laika
Wil Wagner Lyrics
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Hear them reassure investors, shake presidents' hands.
The men with machines put tubes into me,
They measure my vital signs, my flight trajectory.
They taught me to sit, taught me to lie down.
Told me that a thousand years of wondering would end now.
They fed me my last meal, was the same as my first.
From here in my cage, I watch the men work.
And now it's a flurry of lab coats and hurry.
They talk about budgets and taxpayers' money.
And I wag my tail and I be a good girl,
They forgot to walk me this morning they were too busy changing the world.
And I'm out from my cage and I'm trying to be brave,
But the men they are sweating and now they're injecting,
And as I awake
I'm shocked and amazed.
At the sheer, crushing empty.
And I look down on men's little earth, sitting there quietly, wondering what it's worth.
And I drift away, but that's okay, there's more room to play out here than back in my cage.
And I know I will die, but that is fine,
Cause in some way I am helping mankind.
And I don't understand, cause I'm not as smart as them,
But even a parachute would have shown that they cared.
And so I float on, space's only dog.
Friend to the stars, pet of the sun.
From my little ship I dream of my bone,
A walk in the park, something comfy to sleep on.
And they call me Laika but I'd just like to say
That I was born Little Curly and I'll die with that name.
The song "Laika" by Wil Wagner is a poignant ballad that tells the story of the first animal to orbit Earth - a dog named Laika. The lyrics describe Laika's experiences from the perspective of the dog herself, as she is taken from her life as a stray and trained to become the first space traveler. The first verse sets the scene by showing how Laika watches the humans preparing for the mission, seeing them make plans, shaking hands, and putting tubes into her to measure her vital signs.
The song then moves into the moment of the launch, with Laika inside her capsule watching the scientists in a flurry of activity. The second verse portrays the lonely and scary experience of the launch as Laika awakens in space and looks down on Earth, realizing the crushing emptiness of it all. However, she finds some solace in being able to float freely in space, away from the confines of her cage, even as she knows that she will not be returning to Earth.
The song ends by revealing that Laika's real name was "Little Curly", giving the dog back her own identity that had been taken away by the scientists who sent her to space. Despite her tragic fate, Laika is celebrated as a hero and a symbol of progress in the exploration of space.
Overall, "Laika" is a moving tribute to the bravery of a dog who was made to endure unimaginable physical and emotional pain for the sake of human progress. It raises ethical questions about animal testing and the value of life, while also acknowledging the awe and wonder of space exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
From here in my cage I see them make plans,
Observing from my confinement, I witness them plotting.
Hear them reassure investors, shake presidents' hands.
I hear them comfort financiers and greet world leaders.
The men with machines put tubes into me,
The technology-wielding men insert tubes into my body.
They measure my vital signs, my flight trajectory.
They evaluate my life signs and the path I'll fly.
They taught me to sit, taught me to lie down.
They instructed me how to sit and lie.
Told me that a thousand years of wondering would end now.
Claiming a millennium of pondering will stop with me.
They fed me my last meal, was the same as my first.
I ate my closing ration, mirroring my inauguration.
From here in my cage, I watch the men work.
Fenced from the action, I view the men at work.
And now it's a flurry of lab coats and hurry.
The scientists rush anxiously in their coats.
They talk about budgets and taxpayers' money.
They converse about coffers and citizens' funds.
And I wag my tail and I be a good girl,
I wag my tail and behave innocently.
They forgot to walk me this morning they were too busy changing the world.
They neglected to walk me today in their commitment to change the world.
And I'm out from my cage and I'm trying to be brave,
I'm freed from my enclosure and endeavoring to be bold.
But the men they are sweating and now they're injecting,
The men perspire and inject me with something.
And as I awake
As I rouse from unconsciousness
I'm shocked and amazed.
I'm staggered and impressed.
At the sheer, crushing empty.
By the severe, overwhelming nothingness.
And I look down on men's little earth, sitting there quietly, wondering what it's worth.
I gaze down at mankind's diminutive planet, which sits silently, artless of its value.
And I drift away, but that's okay, there's more room to play out here than back in my cage.
I float off into space, yet it doesn't matter because there's more freedom for me to frolic here than in my captivity.
And I know I will die, but that is fine,
I'm aware of my imminent demise, yet that's acceptable.
Cause in some way I am helping mankind.
Because, in some manner, I'm aiding humanity.
And I don't understand, cause I'm not as smart as them,
I don't comprehend, because I'm not as intelligent as they are,
But even a parachute would have shown that they cared.
But even a parachute would demonstrate that they cared.
And so I float on, space's only dog.
Hence, I drift as the cosmos' sole canine.
Friend to the stars, pet of the sun.
Pal to the stars, petted by the sun.
From my little ship I dream of my bone,
From my petite vessel, I fantasize about my bone.
A walk in the park, something comfy to sleep on.
A stroll in the park, a comfortable bed to slumber on.
And they call me Laika but I'd just like to say
They name me Laika, though I'd prefer to state
That I was born Little Curly and I'll die with that name.
That my birth name was Little Curly, and I'll pass away with it.
Contributed by Elliot P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@polfd91
From here in my cage I see them make plans
Hear them reassure investors, shake presidents' hands
The men with machines put tubes into me
They measure my vital signs, my flight trajectory
They taught me to sit, taught me to lie down
Told me that a thousand years of wondering would end now
They fed me my last meal, was the same as my first
From here in my cage, I watch the men work
And now it's a flurry of lab coats and hurry
They talk about budgets and taxpayers' money
And I wag my tail and I be a good girl
They forgot to walk me this morning they were too busy changing the world
And I'm out from my cage and I'm trying to be brave
But the men they are sweating and now they're injecting
And as I awake
I'm shocked and amazed
At the sheer, crushing empty
And I look down on men's little earth, sitting there quietly, wondering what it's worth
And I drift away, but that's okay, there's more room to play out here than back in my cage
And I know I will die, but that is fine
Cause in some way I am helping mankind
And I don't understand, cause I'm not as smart as them
But even a parachute would have shown that they cared
And so I float on, space's only dog
Friend to the stars, pet of the Sun
From my little ship I dream of my bone
A walk in the park, something comfy to sleep on
And they call me laika but I'd just like to say
That I was born little curly and I'll die with that name
@iwalkalone43
It's funny how kids are taught about Laika when they're young and are just told that she was the first animal in space. Then you grow up and find out what really happened and how she never made it back to Earth and died in orbit. It's taught as a fascinating achievement for mankind but is really a tragic story about an innocent dog who had no clue what was going on...such a beautiful yet sad song.
@dirtsharktv8960
Eric im twelve and got told by my brother
@SirJonathonDanielGregorySrVthe
You wanna know something really fucked up? Laika never made it to orbit. The Russians lied about it for years. There was a technical difficulty with the rocket, she wouldn't have survived the trip up there.
@Veepvoop
I don't give a Fuck about the dogs. What about the humans that died in space? Take a set back
@dirtsharktv8960
Anon fuk up
@Veepvoop
forzatube I'll tell your mommy
@haydenabercrombie1081
Rest easy, Laika. Youโre playing amongst the stars now.
@FeatMe
And the fact she was a stray, she probably thought she was gonna be loved finally. But imagine how scared she was, overheating and so so confused. and alone.
@crimsonwulf691
currently cryinh harder
@sappy9134
You made me cry more. Then I saw your pfp now I'm sobbing.