Story Behind The Song
I am moved by the idea of S.E.T.I., the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Its purpose, to make contact with other intelligent beings in the cosmos, has a sublime poetry to me. I enjoyed reading Cosmos by Carl Sagan, one of the scientists behind the organisation. I once saw a film called Starman which involved a character who worked for S.E.T.I. One day I decided I like the sound of that abbreviation, S.E.T.I. It sounded musical, poetic. So I wrote my song about a man who worked for S.E.T.I. I was pleased that I had created a character as the narrator of the song, who speaks of his job seriously while he records how his wife and children, his friend and aunt Mary joke with him about it.
Song Description
A song narrated by a man who works for S.E.T.I., the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. He speaks seriously about his job while he reports how his wife and children, his friend and aunt Mary joke with him about it.
| Song Length |
8:10 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Pop - General |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Relaxed, Sociable |
Subject |
Universe, Aliens |
| Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
S.E.T.I. Man
I work for S.E.T.I.,
been doing it for about six years.
The government pay me,
I twiddle knobs while supping beers.
My wife and my children
think my job's some kind of joke.
I say it's got us a nice house,
it's better than being broke.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man but it never was my plan.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
We send out signals, hold on hope,
but get none coming back.
No benign aliens ever respond
but we keep on track.
A friend of mine told me
he would call to let me know
if he had a close encounter
with a U.F.O.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, find the face behind the fan.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
may sound rather odd.
My auntie Mary says, give me a call
if you should ever contact God.
As for me, I hope ever
to meet an E.T.
If I did I hope he'd be the
kind of person I'd invite hope for tea.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, happy beans jump in my can.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
We built star scanners,
space radio stations tuned in key.
Planet map planners
sketch in our great observatory.
I get stimulated
by the message we wait for,
from solar wheel panoramas,
star folk on the cosmic shore.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, can transport space in my van.
I'm a S.E.T.I. man, S.E.T.I., S.E.T.I. man.
Yes, I'm a S.E.T.I. man.