Outer Space Balloon
A richly illustrated children's song and book for sleepy time and beyond
Artist’s statement
I always imagined meeting the man on the moon. I had this sense that he was so lonely and cold, all the way up there in outer space. I remember sitting in the attic room of this house I was renting in San Francisco, looking up at the moon through a little window. Strumming my guitar, I sang, “nobody knows what it’s like to be the man on the moon. Imagine how cold and dark it gets - I better rescue him real soon!” Yep, that’s me - projecting my fears all over the moon. Turns out… well, he was doing just fine!
Red and Comet popped in a bit later, and a companion book was born. It’s meant to be read at night, while you’re tucked into bed. Then the song is there at the end, to bring you into your dreams…
Enjoy the galactic adventures of Red & Comet! And thanks for sharing this with those who need to dream a little bit, too.
much love,
Deborah
BIOS:
Deborah Pardes - writer / PRODUCER/ performer
Deborah Pardes has thrived as a writer, teacher and producer for over 3 decades. She is the VP of Stories & Voices at Swell Audio. Deborah uses art and technology to enliven the experience of traditional storytelling, and has served as content strategist and senior writer for clients including Warner Brothers, Sony, AMD and Apple and Hyland’s Homeopathic. The founder of Artists for Literacy and The Literature Remix Project, Deborah has produced literary events, concerts and multi-national music competitions. She has taught workshops at San Francisco School of the Arts, Marlborough Prep School in Los Angeles, Lawndale Environmental Charter HS, and numerous teacher workshops through the State Library and the Catalyst Series. Her work has engaged artists such as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Tom Waits and Suzanne Vega and has been covered by NPR, New York Times, and RollingStone. She’s a music composer and producer, with 6 CDs to her name. She is the coauthor of Climbing Out for Under: A Handbook For Heartbreak, available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. Deborah is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University and of The Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars Program. Deborah’s lived in New York, San Francisco and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Bailey Wyatt - Illustrator and animator
Please enjoy Bailey’s own website!
Shelley Levy - VIsual Artist - Created original Design COncepts
Please enjoy Shelley’s own website!
Lyrics
nobody knows how lonely it gets for the man on the moon
imagine how cold and dark it gets - I better rescue him real soon!
mr. mr. man on the moon - I hope you're listening to this tune
mr. mr. man on the moon - I'm coming up there to get you
In my outer space balloon, In my outer space balloon
i pack my bags with space food and my big bad gravity shoes
I leave a note on my bathroom door to tell my folks to the news
I'm ready for the final launch and the wind begins to blow
the earth is rolling far away from me but then I see a face I know Hey!
mr. mr. man on the moon - I hope you've been listening to this tune
mr. mr. man on the moon - I've come all the way up here
In my outer space balloon, In my outer space balloon
and the moon says
Hello! Good to see you! You little luna-tic
I've never met somebody quite like you - what is it that you seek?
Well sir, won't you come with me - come down from the nighttime sky
the earth is filled with lots of people all wanting to say hi! Oh!
mr. mr. man on the moon - you're lonely days will be over soon
mr. mr. man on the moon - come to earth with me
In my outer space balloon, In my outer space balloon
and the moon says
What makes you think I'm so lonely - I love the life up here
besides your earth was not meant for people like me- it's got such a different atmosphere
But mr. mr. man on the moon - I thought for sure you heard my tune
mr. mr. man on the moon - I came all the way up here
In my outer space balloon, In my outer space balloon, in my outer space balloon
he just answers me with a smile and a wink that I now understand
life is better than I used to think up on the lunar land! Oh!
mr. mr. man on the moon - I hope you're listening to this tune
mr. mr. man on the moon - I'll visit you real soon
In my outer space balloon, In my outer space balloon, in my outer space balloon!