Arbelos
Prog folk-rock music from Scotland
We’re Going to the Moon for Christmas
Words and Music by Mark Toner
Arbelos as they really look.
The story of Apollo’s Children, for us, began in November 2008, when bassist Mark wrote his first ever Christmas single (and pop song) “We’re Going To The Moon For Christmas” which did pretty well amongst the internet’s Christmas revellers. However, an apparently silly Christmas song was commemorating the first flight that got to the Moon; Apollo 8 in December 1968. From there the whole band got involved and started creating their own musical impressions of being Apollo’s Children.
The astronaut’s voices are actual broadcasts from Apollo 8, taken from the excellent NASA archives. Bill Anders introduces the song; Jim Lovell, who went on to command Apollo 13, describes the Earth hanging in space; and mission commander Frank Borman signs off at the end of the song. The lyrics also quote the Apollo 8 astronauts and include parts of their famous Christmas broadcast. The whole song is wrapped in Mark’s feelings of wonder at the great achievement of Apollo 8, and disappointment that the politicians of the West turned their back on the Moon once they were sure they had beaten the Russians. Surely it’s better to spend tax-payers’ money on projects that advance humanity than on pointless wars.
December sixty-eight, Frank Borman led the way.
We better not be late for that celebration day.
Jim Lovell, Bill Anders too, went to the Moon for me and you.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
Biggest journey in history.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
You can watch it on TV.
The shining little Earth, “In the vastness of space.”
One picture showed its worth for all the human race.
“God bless all of you.” They went to the Moon for me and you.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas…
War rocket’s awful might reshaped to ship of peace.
On one bright Christmas night a hope that war might cease.
If we try it could be true. They went to the Moon for me and you.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas…
The years have come and gone since Apollo eight was flown.
The wars go on and on and the astronauts stay home.
Why don’t we try anew and fly to the Moon for me and you?
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
Biggest journey in history.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
You can watch it on TV.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
Going to the Moon, to the Moon.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
Going to the Moon, to the Moon.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas,
Going to the Moon, to the Moon.
We’re going to the Moon for Christmas.
2008, Mark Toner
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