Sci-Fi Song #25: The Ballad of Wilson Cole

The Ballad of Wilson Cole (Acoustic).mp3

Here's an acoustic version of my song: "The Ballad of Wilson Cole". The song was inspired by Mike Resnick's "Starship" series of books. The sheet music and lyrics for "The Ballad of Wilson Cole" appear in the appendix of Resnick's "Starship:Flagship". The song features five verses; one for each book in the series. Click here to read more about it.

This is a bare-bones version of the song; just acoustic guitar (in DADGAD tuning) and vocals. I intend to release a version of the song with a more fully orchestrated arrangement. Perhaps that will see the light of day in January or February. Completing my new NaNoWriMo and Holiday songs as well as releasing my Sci-Fi Songs album took up most of my time over the past two months.

Considering that this song is supposed to be a folk hero ballad, I think that the stripped down approach works pretty well.

I hope you enjoy it,

John Anealio

http://twitter.com/JohnAnealio

The Ballad of Wilson Cole
by John Anealio

Verse 1

In the time of the Galactic Era

In the year of 1966

Commander Cole had to wrestle control

from the Polonoi running the ship

and despite his four medals of courage

they court marshaled him anyway

the men of his crew came to his rescue

and embarked on their own deep in space

Refrain

Yes they say Wilson Cole was a hero

and the captain of the Teddy R.

He kept up the fight and he did what was right

as he led his fleet through the stars

Verse 2

Then it came to 1967

after the ship's mutiny

they made a deal with David Copperfield

and they allied with the Valkyrie

And he didn't make much of a pirate

Wilson was an honest man

he went and retrieved a Tale of Two Cities

and decided that he'd change his plan

Refrain

Verse 3

Then they became mercenaries

the year was 1968

Their destination was Singapore Station

so they met at the Platinum Duke's Place

Then they met the Teroni Jacovic

who became the ship's Third Officer

Cole marshaled One Thousand Ships against a lunatic

Csonti retreated then went berserk

Refrain

Verse 4

The Navy murdered First Officer Forrice

at a brothel on Braccio II

Cole went and avenged the death of his best friend

killing the Endless Night and its crew

Then the Navy laid waste to the planet

and Wilson searched for volunteers

He gathered a fleet that would never retreat

as it defended the Inner Frontier

Refrain

Verse 5

And then in 1970

Cole infiltrated Deluros VIII

He aimed his gun at the Admiral just as the sky filled

with enemies set to invade

Wilson Cole led the Theodore Roosevelt

and the ships of the Republican Fleet

The enemy was defeated and the Secretary ceded

Cole's mission was finally complete

Refrain