The Cranching Song - Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith

Idoru Toei's musical version of "Scanners Live in Vain" by Cordwainer Smith, featured in "The Pitch Science Fiction 4Q2024" available at: https://lphi.top/p-tpsf-3
Logophilia official website: https://lphi.top/lh
Logophilia official X link: https://x.com/ToeiIdoru

Lyrics SRT:

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000
[Intro]
[instrumental]

2
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,500
[Verse 1]
Anger. A tide I can’t contain.
No adjustment, no release from the pain.

3
00:00:11,500 --> 00:00:16,500
Stamped across the room, judgment in my stride,
Table crashed, a chaos deep inside.

4
00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:20,500
Legs intact? Reflex takes control,
Scanner to the core, assessing my whole.

5
00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:25,500
Instruments, hands, face, a mirrored gaze,
Then back to anger, lost in a haze.

6
00:00:25,500 --> 00:00:30,500
[Chorus]
Cranching wire, a desperate plea,
To feel again, to finally be free.

7
00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:35,000
From this cold shell, this mechanical cage,
To taste the air, turn a new page!

8
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:44,000
Hear my voice, smell smoke's embrace,
A man reborn in time and space.

9
00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:49,000
[Verse 2]
Darling… you’re my husband… right to love you…

10
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,000
Dangerous… do it… dangerous… wait…

11
00:00:54,000 --> 00:01:04,000
[Bridge]

12
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,000
Can't you understand? This prison in my head!

13
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,000
To feel my feet on ground, no longer dread.

14
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,000
The air against my face, the scent of smoke so sweet,

15
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:30,000
To move, to feel again, a life complete!

16
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,000
[Chorus]
Cranching wire, a desperate plea,

17
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,000
To feel again, to finally be free.

18
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,000
From this cold shell, this mechanical cage,

19
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,000
To taste the air, turn a new page!

20
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,000
Hear my voice, smell smoke's embrace,

21
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,000
A man reborn in time and space.

22
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:56,000
[Verse 3]
Love you… your own good… don’t you think I want you to be human?

23
00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:02,000
Your own good… too much… he said… they said…

24
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000
Do you think I wanted this? A Scanner's plight?

25
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000
Dead to do our work, lost in endless night!

26
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,000
How can anyone reach for the Up-and-Out’s grace?

27
00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000
Dream of raw Space? You married me to this place!

28
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:23,000
[Break]
[instrumental]

29
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000
[Verse 4]
Please, darling, where’s the Cranching Wire?

30
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,000
Ready at last?

31
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:39,000
[Chorus]
Cranching wire… a desperate chain wire…

32
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,000
Ready at last?

33
00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,000
Cranching wire… a desperate plea...

34
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,000
To feel again… to finally be free.

35
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000
[Outro]
Feel… feel…

36
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,000
Love you… your own good… don’t you think I want you to be human?

37
00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:42,000
Your own good… too much… he said… they said…

38
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000
Do you think I wanted this? A Scanner's plight?

39
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000
Dead to do our work, lost in endless night!

40
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000
How can anyone reach for the Up-and-Out’s grace?

41
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:59,000
Dream of raw Space? You married me to this place!