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The Fourth Rock From The Sun
lyrics Copyright © 1996 by H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.
(Award Winner at Philcon '96 Songwriting Competition)
Sung to the tune of The Female of the Species Is More Deadly Than the Male,
by Leslie Fish (used by permission)

Within a Martian rock they've found the fossilized remains
Of a micro-organism which had neither brawn nor brains.
We're gaining quite a glimpse into how life might have begun
From the spot that's on the rock that's from the fourth rock from the Sun.

It's from a Martian meteor, and scholars think they know
How it fell in the Antarctic thirteen thousand years ago.
Though found in 1984, it languished 'til someone
Made a study of the rock that's from the fourth rock from the Sun.

Results are inconclusive, though it certainly appears
That the fossils in the meteor date back three billion years.
The scientific inquiry has only just begun
Of the spot that's on the rock that's from the fourth rock from the Sun.

With spectrographic readings and electron microscopes
They commenced to probe in ways that would rekindle SETI's hopes.
Abundant PAH's could be seen by anyone
Who would scrutinize the rock that's from the fourth rock from the Sun.

It's time to launch a mission to send robots back to Mars.
Though it isn't inexpensive, it's much closer than the stars.
If we could bring back samples, there is much which could be done
To determine if there's life upon the fourth rock from the Sun.

Though others have disputed it, Fred Hoyle is truly fond
Of a theory that says life on Earth was seeded from beyond.
And I'm the Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandson
Of the spot that's on the rock that's from the fourth rock from the Sun.

Performed by Dr. SETI ® on the CD "Sing a Song of SETI" Sing a Song of SETI CD


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