Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Peter Schilling – Major Tom (Coming Home)

Day 3.

Having just begun watching the cold war spy thriller The Americans after reading about it in Mark Fishers book (see Day 1), I started to think of one of my other favourite Cold War spy thrillers, the excellent Deutschland ’83 & it’s fantastic sequel Deutschland ’86. I also discovered that the third series, Deutschland ’89, is also due to be released in the next month. I found this particularly exciting.

Major Tom (Coming Home) by Peter Schilling is the opening credits theme tune of the Deutschland series; interestingly though, only for the English language (subtitled) version. The original German version of the show features Blue Monday by New Order as its theme tune. I find it amusing & interesting that the German release uses an English Synthpop song as its theme while the English release features a German Synthpop song. A nice bit of pleasing synchronicity.

Standing there alone, the ship is waiting
All systems are go, are you sure?
Control is not convinced
But the computer has the evidence
No need to abort

The countdown starts

Watching in a trance, the crew is certain
Nothing left to chance, all is working
Trying to relax, up in the capsule
“Send me up a drink”, jokes Major Tom
The count goes on

Four, three, two, one
Earth below us
Drifting, falling
Floating, weightless
Calling, calling home

Second stage is cut, we’re now in orbit
Stabilizers up, running perfect
Starting to collect requested data
“What will it effect, when all is done?”
Thinks Major Tom

Back at ground control there is a problem
Go to rockets full, not responding
“Hello Major Tom, are you receiving?
Turn the thrusters on, we’re standing by”
There’s no reply

Four, three, two, one
Earth below us
Drifting, falling
Floating, weightless
Calling, calling home

Across the stratosphere
A final message, “Give my wife my love”
Then nothing more

Far beneath the ship, the world is mourning
They don’t realize, he’s alive
No one understands but Major Tom sees
Now the light commands, this is my home
I’m coming home

Earth below us
Drifting, falling
Floating, weightless
Coming home

Earth below us
Drifting, falling
Floating, weightless
Coming home

Earth below us
Drifting, falling
Floating, weightless
Coming, coming home

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