The Day that SF Died

Long, long time ago I can still remember
How his stories used to make me dream.
And I hoped if I read enough
I would learn of space and stuff
And bring about the future he'd foreseen.

But television brought the story
How he'd passed to SF glory
Bad news on the big screen
No more would he be seen.

I remember how I cried
When they said he'd crossed that great divide
And all his words welled up inside
The day that SF died.

So, farewell, Mr. Robert Heinlein
Thank you for your stories and your soul and your mind
We wish you well while traveling the galaxy's girth
Far away from the green hills of Earth
Far from the green hills of Earth.

It was you took time enough for love
And you'll be friends with God above
I'm sure He's read your book of Job.
And I'm sure he'll take you by the hand
Not as a stranger in a strange land
And put you onto a glory road.

I knew some Friday bye and bye
You'd take that tunnel in the sky
And with a different drummer
Find your own door into summer.

I was a lost and lonely little country kid
Till your book Red Planet blew my mental lid
Just one of all those things you did
Till the day that SF died.

And we were singing, farewell Mr. Robert Heinlein
Thank you for your stories and your soul and your mind
We wish you well while traveling the galaxy's girth
Far away from the green hills of Earth
Far from the green hills of Earth.

Now for many years you led us on
Space Cadet to The Rolling Stones
Your Farnham's Freehold kept them all upset
When a new wave fingered in your face
You feared no evil, put them in their place
And Starship Troopers blasts them even yet.

And while the Hugos went your way
Unpleasant kiddies wouldn't play
But in the middle of the distress
Your moon was a harsh mistress.

While the puppet masters pulled their strings
You wrote of paupers and of kings.
Methuselah's children, they all will sing
Of the day that SF died.

And we were singing, farewell, Mr. Robert Heinlein
Thank you for your stories and your soul and your mind
We wish you well while traveling the galaxy's girth
Far away from the green hills of Earth
Far from the green hills of Earth.

Now you're a citizen of the galaxy,
Monument to rationality,
Your assignment is in eternity.

Tomorrow the stars will welcome you
Beyond this horizon and beyond the blue
Between planets a lifeline waits for you.

The past through tomorrow now you can see
And all through future history
You'll live on in hearts of fans like me
The day that SF died.

And we were singing
Farewell Mr. Robert Heinlein
Thank you for your stories and your soul and your mind.
We wish you well while traveling the galaxy's girth
Far away from the green hills of Earth.
Far from the green hills of Earth.

The star beast now can walk through walls
In great un-numbered cosmic halls
With Starman Jones and Lazarus along
The man who sold the moon to earth
Is booked into another berth
And travels without spacesuits where he's gone.

He's sailed beyond the sunset light
But not, I think, into the night
He'll always stay within our sight
The day that SF died.

And we are singing,
Farewell, Mr. Robert Heinlein
Thank you for your stories and your soul and your mind
We wish you well while traveling the galaxy's girth.
Far away from the green hills of Earth.
Far from the green hills of Earth.