The Solar Wind: A Heliophysics Sea Shanty (The Wellerman parody)

Parodying the classic sea shanty "The Wellerman," “The Solar Wind: A Heliophysics Sea Shanty” illuminates one of the primary connections between the Sun and Earth, the solar wind. The solar wind is a constant outflow of magnetized material released by the Sun and causes a cascade of effects on space and Earth. The most visible of these from our planet is the aurora borealis, displays of colorful light in the sky that provide a stunning example of the Sun-Earth connection.

Participants (in order of appearance):
Douglas E. Rowland (NASA/GSFC)
Ashley Greeley (USRA)
Ian Richardson (UMD)
Jeff Klenzing (NASA/GSFC)
Susannah Darling (ADNET)

Video credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Susannah Darling (ADNET): Producer
Joy Ng (USRA): Editor
Nick Leonard (Freelance): Audio Engineer
Miles Hatfield (Telophase): Drums
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET): Technical Support

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
There once was a star in a galaxy
It was named the Sun and thankfully
It weaves a solar tapestry
Sends particles high and low

[Chorus]
Soon may the solar wind come
To bring us plasma and magnetism
Filled with hydrogen and helium
And the solar wind will blow

[Verse 2]
The solar wind charts a course
Pulling lines of magnetic force
Flowing outwards from the source
Throws particles to and fro
Hyuh!

[Chorus]
Soon may the solar wind come
To bring us plasma and magnetism
Filled with hydrogen and helium
And the solar wind will blow

[Verse 3]
The Earth spun with its iron core
While the solar wind knocks at the door
Magnetosphere screams “no more!”
Until it must let go

[Verse 4]
Once a magnetic line is freed
Buckling under the wind’s stampede
It whips back with tremendous speed
Sends particles to the poles

[Chorus]
Soon may the solar wind come
To bring us plasma and magnetism
Filled with hydrogen and helium
And the solar wind will blow

[Verse 5]
The particles speed back here
And ricochet through the atmosphere
Exciting oxygen and nitrogen there
Making those particles glow

[Verse 6]
On and on the cycle spins
Sun and Earth are celestial kin
Dancing through the solar wind
Connected by its flow

[Chorus]
Soon may the solar wind come
To bring us plasma and magnetism
Filled with hydrogen and helium
And the solar wind will blow

[Chorus]
Soon may the solar wind come
To bring us plasma and magnetism
Filled with hydrogen and helium
And the solar wind will blow

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