The other day, I found a You Tube clip from a Steely Dan concert back in 1996. Donald Fagen is 12 years younger, then today and he is singing a song from his first solo album, The Nightfly. He opened that album with a song about something that happened during his childhood. The years, were 1957 and 1958 and scientists around the globe observed many planetary things, made measurements and studied this world we live in. It was a time of learning and optimism, in spite of the fact that things like "The Cold War" were going on. Scientists basically saying to those who threatened to destroy it, that there was a future here for us on this planet earth.
The song is International Geophysical Year, known as "I.G.Y.". On it's fiftieth anniversary, I pay homage to this event, with Donald's song.
Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream's in sight
You've got to admit it
At this point in time that it's clear
The future looks bright
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by seventy-six we'll be A.O.K.
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there's time
The fix is in
You'll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we've got to win
Here at home we'll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There'll be spandex jackets one for everyone
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(More leisure time for artists everywhere)
A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We'll be clean when their work is done
We'll be eternally free yes and eternally young
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
well you don't fool me, girlfriend :-)
ReplyDeleteyou just wanted an excuse to post that picture, Donald wearing a T-shirt and looking yummy, young, potent. yeah. lol!
LOL!
ReplyDeleteI do good work, don't I? :-)
So after I post this, I see a Press Release (part of which I copied below) and see how the serendipity thing is working, as usual... (you need to click the link for IGY, to get the connection.)
"At the height of the Cold War in 1957 Russia’s Sputnik launched into space and made headlines around the world. The United States responded in 1958 with Explorer 1, America’s first satellite and the first spacecraft ever to return scientific data from space. JPL/NASA celebrates this historic achievement with a one-hour documentary, Explorer 1: Beginnings of the Space Age. "
but seriously, there are times in history making marks for mankind and their explorations.
ReplyDeletestill, nothing shows they're interested in building holiday camps around the Moon, eh?
Actually, we once visited JPL. (oooh, a topic for another day.) lol
ReplyDeleteThey have all sorts of things planned...if only they can get some funding from the Federal Government. Exploration, etc...has not been a priority here in the U.S. Though that may change, if what Mr. Bush is pushing for, goes through.