Rocket Rider's Prayer

© 1986 Stephen Savitzky. CC-by-nc-sa.

Lyrics [pdf]

Steve

	C	G7
	When the rocket stands before us like a	tower of glass and steel

	C	G7
Then no	words in any language can ex	press the way we feel

	C	F	C
Mingled	joy and hope and terror as we're	starting on our	way

	F	C	G	C
And we	suddenly con	sider that it	just might help to	pray.

C G7

So pray to great green Mother Earth and the grim old god of Space,

C G7

And the gods of flame and metal whom we've summoned to this place.

C F C

Oh you gods of flight and physics, now you have us in your care;

F C G C

We hope that you will listen to a rocket rider's prayer.

Naomi

So first let's pray to Vulcan, ugly god of forge and flame,

And also wise Minerva, now we glorify your name,

May you aid our ship's designers now and find it in your hearts

To please help the lowest bidders who've constructed all her parts!

Steve

As we're lifting off it's Mercury who'll help us in our need

Not only as the patron god of health and flight and speed

We hope that he will guard us as we're starting on our trip

As the god of Thieves and Liars, like the ones who built this ship.

Naomi

If we make it into orbit where the sky is starry black

We'll have time to praise old Mother Earth and hope she wants us back

And tell all the other deities who've helped us on our way

That it's nice to visit Heaven, but we didn't come to stay.

Steve

Now we're coming down from orbit back to where the air is thick

With no engines and the glidepath of a highly polished brick

And with nothing but those tiles between our hides and flaming Hell,

Better pray to Hell's own Pluto that they glued those suckers well.

Both

So now we're back on Earth again; the sky's a lovely blue.

All you deities we didn't name, you know we love you too.

We hope that you're not angry and you'll keep us in your grace;

We may need your help the next time that we're heading into space.