“The Challenge:
I think societies are like individuals;
We grow when we challenge ourselves,
we stagnate when we do not.
The humans to Mars program would be [a]
tremendously bracing challenge for our society.
It would be tremendously productive, particularly among youth.
Humans to Mars program would say to every kid in school today
‘learn your science and you could be an explorer of a new world.’
The intellectual capital from that would enormously benefit us.
It would dwarf the cost of the program.”
Skimming thin atmosphere when I realize,
Everything I've ever wanted is sitting right before my eyes
Landing safely isn't likely, so let’s emphasize
I'd choose to live forever sooner than I'd choose to stay alive.
The gravity of the situation is literal.
But you don’t see me shivering or looking pitiful.
I am the solitary force moving mankind onward.
Some call me visionary, adversaries looking awkward.
How ‘bout now, you see my vision coming true?
Nearly fifteen minutes till an answers coming through.
"We see you've landed now, so what else you gonna do?"
Whatever the hell I want, my name is Hübris, man, I thought you knew.
And just like that I’m on the surface.
You’re welcome 7 billion earthlings for this service-
and your opinion of me changes from psychotic kamikaze,
to one small step for a man, one giant leap for everybody!
“Mars is the closest planet, that has on it all the resources
needed to support life, and therefore civilization.
If we do what we can do, in our time, to establish that
little Plymouth Rock settlement on mars, then,
five hundred years from now, there’ll be new branches
of human civilization on Mars, and I believe
throughout nearby interstellar space.”
This mission’s been a successful endeavour;
And to make it official, I’ve gone and done something clever
Given myself an address with Mars at the end
sent you a postcard, you know, something to show your friends.
As you pass it around you can let it sink in
That your return address now needs the word ‘Earth’ in it
Commonalities achieved, division nullified
So if I sound at ease, it’s because I’m satisfied.
A celebration lyric is in order let me see...
Now how on Earth will you live up to me?
I am a Martian, marchin’ mankind forward.
You’re perched behind podiums, putting walls on borders.
You'll never know what you got until it's gone-
So you'd better hold her hand while I sing this song.
Remember, nothing lasts forever as a caldera bro...
You'd better fear what's sleeping under Yellowstone.
“I ask any American, ‘what happened in 1492?’
They’ll tell me ‘well, Columbus sailed in 1492’
And that is correct, he did.
But that’s not the only thing that happened in 1492.
In 1492 England and France signed a peace treaty
In 1492 the Borgias took over the papacy.
A lot of things happened.
If there had been newspapers,
those would have been the headlines,
not this Italian weaver’s son
Taking a bunch of ships and sailing off to nowhere.
Five hundred years from now,
People are not going to remember who came out on top in Iraq.
They will remember what we do to make their civilization possible.
So, this is the most important thing we could do.
The most important thing we could do in this time, and
if you have it in your power to do something great, and
important and wonderful, then you should.”
credits
from Finer Times,
released May 10, 2016
Prod. by: DeKobe (dekobe.bandcamp.com)
Writing Cory Huber & Andrew Hoelscher
Mixing/Mastering: Razor Boomarang: (razorboomarang.bandcamp.com)
Performed by: Hübris
Image: Copyright Kevin Gill ~ Modified for album
Prolific Mexico City rapper SPEAK ponders the self-isolated age on a booming EP, recorded live in his kitchen during quarantine. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 24, 2020
