When Orion died, his two hunting dogs didn’t abandon him. They leapt into the sky right beside him, and they’re still there, forever running behind their master. This song is a tribute to that loyalty, the two hunting companions who never left his side.
There are several real astronomy clues hidden in the lyrics. One is the brightest star in the entire night sky, the one that once announced the hottest days of summer in ancient times. Another is a star cluster hidden inside the big dog. Two more are the stars that make up the tiny dog, barely visible next to his bigger brother. And the last one is a huge triangle drawn in the winter sky, formed by three bright stars that include these two dogs and their owner.
Lyrics
(Run together!)
Two shadows tearing through the field with dawn upon the dew,
Canis Major leaping high, a hunter proud and true!
The Dog Star sparks the summer heat, the scorching dog-day blaze,
While ancient Nile would flood its banks beneath his rising rays! (feed the grain!)
Behind him trots the little hound, the ancients’ funny pride:
Just two lone stars upon a line, yet called a dog with pride! (just two stars!)
Procyon and sweet Gomeisa barking at the night,
Announcing that the larger hound is bringing in the light!
From Thor’s blue helmet in the deep to clusters like M-forty-one,
They chase the hare across the dark until the race is won!
Not a chain or silver leash could make them turn away,
Where Orion walked his road, his brothers came to stay! (never stray!)
Across the sky they chase the light,
Brothers of the winter night! (winter night!)
Sirius ablaze in diamond flame,
Carving out an everlasting name!
Procyon rising just ahead,
Marking where the hounds will tread!
(Ooooh-ooooh-ooh!)
Through the velvet dark, running free!
(Ooooh-ooooh-ooh!)
Bound in everlasting loyalty!
When mortal journeys met the end and winter claimed the ground,
Zeus lifted up the giant soul where stars are lost and found.
And without a backward glance or fearing where they’d go,
The hounds leaped through the atmosphere to meet him in the glow! (into the dark!)
From forest trails to frozen voids, still running side by side,
The loyal pack of diamond sparks that time could never hide! (true to the end!)
Look to the cold December air, the southern winter sign:
The Winter Triangle burns bright along the hunter’s line! (three points of gold!)
Betelgeuse ignites in red,
Sirius crowns the noble head!
And Procyon whispers from the east before the larger hound:
“The faithful brothers of the sky are never mortal-bound!”
(Rising with the pack!)
(Never looking back!)
Across the sky they chase the light,
Brothers of the winter night! (winter night!)
Sirius ablaze in diamond flame,
Carving out an everlasting name!
Procyon rising just ahead,
Marking where the hounds will tread!
(Ooooh-ooooh-ooh!)
Through the velvet dark, running free!
(Ooooh-ooooh-ooh!)
Bound in everlasting loyalty!
Rising with the summer heat…
Guiding Nile along the sand.
(M-forty-one)
(Sirius and Procyon)
Good boys… forever true.
Like every Astronomika Beats song, this one hides more than one astronomical clue. If you already caught them, tell us in the comments what you found. If not, give it another listen.