Nova Ellen Carter
Words by Zion Valencic © Feb 2020
TTTO The Mary Ellen Carter by Stan Rogers


She went down Stardate three-two-four-one-seven-nine-nine-five
In a blaze of phaser fire so bright nothin’ could survive.
Too close to Dead Man’s Space, and she was dealt her mortal blow,
And the Nova Ellen Carter fell to woe.
Our helpless cargo ship was hid behind her riposte
They fought like knights to save us, all headless of the cost.
And the ghostly flames that burst her hull, they caused us to proclaim
That the Nova Ellen Carter’d rise again.

	Rise again, rise again, that man might not be lost
	At the time he needs a friend
	When host’le ships approach ya, and its lookin’ like the end
	Then the Nova Ellen Cater’ll rise again.

Well the pirates wrote her off, a shattered ship they couldn’t spend
She saved thirty thousand lives, boys, then met her sorry end
To all who’d hear I’d glory them with her great sacrifice
For such courage silence simply can’t suffice.
But one day when I went to tell that all important tale
Some stranger shared his story for a giant mug of ale.
His ship had met with pirates, and was just about to fall
And then the Nova Ellen Carter rose again.

	Rise again, rise again, that man might not be lost
	At the time he needs a friend
	When host’le ships approach ya, and its lookin’ like the end
	Then the Nova Ellen Cater’ll rise again.

For years, then, I’d been searching on a craft lent by a friend
Looking for that brave ghost ship that saved our sorry ends.
Across the stars in asteroid fields and gleaming galaxies
I flew in search of dead celebrities.
A ship I saw in desp’rate need, with pirates all around
I dove right into battle, though my ship was hardly sound.
I ended with a riddled hull, and with my boiling eyes
I watched the Nova Ellen Carter rise again.’

	Rise again, rise again, that man might not be lost
	At the time he needs a friend
	When hostile ships approach ya, and it’s lookin’ like the end
	Then the Nova Ellen Cater’ll rise again.

With fading sight I watched the pirate ships blow into shale
The Carter’s captain came to me, a specter oh so pale
His ghostly hand enfolded mine, and took away the pain
Then he moaned a bit as he began to say,
“And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With needy people begging to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Nova Ellen Carter rise again.”

	Rise again, rise again – though your heart it be broken
	And life about to end
	No matter what you’ve lost there’s still someone to defend
	So like the Nova Ellen Carter, rise again