>Now I'm riding on a fountain of fire
With my back to the earth, I go higher and higher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT-K5hQl834

Planet P Project
*Why Me?*

This song had been one of my favorites as a kid, and I had completely forgotten it. Possibly due to those lyrics above...

I remember listening to this song and wanting to be in that position in which I was the vanguard of humanity against the stars, and yet wanting to stay on Earth with my woman. The lyrics above have that "CHARGE!" vibe to them that I like so much in music. And yet, the song itself is the voice of a guy saying "Wait a minute! Let me outta here!"

So I think that between liking those specific lyrics on one hand AND liking the regretful mood on the other, and plain old just not hearing it ( I doubt that I heard this song at any time between 1988 and 2016), I didn't keep the song in mind. Here is this guy at the pinnacle of achievement, and he says, ***oh shit, wrong choice***. I could see where I wouldn't remember that.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time to compare this one against Schilling's *Major Tom (Coming Home)*, (lyrics and video below), which had been a favorite of mine AND that I did remember through the years. Major Tom (Coming Home) has a heroic, stick-to-it vibe that appeals to me fully (i.e., no internal conflict).

Space is a cold bitch, and it needs it's ass kicked. Heroics, not regret. Humanity will need to get to space as at some point as we will run of out space and resources on Earth eventually.

I am glad I came across *Why Me?* again, this is one of those I could listen to 4 or 5 times in a row, and that is just what I am doing now

*Sitting up here watching all the lights blink below
The earth is turning, why does it go so slow?
Thinking about the girl I left behind
Houston can you hear me, or have I lost my mind?
Why me? Why me?*

*I was waiting on the pad, all systems were go
The man up in the tower was enjoying the show
Then I got this feeling that I never had before
Hey let me out of here, what am I here for?
Why me? Why me?*

*There must be a thousand other guys
Must be some other way to look good in your eyes
Why am I up here? What do they see in me?
Must be one thousand other places to be
Why me? Why Me?*

*The last man to be here was never heard from again
He won't be back this way till 2010
Now I'm riding on a fountain of fire
With my back to the earth, I go higher and higher
Why me? Why me?*

*There must be a thousand other guys
Must be some other way to look good in your eyes
Why am I up here? What do they see in me?
Must be one thousand other places to be
Why me? Why me?
Take anyone but me. Why me?
Take anyone but me. Why me?*


# Major Tom (Coming Home)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTseSi0Qgow

*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...*

*4, 3, 2, 1
Earth below us
drifting, falling.
Floating weightless
calling, calling home...*

*Second stage is cut.
We're now in orbit.
Stabilizers up,
runnning perfect.
Starting to collect
requested data.
"What will it affect
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.*

*4, 3, 2, 1
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, coming
home...
home.....*

# Reposted

*This is a repost from 8 months ago- seems like I typed this up just yesterday ;>  I have done some editing and revising simply because I didn't want to put up two reposts in a row.  oh well.  Final edit note - I dropped the **Space Oddity** portion of the [original post](https://steemit.com/music/@stevescoins/a-song-from-a-ways-back-why-me), because it is basically a whiner in tone compared to the other two; a good song, but a whiner...*