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The Rocket That Grandpa Rodewritten by Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally, Will Kimbrough, Peter Mayer, and Roger Guth from the album Songs From St. Somewhere |
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Jimmy’s Note:I was invited by some friends of mine, who were astronauts, to go to the last launch of the shuttle. It was all spacemen and women. People who had been to space. It was an honor to be asked to go there. I knew people had taken my CD’s up to the space station before. And I think they’re the bravest people to ride rocket ships out there. They do it 24 hours a day and they’re only recognized if some horrible disaster happens. But their dedication on a daily basis pretty much goes unnoticed. We were all bussed over from this not-elaborate hotel to the Cape. I was riding with my friend Alan Poindexter, who was a shuttle captain, who was telling me what it was like flying over America when you’re descending into Florida in the shuttle. Fascinating stories to be as a flyer. Behind us there was this quiet couple and a couple of kids sitting there with their iPads like kids on a bus ride with a bunch of boring adults saying “when we gonna get there dad?” Then the dad says when we get there we’re going to go to the museum, we’re gonna go look at the shuttle, then we’re going to go see the rocket that grandpa rode. And I went “that is some kind of statement. The rocket that grandpa rode.” I was thinking “who could this be?” I snuck a look back and on the nametag was ‘Armstrong.’ It wasn’t Neil. It was his son and grandson. We went through the tour and saw the Atlas rocket on display and the Apollo rockets, and when we got off the bus I introduced myself and said “you know there aren’t many people who could say that line you said to your son. You may see that line again. Is that ok?” And he said “sure.” So I can’t wait for the Armstrong family to hear that song. Unfortunately shortly after that my friend Alan Poindexter was killed in a jetskiing accident, so this song is dedicated to him and his family, and everybody who has gone up to space. By the way, I am going to space before I’m done here! — from the Radio Margaritaville Album Preview Special |