elisem: (Default)
Elise Matthesen ([personal profile] elisem) wrote2011-11-05 10:13 pm

NaNoFiMo Day Five: in progress so here's an old song about a martian rock

I'm working on a filk that isn't quite done yet; it's from The Last Unicorn. Wish me luck, eh? In the meantime, have an old one just for fun. Remember when they found a Martian rock in Antarctica? That really needed a filksong, I thought, so I wrote this one. It got me lots of requests for reprints, mostly from Scouting newsletters, but one request was different. "Dear Ms. Matthesen, I am one of the scientists working on the rock, and I would like permission to sing your song in my lectures." I was tickled pink, and said he could have permission if he sent me a signed copy of his paper. He did. I love the idea of him singing this to his students. Enjoy!


Song for a Martian Rock


Let me tell you all a story 'bout a blob named Jed,
a poor martian critter, barely kept his family fed,
and then one day he was wigglin' toward some food
when some of the ground came a litle unscrewed.

Impact events, they say;
bounced a piece of it on outta there,
just like a billiard ball.

Well the next thing ya know old Jed is on the move.
The kinfolks said, "Jed, what you tryin' to prove?"
They said "Antarctica's the place ya oughta go,"
so he loaded up the rock and he headed for the snow.

It was a nice rock, too.
Igneous orthopyroxenite.
Got pretty good mileage.

So eventually the earthlings, they took apart the rock,
and ran it through the TEMs and made the darn things talk,
And that's how we know about a critter named Jed,
and we're mighty glad to meet him, even if he's dead.

Come on in; show us your slides, boys.
Publish.
Y'all get tenure now, y'hear?



Song for a Martian Rock (c) Elise Matthesen 10:30 PM CDT 7-AUG-96

Permission to repost and email hereby granted; republication in any other form or for fee prohibited without express written permission of author. I'm pretty easy about that, though, so do please ask, so I can say yes, all right? Thank you.

[identity profile] sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
that. is. brilliant.
ext_29896: Lilacs in grandmother's vase on my piano (cat silliness)

[identity profile] glinda-w.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
*peals of giggles*

(also, luck for the new one...)
ext_12542: My default bat icon (tea)

[identity profile] batwrangler.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
Sending you the best thoughts for completing songs about unicorns.

[identity profile] elisem.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
I'm trying to get a song from Molly Grue's point of view. It's about halfway there.

[identity profile] murasaki-1966.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you're doing This. Molly needs more recognition. Also, the figjt over the film rights to The Last Unicorn have finally been settles, and Beagle will be getting his share (or most of it),

Have you read Beagle's The Innkeeper's Song? It's my favourite of his.

Also may I post the martin filk on my LJ? Fully credited, of course.

[identity profile] elisem.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
I have not read it yet; to tell the truth, I only read THE LAST UNICORN this past week for the very first time. (My life is full of odd lacunae.) But I shall go find it.

And yep, post away. Thanks for enjoying it!

[identity profile] irismoonlight.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
This makes me unaccountably happy. Thank you!

[identity profile] coffeeem.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
It's edumacational!

[identity profile] pagawne.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for a good laugh first thing in the morning. Lovely way to start the day.