Monday
(11)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 DivineOh 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?
I love it.
I'll let you know later what the folks at NASA HQ think.
Posted by spacer at July 5, 2004 02:08 PM
(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?
Posted by Major Tom at July 5, 2004 02:17 PM
rec.music.filk, take 1:
"Hopes enflame, space to tame,
Man embraces distant places
Dreams reclaim, thunder and flame,
---Spaceflight in Mojave"
"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
Posted by Harry Payne at July 5, 2004 08:21 PM
Golly gee, I'm becoming famous! Or is that infamous?
Posted by Chuck Divine at July 5, 2004 08:29 PM
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.
Posted by Chuck Divine at July 6, 2004 04:42 AM
I'd prefer a Sontaran spaceship, myself. Just how long has that war been going on, anyway?
Posted by Iain Murray at July 7, 2004 07:43 PM
