The Song

American Sky

A long, long time ago…

Before Kepler and Galileo

The constellations got their names.

And in the northern hemisphere

Just 48 shine bright and clear

And the Greeks told stories of their fame.

Eridānus made me shiver,

As Orion strode through that river,

Cānis ran to intercept

Lēpus underneath his step.

The Dog in Argo seems to ride,

Canis Minor follows his stride,

Auriga above and the Twins beside,

The Gemini, their mother’s pride.

So high, high just look up in the sky.

See Orion mighty hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.

this’ll be the day that we die.”

Leo Major and the little cub…

Was the Nemean Lion crushed by his Club,

If Hercules told you so?

Did he kill the Hydra with Iolaus’ help,

Did fire put an end to that monster’s yelp,

And did he kick Hera’s Crab from his toe?

Virgo with her spike of wheat,

Centaur and Lupus beneath her feet.

The Crater’s waters flow

And seem to mock the Crow.

Bootes stands there watching the bear

As the Cānēs Venaticī chase her from there;

By the Crown and Berenīces’ Hair

The day Orion died.

I started singin’

“high, high just look up in the sky.”

See Orion mighty hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.

this’ll be the day that we die.”

Hera cursed Callisto who became the Great Bear,

Ursa Major punished for Zeus’ affair,

She never washes in the sea.

Polaris doesn’t move in the Little Bear’s tail,

The Guardians’ rounds, they never fail,

And Draco coils himself around the tree.

At the founding of Rome, Libra held the moon,

While Orpheus’ Lyre kept the tune,

And Hercules took a knee,

With the Dragon under his feet.

And while Ophiuchus held his snake,

The Scorpion’s back began to ache

And Mars called Antares a fake,

The day Orion died.

They were singing,

“high, high just look up in the sky.”

See Orion mighty hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.

this’ll be the day that we die.”

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.

Aquila snatched Ganymede to his shelter,

And united Leda with the Swan.

Sagitta flew from Venus’ son,

Delphīnus rescued Arion,

While Sagittarius watched the Southern Crown.

Pegasus flies from the gorgon’s blood,

Capricorn jumps into the flood,

Pan’s cry that “Typhon comes!”

Makes the gods as animals run!

Aquarius pours water from a dish

On Pīscis Austrīnus the Southern Fish.

Formalhaut won’t accept your wish

The day Orion died.

We started singing,

“high, high just look up in the sky.”

See Orion mighty hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.

this’ll be the day that we die.”

Cassiopeia sang the blues,

Andromeda’s life she thought she’d lose

Cepheus mourned his daughter’s fate.

Perseus finally saved the day

He killed the beast he swore he’d slay,

But for the rest the hero was too late.

And in the sky the heavens screamed

The gazers cried and the poets dreamed

Eridānus frozen

The ancient tales were broken.

The Golden Ram was sacrificed

The Fish in mourning circled twice

And giant Cētus froze like ice,

The day Orion died.

And they were singing,

“high, high just look up in the sky.”

See Orion the great hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.

this’ll be the day that we die.”

They were singing,

“high, high just look up in the sky.”

See Orion mighty hunter

Look a Bull in the eye

As the Pleiades flee and the Hyades cry

(rit.) Singin’, “this’ll be the day that we die.”