Alice Day

[catsittingstill]

I wrote this one while I was working so hard on the album I wasn't getting anything posted. So I'm still playing catch-up in that regard, though I think I'm just about done. (Though I also have a couple of songs I wrote over the last two weeks, but they still need work, so...)

This is my other steampunk song.

Hydrogen Burns
lyrics and melody by Cat Faber 2012
mp3 here

     Am                     Dm
Put out that cigar! What a fool thing to do!
          Am                        E
That's a hell of a note your first day on the crew...
Am                       G        F
Every man Jack and girl Jennifer learns
Am           F               C        Am
Airship! No smoking! 'Cause hydrogen burns!

    Am                         Dm
   Hydrogen burns; that's the cause for the codes
           Am        F            Am         G
   And in proper proportion with air, it explodes.
        Am                          Dm
   You won't get two warnings; let this one sink in,
       Am                           G            Am
   Be thankful you leave with your guts in your skin!

Your uniform's not what you'd wear on the ground
You'll notice the buckles in leather are bound;
The buttons are wooden. It's not for a lark,
But all to make certain you don't strike a spark.

I know what you're thinking—each town has a few:
The rules that bind others don't matter for you.
Now I'm sympathetic.  No really, I am,
But your mates and the hydrogen don't give a damn.*

Some fly and some smoke, though it's bad for the heart,
But those who do both damn well keep them apart.
Crew members might—and I'll see that they do--
Take carelessness personal, coming from you.

For those who are interested, I included this song in the June library concert, (for children) but replaced the last two lines in this verse with "Now I'm sympathetic.  No, really.  I swear / But your mates and the hydrogen just do not care."

This song can also be found at my music website www.hwaet.org/

Comments

[randwolf]

:-)

BTW, have you read Ian Macdonald's Planesrunner? Possibly the best airship battle ever written.

[catsittingstill]

No, I don't think I have; I'll have to check into that one.