The Great Unknown Lyrics - Dar Williams

Once upon a time there was a nuclear family 

And we lived in a family time, we'd unite in a family way 

And off the ancient mountain, they were splitting every nucleus 

But they said, "Don't be alarmed" 

They said, "Just don't try this at home" 

And they were the mystery that made the world run 

And we had the power 'cause they were the sun 

And we called them our heroes and the future had come 

They said, "Look at the light we're giving you 

And the darkness that we're saving you from" 

And soon they were bringing it into our showrooms 

And they'd unveil it with it's title 

'Bring your family, bring your family, it's the great unknown' 

You can look but you can't fathom, it's the great unknown 

I'm no ordinary princess, I was born in the cold war 

And my team is the Rockets, go team, it's a dangerous time 

And I dream of the moon and building lunar clone colonies 

And I build my peace through strength 

That's the best weapon you've got 

Oh, I am the brainchild, I am the mortar 

With a plastic trophy and an eating disorder 

And a vision as big as a great big wall 

And they tell me that I'll move forward for the good of us all 

And for the good of nuclear families all 

And they think I think I am important 

I know I never was, I wasn't 

No I never and how could I be? It's the great unknown 

Now we've built it, now it's ticking, it's the great unknown 

And I am your children, and I am millions 

And I wanted to sell out, I wanted to try 

But you know that the sky got too low 

And the ocean got too high 

And I, I had to take God into my own hands 

Am I too late? Is it over? 

Have I sacrificed my family to the great unknown? 

There's a war between my conscience and the great unknown 

So I walked out into the Gamma fields out in Mercury, Nevada 

Where I stood in a circle and that circle started to pray 

And now the wind at the nuclear test sights 

Floats the data at the radiation, from the underground testing 

Cross the line, you'll get arrested 

And we came from all over in a silent appeal 

As the drill comes down like a presidential seal 

And we stand for the living and we stand for the dead 

And we looked out to see your enemies 

And we see that you're looking all at us instead 

You think I am being disruptive? 

But no I'm running home, I'm running 

'Cause I'm trying to put the atom back together, it's the great unknown 

I'm just trying to put the atom back together, it's the great unknown