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The Phoenix
The Phoenix
#1
Here's a somewhat obscure song:
The Phoenix
by Julia Ecklar
In a tower of flame in capsule 12
I was there
I know not where they laid my my bones
It could be anywhere
But when fire and smoke had faded
And darkness left my sight
I found my soul in a spaceship's hull
Riding home on a trail of light
And my wings are made of tungsten,
My flesh, of glass and steel.
I am the joy of Terra for the power that I feel
Once upon a lifetime, I died a pioneer
Now I sing within a spaceship's heart
Does anybody hear?
Before each morning's launch they know that
I am there
"To the soul that warms this vessel's hull,"
They say a silent prayer
I, fathership and spirit of the dream
For which they strive
For I am man at the hands of men
See us rocket for the skies
And my wings are made of tungsten,
My flesh, of glass and steel.
I am the joy of Terra for the power that I wield.
Once upon a lifetime, I died a pioneer,
Now I sing within a spaceship's heart
Does anybody hear?
My thunder rends the morning sky, YES!
I am here
Though lost to flame when I was man
Now I ride her without fear
For I am more than man now, and man
Built me with pride
I led the way, now I lead the way
Of man's future in the sky
And my wings are made of tungsten
My flesh of glass and steel
I am the joy of Terra for the power that I feel
Once upon a lifetime, I died a pioneer
Now I sing within a spaceship's heart
Does anybody hear?
Suggested effect: Doug "possesses" a spaceship, gaining full control over it as if it were his own body (which disappears for the length of the song). Very effective when used in small, maneuverable ships that can take advantage of his superhuman reflexes--like, say, a Firefly-class transport.
Since this could potentially be really powerful, some suggested limitations:
Doug would have to be inside the ship to merge with it. There would be an upper limit on size, depending on the magic power available (so no Death Stars or Honor Harrington pod dreadnaughts). Any damage the ship takes during the song would translate into wounds.
The song length is 3:35.
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Re: The Phoenix
#2
Chaos, I love that song.
"For I am Man at the hands of Man
See us rocket for the skies."
I damn near get tears in my eyes *every* time I hear that -- and when I play the tape, I usually wind up playing *that* song at least twice.
One thing about the lyrics: I've always been under the impression that the bit in the second stanza is
"I'm Father, Ship, and Spirit"
in imitation of the Christian "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." But I've never seen it written down before, so I could easily be wrong.
I think the ship he possesses would also *have* to have an aerodynamic form, like the Space Shuttle. There is, after all, a specific reference to material wings in each chorus.
Very powerful, indeed. Is Doug even checked out to pilot spaceships? With this song, he might not *need* to be.
DHBirr
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.
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Re: The Phoenix
#3
I found those through a Google search, I don't know how correct they are. That part of the second stanza does seem to fit as it is with the rest ("of the dream for which they strive"), though.
My impression is that Doug wouldn't need to know how to fly a spaceship--it's just his body. Sort of like the one where he turns into a giant eagle...
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Re: The Phoenix
#4
DHBirr, for the love of god, dub that tape to mp3!Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979
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Re: The Phoenix
#5
Jerry Pournelle has a copy on his web site:
www.jerrypournelle.com/im...hoenix.mp3
I usually cry when I listen to the lyrics, too.
Balentius
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Re: The Phoenix
#6
Wow. Great song, and it's not the kind of music I usually listen to. Hmmm... It kinda reminds me of "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez, though (musically) a little more upbeat.*********
There's no need to hear, I can shout you.
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<sigh>
#7
I downloaded this last night, got distracted, and never listened to it. Argh.

-- Bob
---------
It's a "magical" land. I think "magical" is ancient Greek for "pain in the butt". -- Bun-Bun, Sluggy Freelance, 11/9/03
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Re: The Phoenix
#8
Dang...its...well, moves me. Don't think's it's going to make into my regular playlist, 'Fire in The Sky' will suffice.
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Re: The Phoenix
#9
Blast. I got so caught up in COH last night I forgot to listen to this again.

-- Bob
---------
It's a "magical" land. I think "magical" is ancient Greek for "pain in the butt". -- Bun-Bun, Sluggy Freelance, 11/9/03
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