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Don Simpson wrote this as an extrapolation on Norman Spinrad’s book “Riding the Torch”. What indeed would histories from a planet mean to a people who’ve been sailing in space for generations? It’s also a lovely futuristic hymn to Gaia, and a great favorite at filksings.

lyrics

Once there was a Ship of Stone that orbited a mighty star,
And from it flew the First Ship’s crew whose children we all are.
And no matter how long we’ve drawn our track, still, over our shoulder, looking back
Through the hydrogen’s hiss and the methane’s moan,
Past the polymer clouds of the Dead Stars’ shrouds,
All our roads run back to the Ship of Stone.

There the First Crew all were made, and wakened from unknowing sleep
By the boundless sight of Heaven’s height and the fires on the Deep.
And no matter how strange the forms we wear, how warped and wild, how rich and rare,
How changed we’ve made the seed we’ve sown,
We are blood of those who, singing, rose
From the body of the Ship of Stone.

And there our own ships’ frames were formed to grow blue-glowing wings,
And spread them wide to the farthest tide where the last lone beacon sings.
And no matter how tight the net they knot of our web where the Wheel of Light is caught,
How strange and lost, how grand they’ve grown,
They, too, desire all Heaven’s fire,
Our companions since the Ship of Stone.

Once there was a Ship of Stone, clear-domed, broad-hulled and clean,
Where the air shone blue, through whose holds birds flew,
Whose decks were growing green.
And no matter how odd these things may seem, as madly mazed as shards of dream,
They are not a dream that you dream alone.
All ships, all men, are of one kin.
We shall not forget the Ship of Stone.

credits

from Avalon is Risen (The Retro Filk Mix), released December 1, 2012
Song © 1984 Don Simpson

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Leslie Fish Phoenix, Arizona

If there's one name that's practically synonymous with filk (Science Fiction folk music), it's Leslie Fish. Leslie has written literally hundreds of songs covering almost every subject, from the space program ("Hope Eyrie"), to Star Trek ("Banned From Argo") to urban life, history, and space fantasy ("Carmen Miranda's Ghost"). ... more

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