StarBlazer (Do You Copy?)

[bnewman]

This began as an attempt to write a "mainstream" song — what's more mainstream than listening to the radio? — but it took a turn for the science-fictional almost immediately.

lyrics and music by Benjamin Newman

listen to this song

/ G C G D / / / GD EmC - D /

 

Once upon a day when the sky was grey

And the world wasn't having much fun,

I switched on the radio and I tuned in

To a point in orbit of a distant sun.

 

At first I couldn't believe my ears,

Then I could't believe my eyes,

'Cause in my mind I could see you flyin'

Through a thousand alien skies, (and you were saying...)

 

/ GD Em C D / GD EmC (G) D / GD EmC -G D / GD EmC -D G /

 

Star Patrol, do you copy?

StarBlazer, reporting as planned...

I'm making my way through an unexplored sector,

And I can't get through to Command.

 

If there's anyone out there receiving this signal,

Please let me know that I'm not alone.

I'm an interstellar scout, a hundred parsecs out,

Exploring the strange and unknown.

 

I called up the station to share my appreciation

For that exciting new radio show,

But the disc jockey there said they weren't even on the air

At that time of night, and, well, what do I know?

 

So I did some rewiring, looked to the horizon,

And adjusted my satellite dish,

And I felt like a child as I redialed,

Just like I was making a wish, (and I said...)

 

Yes, StarBlazer, I copy;

You're coming in loud and clear!

But even if you were listening

You wouldn't hear these words for years —

 

You woudn't know that it's your interstellar adventures

That carry me through the day —

I'm just an ordinary guy, listening to the sky,

And you're hundreds of light years away.

 

I still get chills when I think of the planet

Whose crust wasn't made out of rock.

When you went inside, it turned out to be hollow,

But I couldn't follow, 'cause your signal was blocked.

 

And, to my consternation, it was six more rotations

Before you could check in again

Man, adventure is better when we're in it together

And I can't wait to find out how it ends...  (I was saying...)

 

Yes, StarBlazer, I copy —

Your signal's coming through just fine!

I know you don't know that I'm listening to you,

But please stay on the line!

 

'Cause I get a bit frantic when there's nothing but static

At my favorite place on the dial

I've grown accustomed to hearing your voice in my ear

And I hope you'll be around for a while

 

Then one night, I was feeling alright,

But when I adjusted the tuning control

There was a complication: the Earth radio station 

Had filled up that hour with rock and roll!

 

Well, the music was decent, but it wasn't what I needed,

And I hoped it was all a mistake.

Then the song just stopped, and my jaw dropped,

Because it wasn't a commercial break!  (You were saying...)

 

This is StarBlazer, I copy —

I hope that you're doing alright.

See, the path of your signal goes right through a wormhole,

It gets here much faster than light.

 

When I traced your reply to this empty piece of sky,

At first I didn't know what to believe,

But now this wormhole's collapsing, so this is the last

Signal you can expect to receive.

 

I just want you to know how much it means to me

That somebody cares what I do —

'Cause it's lonely out here on the galactic frontier,

And I'm glad I could share it with you.