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Wally Funk's Race For Space

from An Album Of Unnecessary Detail by Helen Arney

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about

"Wally Funk's Race For Space" as heard in Series 3 of "A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail" and based on the book by Sue Nelson.

82 year old aviation pioneer WALLY FUNK duets with her younger self, the 22 year old pilot who has just aced the same physical and mental tests as the first male US astronauts, but will soon be denied her chance to join the official space programme and go into orbit because she is a woman. They share moments from their life, before joining together to board Blue Origin’s first flight and becoming the oldest woman - and oldest human - in space, fulfilling a dream held tight for 60 years.


Written by Helen Arney and Jenna Dyckhoff
Singers: Nora Perone, Charlotte Hannan
Piano: Rob Gathercole
Mixed by James Hughes

lyrics

The first time that I jumped out of a window
I’d just turned five
And gravity released its hold on me
Oh, boy, it was really somethin’
Life began right there and then
I wiped my knees and climbed again
Risin’ up and fallin’ free

I wanna fly
I wanna soar
I’ll spread my wings
Like no-one else has ever done
Before
I won’t say “try”
It’s do or die!
Just watch me fly


These Flight School guys, they tried to give me backtalk
Oh, they sure did try!
“Are you the air hostess?” they said
Did I respond? I did not.
Who’s got time for all that shtick?
I grabbed my Stearman by the stick
This pilot did what pilots do instead

I’m gonna fly
I’m gonna soar
I’ll show the world
What I can be then give them
Some more
I’ll hit that high
Queen of the sky
Just watch me fly

Why do we do it?
Why do we do it, oh!
Feel elation
Wind whippin’ through my hair
Exploration
I’ll take you anywhere
Elevation
Lift my sisters up right there (Ninety Nines!)
Aviation is a woman’s place
A woman’s place is in the air

We’re gonna fly
We’re gonna soar
We’ll break the ceilin’
Smash the glass
Make it our floor
Wave goodbye
As we pass
Each and ev’ry guy
See ya later!
On the flip side, honey
We’re headin’ above the sky.
Just watch us fly!

Yes, I have some firsts in my credential
That’s right, I do
And I won’t waste one second of my time
Oh I’m sure of that, honey
I know that every life has limitless potential
If only others help them as they climb
I was born to fly
I was born to soar
I’ll do ev’rything
That it is possible to do

WALLY 22 What if it’s not enough?
WALLY 82 It's enough. It's been... exquisite. And you know what? The best bits are still coming for ya. You ready?
WALLY 22 I’m always ready.

So…?
What’s in store?

credits

from An Album Of Unnecessary Detail, track released October 10, 2023

license

all rights reserved

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about

Helen Arney London, UK

"Geek Songstress" Helen Arney is the UK's finest purveyor of comedy songs with a scientifically verified twist.

"Champion of musical whims" Evening Standard
**** ”Harnesses the spirit of Ben Folds & the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon… delightful” (Chortle)

Also one third of Festival of the Spoken Nerd and author of "The Element In The Room"
... more

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