[Instrumental Intro: Snare Roll, Tremolo Guitar, Brass Swell, Organ Chords]
[Spoken Intro]
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,
not because they are easy,
but because they are hard”
[Low Drone, Heartbeat Percussion]
[Build: Synth Arpeggio Rising]
September sky
To the moon… gonna try
Though success is unsure
Looking toward the future
We know…
To choose to go
Not because it’s easy
Not because it’s safe
But because it’s hard
[Instrumental Build: Marching Drums, Rising Strings, Electric Guitar]
[Verse 1]
Smoke in the air from the launchpad flame
Every generation wants to leave its name
Dreamers and engineers working through the night
Trying to turn the dark into light
Blueprints scattered across the floor
Looking for a world we’ve never seen before
Steel and fire, sweat and wings
All because of impossible things
[Pre-Chorus]
Every step begins with doubt
Every whisper turns into a shout
Every road is rough before it sings
That’s why we do the other things
[Chorus]
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
Our time must be coming soon…
(See what tomorrow brings)
Let’s climb higher than we’ve ever been
(Open the sky and let the future in)
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
[Instrumental Break: Guitar Lead, Brass Hits, Driving Bass]
[Verse 2]
Kids in the backyard staring at the stars
Dreaming beyond the fences and the cars
One day they’ll build what we can’t yet see
A bridge from the earth to eternity
New machines and satellites
Signals in the endless night
Science moving mountain chains
Through all the losses and the gains
[Pre-Chorus]
Every answer starts unknown
Every empire starts with stone
Every bell before it rings
Has to do the other things
[Chorus]
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
Our time must be coming soon…
(See what tomorrow brings)
Let’s chase the edge of what can be
Turn our fears into discovery
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
[Bridge]
Not because it’s easy
Not because it’s near
But because the hardest roads
Are the reason we are here
To build
To learn
To rise
To reach
To teach
[Instrumental Bridge: Spacey Synth, Echo Guitar, Rolling Toms]
[Final Chorus]
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
Our time must be coming soon…
(See what tomorrow brings)
Let’s leave the shadows far behind
(Put one more dream into mankind)
Let’s go to the moon
(And do the other things)
[Outro]
[low Organ, Fading Guitar Harmonics]
Do the hard things
Do the brave things
Do the other things
See what adventure brings
About the Song
The quote, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard,” was delivered by President John F. Kennedy at Rice University on September 12, 1962. It aimed to inspire the nation to lead in space exploration, technology, and science.
From the album “Whatnot“