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Going to Jack Parsons' Lab

from Transmissions to Trappist 1e by Empty Stage

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about

Recorded on a Samsung Galaxy Note 3

This song needs some context to make any sense so here it is.
This was written as part of a compilation of songs where we took the names of fake Mountain Goats tunes and wrote them. I was assigned Going to Jack Parsons' Lab, not knowing just how fascinating this figure would turn out to be.

Jack Parsons was one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Lab. He was also an insane occult lunatic who, along with the man who would go on to create Scientology, try to summon a fertility goddess named Babalon through rituals involving various indecent acts. He wrote a great deal of poetry about the goddess and one quote is below.

"BABALON is too beautiful
for sight of mortal eyes
She has hidden her loveliness away
in lonely midnight skies"

I was fascinated by a person who seemed obsessed with this character and would work through both magical and scientific methods to reach her despite them being utterly incompatible. The clashing of those two worlds is the focus of the song.

Here is a link to the compilation with an earlier version of the song. cardooreffect.bandcamp.com/album/lost-deleted-and-unrecorded-tracks-a-mountain-goats-tribute-album

lyrics

I measure the supplies for rocket fuel in a ceremonial goblet adorned with jewels. I then fill up the fuel tank it's time to fly. I'm gonna give this rocket one more try.

I shuffle aside an unholy book. I try to recover the notes I took. Using sacred candles with Satan's seal I light the rocket engine and begin to real.

She's hidden herself in midnight skies so I will build this rocket and then will rise. I'll use my math and science for all it's worth. If only to see you I'll escape the earth.

I reach for the blueprint and turn it back, write the sacred symbols and begin to laugh. My girlfriend Betty's ready to begin to fully desecrate this lab we're in.

I donate to the Devil. All scientists should. I meet with their ring leader. He says I'm doing good but all these prayers and summons are not for the fiery beast. They're so I can touch Babalon or gaze on her at least. They're so I can touch Babalon or gaze on her at least.

She's hidden herself in midnight skies so I will build this rocket and then will rise. I'll use all of my magic for all it's worth. If only just to bring you down to the Earth.

She's hidden herself in midnight skies so I will build this rocket and then will rise. I'll use my math and science for all it's worth. If only to see you I'll escape the Earth.

She's hidden herself in midnight skies so I will build this rocket and then will rise. I'll use all of my magic for all it's worth. If only just to bring you down to the Earth.

credits

from Transmissions to Trappist 1e, released May 25, 2017

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Empty Stage Richmond, Virginia

These cassettes with Mountain Goats wannabe songs keep showing up with my door with instructions to upload them to bandcamp with vague threats of demon polar bears if I don't comply. He's probably just crazy but have you seen the damage a polar bear can do? Those things could tear through a baseball stadium made of cereal boxes like they were nothing. I'm not going to take my chances. ... more

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