Shoemaker

Nightwish's 'Shoemaker' is a poetic and celestial tribute to Eugene Shoemaker, a renowned planetary scientist and co-discoverer of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The song's lyrics are rich with metaphors and imagery that celebrate Shoemaker's contributions to space exploration and his eternal rest among the stars. The opening lines, 'Now you’ve been tucked in / For eternal earthrise and wonder,' suggest Shoemaker's final resting place on the Moon, where his ashes were scattered, symbolizing his eternal connection to the cosmos.

The song portrays Shoemaker as a 'sailor through aeons,' navigating the vast expanse of space and time. This metaphor highlights his pioneering spirit and the timeless impact of his work. The recurring theme of 'howling at the Earth' and 'the whole graveyard of heavens' evokes a sense of awe and reverence for the universe, emphasizing the grandeur and mystery of the cosmos that Shoemaker dedicated his life to exploring.

The chorus, 'You’re with us, face of the night / Singing through the morn for mankind,' reflects the idea that Shoemaker's legacy continues to inspire humanity. The lyrics express a desire to join him in his celestial journey, 'We want to come with you,' symbolizing the human aspiration to explore and understand the universe. The song also touches on themes of beauty and pain, 'Beauty which is worth the hurting,' suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge and exploration, despite its challenges, is ultimately a beautiful and worthwhile endeavor.

The closing lines, 'And when he shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars,' are a direct reference to Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' where Juliet imagines Romeo becoming a constellation. This literary allusion reinforces the idea of Shoemaker's eternal presence in the night sky, guiding and inspiring future generations. The repeated phrases 'Laudato Si' and 'Ad Astra' further emphasize the song's themes of praise and aspiration, celebrating Shoemaker's life and legacy as a beacon of human curiosity and exploration.