Wil Wagner’s “Laika” tells the story of the first animal to orbit the Earth: a stray dog launched into space by the USSR. In 1957, Soviet scientists wished to see the effect space travel had on animals before they attempted manned space flight.
Wagner describes the scene of the laboratories, space,...
[Verse 1]
From here in my cage, I see them make plans
Hear them reassure investors, shake presidents' hands
The men with machines put tubes into me
They measure my vital signs, my flight trajectory
They taught me to sit, taught me to lie down
Told me that a thousand years of wondering would end now
And they fed me my last meal, was the same as my first
From here in my cage, I watch the men work
[Verse 2]
And now it's a flurry of lab coats and hurry
They talk about budgets and taxpayers' money
And I wag my tail and I be a good girl
They forgot to walk me this morning
They were too busy changing the world
And I'm out from my cage and I'm trying to be brave
But the men, they are sweating, and now they're injecting
And as I awake, I'm shocked and amazed
At the sheer, crushing empty
[Verse 3]
And I look down on man's little Earth
Sitting there quietly, wondering what it's worth
And I drift away, but that's okay
There's more room to play out here than back in my cage
[Verse 4]
And I know I will die, but that is fine
'Cause in some way I am helping mankind
And I don't understand, 'cause I'm not as smart as them
But even a parachute would have shown that they cared
And so I float on, space's only dog
Friend to the stars, pet of the sun
From my little ship I dream of my bone
A walk in the park, something comfy to sleep on
And they call me Laika, but I'd just like to say
That I was born Little Curly and I'll die with that name
Yeah, they call me Laika, but I'd just like to say
I was born Little Curly and I'll die with that name
Laika was written by Wil Wagner.
Laika was produced by Lincoln Le Fevre.
Wil Wagner released Laika on Wed Mar 13 2013.