Song Lyric Sunday: Star Trekkin’

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Today’s prompt for SLS is to play a novelty song. I’m not sure what Di, from the Pensitivity blog, had in mind when she suggested this, but it’s good to see her sense of humour is alive and kicking! As usual, I’m including the link to Jim’s post, Not As Important As Real Music, where you can read all about it. To my mind, whenever I see the ‘novelty’ word attached to a record I try to avoid it like the plague, as it is almost always a sign that it will be absolute rubbish. So, against all my natural instincts, I’m joining in with the crapfest and giving you a song that would never otherwise – under any circumstances – see the light of day on my blog. In all honesty, though, this one is a bit of fun and it brings back happy family memories for me. You won’t have heard many like this one, certainly not here:

The band that recorded this was really a motley crew of session musicians and other band members, who called themselves The Firm. They had previous: there were several predecessors to this, including the masterpiece Arthur Daley ‘E’s Alright which, like this one, was based on a tv series – in that case, Minder. Arthur etc got to #14 in the UK singles chart but this little epic, released in 1987, really took off – into the stratosphere, you might say. It spent two weeks at #1 in the UK and a total of nine weeks in our top 40, and reached #3 in Australia, with comparable success in Japan and Europe and worldwide sales of over a million copies. It also got a lot of airplay on various radio stations throughout the US, but didn’t make their charts. Fun fact: one of the song’s lines, “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it”, became so popular that it has often been misattributed to the tv series, but actually originated with this song. These are the lyrics, in case you missed any during the rapid escalation of speed through the song, or just want to admire them for posterity. They are fairly repetitive, so I’m giving you an abbreviated version. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it:

Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
Boldly going forward ’cause we can’t find reverse.

Lt. Uhura, report.

There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim. 

Analysis, Mr. Spock.

It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it; it’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim.

Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
Boldly going forward, still can’t find reverse. 

Medical update, Dr. McCoy.

It’s worse than that, he’s dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it’s worse than that, he’s dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead.

It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it; it’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain. 

There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim. 

Starship Captain, James T. Kirk:

Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, men.

It’s worse than that, he’s dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it’s worse than that, he’s dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead. 

Well, it’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it; it’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain. 

Engine room, Mr. Scott:

Ye cannae change the laws of physics, laws of physics, laws of physics;
ye cannae change the laws of physics, laws of physics, Jim. 

And so it goes until, mercifully, we reach the final chorus:

Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin’ across the universe,
Boldly going forward, still can’t find reverse.

Lyrics: via streetdirectory. com

Songwriters: John O’Connor, Grahame Lister

Copyright: Bark Music

I said earlier that this one brought back happy memories. When our children were little we had a family caravan at the Essex resort of Walton-On-The-Naze (aka ‘the land that time forgot’) and were able to attend the clubhouse on the sister site in Clacton. Around 1990, when we only had our first born, who was then 4, we spent many happy hours at their weekly children’s shows, where this one was a real favourite. Just hearing it again takes me back to watching a bunch of kids trying desperately to keep up with the dance moves for the song (yes, there were some) as it got faster and faster. I’m not sure who laughed more, the kids or their parents. So, if nothing else, it can claim to have brought some enjoyment to people’s lives, in addition to being one of the most annoying records ever to top the UK chart – that chorus is going to be with you all day, isn’t it! I did say that I think most ‘novelty’ records are crap and this one proves my point, I think.

One final thing: you may have seen recent news of the passing, at the age of 89, of Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura in Star Trek. I didn’t realise it until I read an obituary but she was a singer as well as an actress and dancer, and had released a couple of albums herself. I don’t know them, but it can only be hoped that they were better than this.

I’ll see you again soon, with some proper music. Promise 🤣

34 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Star Trekkin’”

  1. Pingback: When September Ends | Take It Easy

  2. This brings back memories. I think I heard it on Dr Demento or some other late night radio program. Besides, “Its life Jim but not as we know it”, I love this line, “Its worse than that, he’s dead, Jim!”. I’m not a trekkie, but this song really makes me smile. (At least when I hear it once every 20 years.)

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  4. Yeah, I’m going to say a hard no to this one. I have a similar reaction to you when I hear the word “novelty.” I’m not a fan of novelty stores either.

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