Kindred Spirits
words and music (c) 1991 by Elaine Y. Fisher (chords slightly modified by JT)

*G                   Bm           C                 G
Through your prison window, they seem to mock your plight;
C                 G                D7
Sea birds diving, soaring in their play.
G             Bm                  C               G
Daedalus, you must have longed to duplicate their flight --
C              D7                  G
I know how you must have felt that day.
**    G               D                     C               G
      For I saw that "one small step," when Man took to the sky.
      G                   D                 C               G
      Though I was young, a special longing grew in me that night.
      G                C                        G
      Dreaming I could fly away, as Icarus once dreamed --
      C                      G             D7            G
      I thought the risk was worth it; and you did, too, it seemed.
You built some feathered wings, for each of you to wear,
And with them you escaped and flew away.
A joyous sense of freedom, carried through the air --
I know how you must have felt that day.
      For I saw _Columbia_ rise into the sky.
      I shivered,and my eyes were filled with tears of soaring pride.
      Flying on her silver wings, as Icarus once flew --
      I felt so happy, and I know you once felt that way, too.
Icarus, in folly, took his wings close to the sun;
They melted, and his feathers fell away.
How you must have cried out, as you watched your falling son --
I know how you must have felt that day.
      For I saw the _Challenger_ falling from the sky;
      And, helpless, I could only watch as seven heroes died.
      Falling with her broken wings, as Icarus once fell --
      You must have known the grief and anger that I know so well.
                        Instrumental interlude.
(This is required for all performances of the song, as it symbolizes the
thirty months between _Challenger's_ flight and the launching of Discovery.)

It must have been so difficult, to leave your son behind
And doggedly continue on your way;
Put aside your pain, and determination find --
I know how you must have felt that day.
      For I saw _Discovery_ brave the morning sky,
      Reclaiming our lost legacy, and once again I cried.
      Even though we still recall our comrades who are gone,
      Like you, we have realized we must continue on.
*[Elaine would use D7 instead of Bm in the 1st and 3rd lines]
**[On the next two lines, Elaine would have a D7 rather than a D]