“Sargasso in Space” – Careers in Science track #4

[In the coming weeks, before The Longwalls release "Careers in Science" on Tuesday, March 1, we will be posting short notes on the concepts behind each song on the record. For the most part, we each had very clear ideas in mind before beginning to write. Each song has a little story to tell, and we'll do our best to explain them each leading up to the release.]

Concept:

Being lost and trapped in space.

Being so far from home.

Having no hope of rescue.

If you are to survive, it will be by your own wits. All this and the man who is supposed to be in charge is dead and gone, and he left you to command. And you are ill-equipped. The mission is doomed, crew members die because of your hubris, and eventually, your life is taken too by your own incompetence.

It’s compelling imagery, but I wrote the song because of the feelings it evokes rather than the actual story. I feel ill prepaired for adulthood, even at 34. Whether I like it or not, I am in charge—of my career,  of my newborn son, of  my family—and it scares me to death. I am full of doubt, and the feeling that my choices will ruin us is always with me. The loss of a father figure (or never having one), the loss of the captain, is by no means new territory, but I explore it in the best vehicle I have, a rocket in space!

Music:

Here is the 1st demo that I recorded of the song…unapologeticlly Bob Pollard in it’s delivery, it changed a bit when we ported it over to The Longwalls as a true band song…

Here it is as performed with The Longwalls at Band in Boston’s “Flophouse”:

And our final album version:

Lyrics:

We lost the captain
an hour ago
we all cried and begged him
please not to go
sunglasses smiled
he said,
‘space ain’t that large’
put his hand on my sholder
and left me in charge
Sargasso
Sargasso
Sagrasso
make a liar out of me
Engines entagled
and life support low
the airlocks were leaking
and filling with snow
surrounded by suns
I’m freezing up here
fought for direction
and killed our engineer
Sargasso
Sargasso
Sargasso
make a liar out of me
Sargasso
Sargasso
Sargasso
make a liar out of me
wish I was home
wish I hadn’t lost my cool
lost in space
I wish I oughta
dropped out of school
comlink is dead
and artificial
gravitys gone
looks like my captains choice in me
well he was wrong
Sargasso
Sargasso
Sargasso
make a liar out of me
Sargasso
Sargasso
Sargasso
made a liar
made a liar
out of me