My voice is dying and my fingers are sore, but I’ll leave you with this one. It’s one of those poignant space songs that filk is known for, and it makes me remember the good things about humanity.
space
Planetfall – Araxie Haldane & Nana Graye
Another space filk with a bit of a stealth TAZ flavor. My words to a traditional tune, sung by me and @howtotrainyournana
Lyrics:
Oh planetfall, I long to reach you
Away, across the cosmos
Oh planetfall, I long to reach you
Away, we’re bound away
Chasing hope and starlight.The darkness comes, but we keep flying
Away, across the cosmos
The darkness comes, but we keep flying
Away, we’re bound away
Chasing hope and starlight.Our world is gone, there’s no returning
Away, across the cosmos
Our world is gone, there’s no returning
Away, we’re bound away
Chasing hope and starlight.But we will build a home together
Away, across the cosmos
But we will build a home together
Away, we’re bound away
Chasing hope and starlight.
Submitted post: Den tappre kosmonauten Nikolajevs kvalfulla rymdfärd
Swedish nerdy parody songs are not limited to filk or fandom. The most important venue is arguably the Swedish student song tradition, of which this is a fine example. The song exists in several variants, often shorter than this. I usually only sing a single verse and the chorus, myself. For those unfamiliar with the tune, it’s to the tune of the Russian national anthem, previously the Soviet national anthem. And it’s a song which fits squarely into any filk circle.
Rough translation of the song opening (not necessarily fitting with the version sung above):
My name is Nikolayev, a Soviet cosmonaut
I’m flying round the earth in my space rocket
but I’ve suffered a misfortune grave
I forgot to go to the loo before I left
I long for home, home to my planet
to wife and child back home in Soviet
but most of all to a small house with a heart on the door
Home, home to my planet
I don’t want to be stuck in the rocket
where there isn’t a house with a heart on the door
Outward Bound – Echo’s Children
“They’re looking for a scientist,” my buddy said one day,
“‘Course, the only thing that’s smaller than the quarters is the pay,
But it does mean work in orbit–” I said “Get out of my way!”
And it won’t be much longer now.I’ve had a berth on Outward Bound since she was begun
I’ve got a berth on Outward Bound and she’s almost done
I’ve got a berth on Outward Bound and–hey!–I’ve got to run!
Cause it won’t be much longer now.
“Outward Bound” by Echo’s Children, perfect for when you want to bellow along to a space exploration singalong.
Lyrics available here.
Roll the Old Shuttle-Ship Along – Araxie Haldane & Nana Graye
@howtotrainyournana and I singing a space filk of the traditional sea shanty “Roll The Old Chariot Along,” written by Nana.
Lyrics:
Oh we’ll be alright with the sunbeams in our sails
Oh we’ll be alright with the sunbeams in our sails
Oh we’ll be alright with the sunbeams in our sails
And we’ll all hang on insideCHORUS:
And we’ll roll the old shuttle-ship along
We’ll roll the old shuttle-ship along
We’ll roll the old shuttle-ship along
And we’ll all hang on insideOh another loop around wouldn’t do us any harm
Oh another loop around wouldn’t do us any harm
Oh another loop around wouldn’t do us any harm
And we’ll all hang on insideCHORUS
Oh we’ll be home-bound with the engine set on full
Oh we’ll be home-bound with the engine set on full
Oh we’ll be home-bound with the engine set on full
And we’ll all hang on insideCHORUS
Oh a night among the stars is a wonder to behold
Oh a night among the stars is a wonder to behold
Oh a night among the stars is a wonder to behold
And we’ll all hang on insideCHORUS
Oh the captain and the crew try and keep us all from harm
Oh the captain and the crew try and keep us all from harm
Oh the captain and the crew try and keep us all from harm
– And we all respond in kindCHORUS
Oh we’ll be star-bound in our souls and in our lives
Oh we’ll be star-bound in our souls and in our lives
Oh we’ll be star-bound in our souls and in our lives
‘Long as stars and souls surviveCHORUS
Paper Moon – Seanan McGuire
“Paper Moon” by Seanan McGuire, performed here by Seanan, S.J. Tucker, Vixy & Tony, and Betsy Tinney.
As Seanan explains before performing, “In a dimension very much like our own, Firefly is still on the air and they’ve made spin offs. And I keep writing theme songs for those spin offs.”
My Planet’s Child – Echo’s Children
Oh, I come by it honestly if I am star-beguiled,
For if I am a rover, well, I am my planet’s child.
The very iron in my blood has wandered wide and far–
Forged and flung from the fire’s heart that fueled a foreign star.
“My Planet’s Child,” a joyful song about space exploration by Echo’s Children.
Seas of Space/Chase the Wind – Araxie Haldane
Hey, you know how I keep telling you that these are partner songs? Here is evidence!
Seas of Space: Tune traditional, lyrics by Suzette Haden Elgin
Chase the Wind: Tune by Donovan Leitch, lyrics by me
Chase the Wind – Araxie Haldane
Written as a companion song to “Seas Of Space,” this is sung to the tune of “Catch The Wind” by Dovovan Leitch (at least the version I learned by ear at my college folk music society; apparently recorded versions are quite different)
Dawson’s Christian – Vixy & Tony
There are stories of the Dutchman, the Celeste and Barnham’s Pride
There are stories of the Horseman and the Lady at his side
But the tale that makes my blood run cold, the more because it’s true
Is the tale of Jayme Dawson and his crew
Yes, the tale of Dawson’s Christian and her crew
A newer recording of one of my favorite classic filk songs, “Dawson’s Christian,” a space opera ghost story, originally Duane Elms.
Uplift – Andy Eigel
A space sea shanty – blame-my-muses
so this whole conversation proved to be a bit inspiring, and I had to record the space shanty @danbensen wrote. :}
Few Days – Araxie Haldane
Felt like doing a sad space filk cover!
Music and lyric by Leslie Fish
Will We Still Have Country Music Out in Space – Joe Bethancourt
“Will we still have honky tonks and bars
Will we still sing “’Mazing Grace”
Will we still have country music out in space?”
Joe Bethancourt asking the question that forms one of the central tenants of filk as a genre – “Will We Still Have Country Music Out In Space?”
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Helva’s Song – Cecilia Eng
And the stars still dance the spiral dance
And the planets circle far
But the ship who sang will sing no more
Between the distant stars
“Helva’s Song,” by Cecilia Eng, performed by Cecilia Eng and Ernie Mansfield, based on “The Ship Who Sang,” a short story by Anne McCaffrey
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
