms of Orion" (edit) – 3:52
2. "I Love U in Me" – 4:12

12" single

1. "The Arms of Orion" – 5:03
2. "I Love U in Me" – 4:12
3. "The Arms of Orion" (edit) – 3:52