Sunjammer

Words and Music: Noel Chidwick

Arbelos - Portraits In Stone

About Sunjammer

Sunjammer

Sunjammer

In 2008 The great Sir Arthur C Clarke passed away, at the age of 90. This was a great loss to me. As a teenager growing up in the 70s I read a huge amount of science fiction, and Arthur C Clarke’s books were easily amongst my favourite. He managed to convey in a few sentences a whole sweeping landscape of a wondrous future or a distant planet. One short story would create a whole universe.

One of his stories, Sunjammer, stuck in my mind. The story is about a sailing race in space. The sails of the ships are filled by sunlight, rather than air, so the wind from the sun mentioned here is actually the light that brightens our days here on earth. The story was later updated and re-titled  The Wind from the Sun.

I humbly dedicate this song to the memory of Sir Arthur C Clarke, with thanks to the many hours of pleasure his writings have brought over the years.

Lyrics

I was only thirteen,

On my first flight from Earth to Mars,

What a sight to behold,

The Sunjammer Chase.

With acres of silver sail,

To capture the light

Borne on the solar wind,

In the Earth to Moon race.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.


In her shimmering gown

Diana swirled through the crowd,

And Gossamer too,

Turned well on the bank.

But Santa Maria,

Couldn’t tack on the breeze,

Her golden wings crumpled

and slowly she sank.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.


Far in the lead

Were Diana and Gossamer

When the message came through

From the Mercury base.

A violent solar storm

Was heading their way,

The race was halted,

Ships abandoned with haste.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.


The two ships are sailing

Now far beyond Mars

The race isn’t over

As they reach for the stars.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.


Sunjammer, sailing on the wind from the Sun.

Sunjammer, silver sails floating in the sun.

1985, Noel Chidwick

Dedicated to Arthur C Clarke

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Posted 24th January, 2009 by Thing in a Book

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