Hypership Blues

by @wylddandelyon

Skirmish: Relate / Relative / Relat... (@wylddandelyon)

Liner Notes

So, I was working on an instrumental thing last night, and it needed words, but I had no idea what words they should be. Then I reached this skirmish, and the story unfolded. It took longer than I wanted, because the instrumental part wasn't set up for an intro, and I had to restart the Apple twice to get the midi going again so I could record the vocals, but here it is.

This is two tracks of guitar (Grin Reaper), a track of bodhran, a vocal backing track, and finally the vocal for the lyrics. The chords are Dm, Am, and G.

#relativity #filk #blues #space

Lyrics

Hypership Blues Deirdre M Murphy

When I was young, I dreamed of going to the stars I fought to earn a spot on the colony ship to Mars I was too much a loner, I didn’t make that crew But they made me the test pilot of the Hypership Blue

They explained relativity, I signed a release I didn’t care about that, because I’d finally be free I’d see that vast world where no humans were before I couldn’t wait to launch away and explore

My Blue reached lightspeed; I finished my first book And she slowed successfully, and then I took a look The instruments recorded things from that different view Then the ship turned homeward, and I started on book two

Now I’m looking at my home world; the continents have moved I guess that time dilation thing’s unquestionably proved It should have been a decade, but millennia have passed There’s nothing on the radio. I’m just a relic of the past.

Copyright ©2025 (2/24/25) Deirdre M. Murphy (my FAWM skirmish “relative/relativity”)

Comments

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This has a cool dark vibe, sounds a bit like British Isle Folk. I Love the backing Oooh vocal and the melody a lot! #tit4tat

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@leencha

These lyrics are wonderful! And the folky medieval like music and your classic way of singing make it even much more wonderful. But it are the special lyrics that make this song special. It gives a deeper meaning. An unexpected twist. It makes it a bit parody like even, possibly. Humourous at least! Well done. #tit4tat

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@gavran

Theme-wise, a newer "Pushin’ the Speed of Light" without sexism. That's great! Love this story, the way of telling it, and the tune. (I'll have to try and pilfer it from you, as is my nasty habit!)

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I love the medieval feel of this, with its layers instrumentation/harmonies. It's really cool, especially since it's a futuristic song. The ending is chilling: "It should have been a decade, but millennia have passed / There’s nothing on the radio. I’m just a relic of the past." Great story! #tit4tat

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@andrea

I came for the title, and like what I found. It's a sad story in more than one way. The idea of wanting to find something new, but in the end, found she was alone. If I understand correctly. Very creative, with a lovely dramatic delivery. #tit4tat

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@cjk

This is great. Love the background tracks, and the story. Although it's dark, or maybe it's just me being pessimistic, but I don't think there will be anybody to give the traveler a new book.

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Oooh! I really like your lyrical storytelling in this one. Love that the pilot read two books in this process. It would be a shock to expect a decade to find a millennia gone, but now there must be all sorts of things to explore as new on the old homework. I enjoyed you instrumentation and vocal mix! - Natalie

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@jgale

Interesting song, and the relativity angle is very, very interesting too. (I disagree about lightspeed. What do those scientists know anyway? There are factors they haven't accounted for yet. Plbbt) Time's dilation is quite a thing...but "there's nothing on the radio" is relative. Our local station still has real djs, playing the real music. I listen on the kitchen radio because I, too, am a relic of the past.

I enjoyed this song. Gave me a lot to think about.

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@gmcgath

The tune is suitably ominous, and it leaves us wondering what the pilot will find: Humans evolved beyond the need for radio? No humans at all? A different intelligent species?

To be consistent with relativity, you might want to use "reached near-c" or "approached lightspeed" instead of "reached lightspeed." Nothing with mass can actually accelerate to lightspeed, according to Einstein.

[FAWM]