Helva's Song
Words and Music copyright 1982 Annd Harlan Prather
About This Album
This album was released in 1982 by Off-Centaur Publications, and was intended to be my introduction to the recorded filk world. To facilitate my entrance into this scene, OCP made the album a collaboration between Leslie Fish, Julia Ecklar and me.
The editors at OCP originally thought the title "Space Heroes and Other Fools" was too long, but they soon discovered that people remembered it. And so the album was named.
With its swashbuckling themes, its tales of bravery and pain and its--yes--ose flavor, the album is a filk classic. I hope to bring it back someday.
I am woman, born this day
The Galaxy to roam
Born human, but no human now
This ship's my body's home.
Born to live in debt for years
To a faceless corporate power
Born to roam the stars alone
Hour by endless hour.
I am woman, born to love
And never to feel
The warmth of human tenderness
The sting of human need.
Born to bear my love alone
Unknown to all but him
Born to bear my love alone
Unknown to all but him.
I am woman, born to grieve
But made to shed no tears
Forced to bear my pain alone
Across the empty years
Forced to work without a rest
No solace can I find
I am woman, never to know
Pain or peace of mind.
I was once the ship who sang
My song through all the world
But my song is silent now
Never to be heard.
I am woman, born this day
This galaxy to roam
Born human, but no human now
This ship's my body's home.