Talk:Galaxy Song

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Removed "All this should not reflect negatively on Idle; it is presented merely to set the quantities mentioned in the song into their factual context. Ultimately, to criticize this piece of light-hearted humour - which makes no claim to be an authoritative cosmological statement - over its numbers would seem to be obsessional nitpicking." as it seems to be a personal statement about why facts are listed rather than an actual factoid. --Nathan Murray. 2 August 2007

You cannot just copy the full lyrics of copyrighted songs onto wikipedia. Justinc 12:59, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

I would have also liked to know a little more of the sketch, for example in what context Eric Idle pops into the sketch and sings the song. Anyone know? --Mithcoriel

There's no real context. When John Cleese's character wants to convince Terry Jones' character to give up her liver in the Live Organ Transplants sequence, he produces Eric Idle from a refridgerator who begins singing the song while he and Jones walk through a field of stars. 82.95.254.30 21:15, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

There is a real context, and you just gave it: the "look how amazing the big universe is and how small and insignificadnt we are" lyrics are part of trying to talk her into accepting that having them take away the liver (while patient is alive) is ok. Such a 1-sentence context reference surely belongs in the entry. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.118.49.24 (talk) 01:53, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] "A sun that is the source of all our power"

  • The light from the other stars form a tiny proportion of the energy available to us on Earth.
  • Some of wind power stems from the rotation of the Earth. Did that energy come from the sun?

I'm no scientist. Any thoughts? --Billpg 21:18, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

See the article on Wind - the first paragraph states that it does. Mike Peel 21:34, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Wind power comes from the sun, as it's mostly driven by convection, but geothermal power and tidal power don't come from the sun (geothermal comes from radioactive decay within the earth's core, and tidal comes from the rotation of the earth relative to both the earth-moon and earth-sun systems). Nuclear power produced on earth also doesn't come from the sun. The vast majority of power produced (hydroelectric and fossil fuel based) comes from the sun, though. --Christopher Thomas 15:41, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

"Light from other stars" is certainly not "a source of our power", so it's irrelevant here. Tidal power derives partially from the Sun. Rewrote the sentence in parentheses accordingly.
—Herbee 22:01, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

It may be a minute and insignificant source, but starlight falls onto plants and perform photosynthesis with the energy, so it remain a power source. --Billpg 23:42, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

"As They Might Be Giants did" is not only irrelevant (although understandable that people interested in Python-related songs would share interest in this band and desire to create a connection in the entry) but factually hazy. The song alluded to was a cover of a song written in 1959 by Lou Singer and Hy Zaret.

[edit] Song Lyrics

I agree that the lyrics probabaly shouldn't be put on wikipedia, as a link would probabaly suffice, but besides that, it shouldn't come after the external links.--Artega 19:00, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

I disagree with the above removal sentiment. IMO and IME (in my experience) the song itself and its lyrics are of cultural significance and importance. Maybe there should be a WikiLyrics.org to house lyrics, until there is, seems to be it belongs here on Wikipedia.org under the entry describing the song itself.

[edit] MP3

I removed the link to the MP3, 'cause it certainly doesn't fall under fair use. 82.95.254.30 21:15, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 'cause there's bugger all down here on Earth!

Some help from UK folks would be appreciated to clarify this. My understanding is that the term bugger here means idiots, a-holes etc...Urbandictionary confirms this general meaning with the entries, "That bugger stole my Holden! (used to refer to a person in a derogatory manner.) I decided to let the bugger enjoy it. (used in reference to a friend or someone you feel sorry for.)"

As far as the intended meaning, the intend of the last line, based on the entire song's context, seems to be, "pray for intelligent life Out There because down here on Earth it's all just idiots" And if that's the intended meaning, shouldn't the last line be something closer to, "...'cause they're buggers all [they are all idiots/jerks] down here on earth"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.118.49.24 (talk) 02:00, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

Erm, no, "bugger all" means very little or nothing. --Closedmouth (talk) 08:12, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for clarifying that.."'cause there's [little or nothing] down here on Earth" makes sense. I'm not the only one who was confused, as a search for the Galaxy Song on video.google.com reveals images of people giving a "fuck you" finger gesture at the end of the songs...so the people who made those videos need to know about your explanation of what the term actually means instead of their misinterpretation..thanks again —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.118.49.24 (talk) 22:42, 25 January 2008 (UTC)