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Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Singing a new tune

I came across this recent lyrical effort by reader (and recovering ex-NASA employee) Chuck Divine in another forum. With his permission I am sharing the fun with you.

Rutan Spaceship

A Song of great social and political significance
(To be sung to the tune of Janis Joplin’s Mercedes Benz)
(With both apologies and thanks to Janis)
by Chuck Divine

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Rutan Spaceship?
My friends all fly shuttles
We’ve got to get hip
Worked hard all my lifetime
No hope for space trip
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Rutan Spaceship?

Oh Lord, won’t you get me a space apogee?
The X Prize people are trying to fund me
I’ll launch every day
Until I put up three
So Lord, won’t you get me a space apogee?

Oh Lord, won’t you give me a night on the Moon?
I’m counting on you Lord
That’s why I wrote this tune
Prove that you love me
And get me there soon
So Lord, won’t you give me a night on the Moon?

Everybody!

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Rutan Spaceship?
My friends all fly shuttles
We’ve got to get hip
Worked hard all my lifetime
No hope for space trip
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Rutan Spaceship?

6 comments to Singing a new tune

  • I love it.

    I’ll let you know later what the folks at NASA HQ think.

  • Major Tom

    (same tune)

    Oh Lord, won’t you find me a response to my posts?
    My friends all write bullshit
    And they all get loads
    Post lots about spacecraft
    and other such things
    So Lord, won’t you find me a response to my posts?

    Oh Lord, won’t you find me a response to my posts?
    They all just ignore me
    No matter what I say
    Even posted my photos and still nought they say
    So Lord, won’t you find me a response to my posts?

  • Harry Payne

    rec.music.filk, take 1:
    “Hopes enflame, space to tame,
    Man embraces distant places
    Dreams reclaim, thunder and flame,
    —Spaceflight in Mojave”

    rec.music.filk, take 2:

    “Oh Lockheed, Bell and Boeing, MDC and Grumman too
    Pratt and Whitney, BAE, they’ll keep it all from you
    They make big bucks off NASA so they never want it known
    That you can build a spaceship from the things you find at home!”

    …and I’ve linked Dale’s post of Chuck’s song to rec.music.filk

  • Golly gee, I’m becoming famous! Or is that infamous?

  • Hmm. I should make a minor correction.

    I’m not an ex-NASA employee. I’m an ex-NASA contract employee. Virtually no difference for the Samizdata crowd, but a huge one in the small universe known as NASA. When I was there, we were known as “sleazy contractors” as opposed to “civil serpents.” Samizdata folk will be glad to hear that many of us in both camps had wonderful senses of humor and were quite receptive to much that is said on Samizdata. Unfortunately, there were others without any sense of humor — or any sense at all. That’s why I’m an ex. On the plus side, some of the people still there are finally starting to get it. At least that’s what NASA people (both kinds) tell me after one of my lectures.

  • I’d prefer a Sontaran spaceship, myself. Just how long has that war been going on, anyway?