Planet Bruno

Planet Bruno
by John Forster & Tom Chapin
© 2005 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Everyone else had gone to the Cineplex,
But Baby Gail was too young to go.
So Grandma Hall said,
“Come with me, we’ll go to a better show.”

“The sky turns dark
And one by one the constellations appear…”

They sat in the dark in the Planetarium,
Looking up at the nighttime skies.
It was warm in there in a cozy chair,
And she leaned back and closed her eyes.

“If you look to the north, the brightest star you see is Polaris, the North Star.
Generations of mariners steering their fragile crafts by its light,
have gazed into the night sky and wondered, are we alone?”

GC: Ground Control to Baby Gail.
Ground Control to Baby Gail.
This is Ground Control to Baby Gail.
We’re going to have to change your mission.
Bruno’s in a bad position.
His fragile craft’s begun to fail.
BG: Oh no! Baby Gail to Ground Control.
What should I do? Where should I go?
GC: The last word we had before we missed him,
He was orbiting an M Class planet
In the North Star System.
You’ll have to leave without delay,
Watch out for dangers on the way.
BG: Like what?
GC: Don’t get destroyed by the asteroid belt.
BG: Okay. Where is it?
GC: Right about here! And look out for the Black Hole.
BG: How will I see it?
GC: You won’t! You’ll hear it!
BG: Like a giant sucking sound?
GC: You’ve found it!
BG: Whoa. That was close!
GC: If you want Bruno home alive,
You’ll have to use your hyperdrive. Good luck!
BG: That was quick! Bruno, this is Baby Gail.
I’m here. I’m entering your atmosphere.
I see your spaceship on the ground.
I’m coming in. I’m touching down.
Bruno, please respond. Are you all right?
I hear a sound. I see a light. Bruno! Bruno!!
Bruno: Hi, Baby Gail. Oooh, you’re just in time!
This is Skorblid and his fellow Flambothians.
Aliens: Greetings!
BG: Hi.
Bruno: I’ve found an alien life form,
The friendliest you could meet.
They sing quite well but sad to tell,
Their culture lacks the beat.
So when they move they never groove,
Just kind of wimp along.
So I’m workin’ with ’em on their rhythm.
Bruno: Want to hear our song?
BG: Okay.
Bruno: Luckily, I brought my bass drum.
Here, Baby Gail, you play the hi-hat!
BG: Sure.
Bruno: Skorblid, let’s take it from the top!
Put seven of your legs to the left.
Put seven of your legs to the right.
Snap your toes ’til your blowholes close
And flash your antenna light.
Aliens: Put seven of your legs to the left.
BG: They understand English?
Aliens: Put seven of your legs to the right.
Bruno: Music is the universal language!
Aliens: Snap your toes ’til your blowholes close
And flash your antenna light.
Bruno: Way to go, Skorblid!
Aliens: Thank you, Bruno. Thank you, Bruno.
You’re our everything. You taught us how to sing.
Thank you, Bruno. Thank you, Bruno.
Will you be our King?
Bruno: King? Oh, thanks…
BG: Bruno, we have to go.
Bruno: Skorblid, my work here is finished.
I’m leaving you my bass drum and 14 sticks.
Hit it!
Aliens: Put seven of your legs to the left.
Put seven of your legs to the right.
Snap your toes ’til your blowholes close
And flash your antenna light.

GC: Ground Control to Baby Gail.
It’s time to hit that starry trail.
Ground Control to Baby Gail…
GH: Baby Gail! Baby Gail! Wake up.
The bus is about to leave.
BG: Oh, I must have fallen asleep.
Grandma, I had the strangest dream.
GH: You did?
BG: Yes. I was orbiting an M Class Planet
In the North Star system…
GH: You were?
BG: And I got a call from Ground Control,
GH: Ground Control?
BG: And I had to use my hyperdrive to save Bruno…
They went for some cake and a cup of chocolate
At the Book and Dessert Café.
They bought a star chart for the bus ride home.
BG/GH: It was a really good
Aliens: A really, really, really, really, really good day.

This song appears on Tom Chapin's Some Assembly Required CD.

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