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Description
Wernher von Braun fought the laws of physics, and he straight won.
This is my submission for the Space Race Challenge. This song tells the story of Wernher von Braun. Total rock star. As European Theatre came to a close in Berlin the heavy task of looting Germany of all of its intellectual property had begun. The Soviets took some of this, the Americans took some of that. The Americans hit the jackpot with Wernher von Braun: Inventor of the V2 and eventual Godfather of the American Space program. When Americans got a prisoner of this value, they files were marked with paperclips in what was to be known as "Operation: Paperclip".
Explanations: Sure he was in the SS, but that was mostly ceremonial. He was primarily Intellectual Property. Hell, he was even arrested by the Gestapo for dissention so let's cut him some slack.
I've got nothing against Russians and assume they probably like God, too. The line in the song refers to von Braun saying he wanted to use his knowledge for a country "guided by the Bible", when in reality it probably had more to do with the Soviet reputation for torturing prisoners of war. Which begs the question: How would the Space Race have gone if the Soviets were nicer and von Braun took his team and his knowledge there?
Special thanks to Lavalamp for helping make sure I say Wernher's name right. I still probably screwed something up.
This is my submission for the Space Race Challenge. This song tells the story of Wernher von Braun. Total rock star. As European Theatre came to a close in Berlin the heavy task of looting Germany of all of its intellectual property had begun. The Soviets took some of this, the Americans took some of that. The Americans hit the jackpot with Wernher von Braun: Inventor of the V2 and eventual Godfather of the American Space program. When Americans got a prisoner of this value, they files were marked with paperclips in what was to be known as "Operation: Paperclip".
Explanations: Sure he was in the SS, but that was mostly ceremonial. He was primarily Intellectual Property. Hell, he was even arrested by the Gestapo for dissention so let's cut him some slack.
I've got nothing against Russians and assume they probably like God, too. The line in the song refers to von Braun saying he wanted to use his knowledge for a country "guided by the Bible", when in reality it probably had more to do with the Soviet reputation for torturing prisoners of war. Which begs the question: How would the Space Race have gone if the Soviets were nicer and von Braun took his team and his knowledge there?
Special thanks to Lavalamp for helping make sure I say Wernher's name right. I still probably screwed something up.
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Lyrics
Wernher von Braun's got his SS jacket on
He says "Surrender to the Yanks because the Soviets are Godless ones.
I'm a scientist, not a soldier
There's a paperclip on my folder
It's lonely here in Texas and I feel like a prisoner of peace
So I write back home and I marry my mother's niece.
These Godless Russians got a leg up on us
With an unmanned satellite stirring up a great big fuss.
That's a lot of weight on my shoulders
There was a paperclip on my folder
Well if the Soviets had only been nicer...
Well I'm sick of making weapons and I wanna put a man on the moon
Better get down to business 'cause the president wants it soon.
Like Bryan Adams sang it, baby, Summer of '69
That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.
That's a lot of weight on my shoulders
There's a paperclip on my folder.
If we can put a man on the moon...
He says "Surrender to the Yanks because the Soviets are Godless ones.
I'm a scientist, not a soldier
There's a paperclip on my folder
It's lonely here in Texas and I feel like a prisoner of peace
So I write back home and I marry my mother's niece.
These Godless Russians got a leg up on us
With an unmanned satellite stirring up a great big fuss.
That's a lot of weight on my shoulders
There was a paperclip on my folder
Well if the Soviets had only been nicer...
Well I'm sick of making weapons and I wanna put a man on the moon
Better get down to business 'cause the president wants it soon.
Like Bryan Adams sang it, baby, Summer of '69
That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.
That's a lot of weight on my shoulders
There's a paperclip on my folder.
If we can put a man on the moon...
Narad
Rocky trip and a worthy dedication to an eminent astrophysicien and spaceexplorer.