The song lyrics which follow are meant to be sung to the tune of "Casey Jones," the classic railroad song of heroism and despair. Naturally, a reprise of this song with friends from Columbia featured would be worthy of composition. For those with small children reading, it should be noted that the images here are extremely dark.

Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Challenger Seven, didn't happen as they planned.
Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Goin' from the launch pad to the promised land.


Richard Scobee, waitin' for his orders,
Richard Scobee, his controls at his hand.
Richard Scobee, waitin' for his orders,
He'll follow those orders to the promised land.


Michael Smith, seated there as pilot.
Michael Smith, with his joystick in his hand.
Michael Smith, seated there as pilot,
Gonna pilot his spacecraft to the promised land.


Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Challenger Seven, didn't happen as they planned.
Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Goin' from the launch pad to the promised land.


Greg'ry Jarvis, waited fer pol'ticians.
Greg'ry Jarvis, for his only chance to fly.
Greg'ry Jarvis, waited fer pol'ticians,
Now those politicians gonna watch him die.


Judy Resnik, on her second mission,
Judy Resnik, with TDRSS in the bay.
Judy Resnik, on her second mission,
Goin' on a mission on that fateful day.


Ron McNair, playin' on his saxophone,
Ron McNair, with his eyes on the stars,
Ron McNair, playin' on his saxophone,
Gonna play that sax in Heaven's bars.


Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Challenger Seven, didn't happen as they planned.
Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Goin' from the launch pad to the promised land.


El Onizuka, goin' on a mission,
El Onizuka, one of the fated band.
El Onizuka, goin' on a mission,
Goin' on a mission to the promised land.


Christa McAuliffe, goin' to a classroom,
Christa McAuliffe, class a hundred miles high.
Christa McAuliffe, goin' to a classroom,
Gonna teach the children what it means to die.


Challenger Shuttle, sittin' on the launch pad,
Challenger Shuttle, with a good crew on board.
Challenger Shuttle, sittin' on the launch pad,
Gonna carry that crew straight to the Lord.


Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Challenger Seven, didn't happen as they planned.
Challenger Seven, waitin' on the launch pad,
Goin' from the launch pad to the promised land.


{spoken}
And no one will delay us again.

- Copyright © 1986, 2005 Jim Davidson, All Rights Reserved