As space pioneer New Horizons swooped within 7,800 miles of Pluto’s surface Tuesday, July 14, all I could think of was Vance Gilbert’s song.
The Arlington folksinger wrote “Goodbye Pluto” in 2008, two years after scientists downgraded the status of what had been our solar system’s ninth planet since 1930.
Yes, the otherworldly photos beamed back astound us. See some here >>
Yet I could not get Gilbert’s song out of my head.
I have heard him sing at Town Hall some years, at Passim in May and at the Regent last month.
As you ponder what we may learn from a speck 3 million miles away, listen to what meaning a poet/singer who lives around the corner from you may impart.
Listen and see it performed on YouTube >>
While listening, read the lyrics:
Goodbye Pluto
So long to your tradition
And your solo life’s ambition
Of just whirling round the sun
Goodbye Pluto
Being number nine was nice till you
Lost your planetary status
Now you’re simply rock and ice
There are eight that spin before you
And they use up all the rays
That the sun gives to her children
To turn the night to day
Goodbye Pluto
I know, it doesn’t seem quite fair
Three thousand million miles away
And God just leaves you there
(chorus)
And I think I understand
When the spin gets out of hand
Sometimes all that’s left is
How to say goodbye
Goodbye Pluto
All this bidding you adieu
Ah, but both of us know better
That your orbiting ain’t thru
Never mind them, Pluto
With one roll around the sun
Two hundred fifty years go by
And when that year is done
By that time Pluto
They’ll be dead and gone to dust
Taking their opinions with them
Their equations turned to rust
(chorus)
(Bridge)
Goodbye old me
You were useful while you lasted
Now I’m dropping off that bastard
That kept springtime out of reach
Farewell, you old familiar
As you track your way through space
There comes a time when all of us
Are done and get replaced
So goodbye Pluto
You’ll be salty for a while
But a couple trips around old Sol and
You’ll be back in style
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Vance Gilbert © 2008 Disismye Music ASCAP
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This viewpoint was published Friday, July 17, 2015.
