When I turned five years old my Grandma and Grandpa mailed me a personalized birthday song.
It was Captain Zoom, the song came on a vinyl record and it went something like this (replace “Big Guy” with your own name):
And the complete lyrics as follows:
Captain Zoom Birthday Song Lyrics
This is Space Command to Zoom
All systems are go for your message to Eric!
Hey, Eric! It’s your birthday!
I’m in charge of the stars and I’m here to say,
Hey, Eric! You’re the big star today!
My name is Zoom and I live on the moon
But I came down to earth Just to sing you this tune
‘cause Eric, it’s your birthday today!
A present for you I wanted to find, an outerspace creature, a one of a kind!
A wild whop or a kukelchoo, an apple drop or a buzzardstew
Or maybe a 3-eyed tickleshay for your birthday.
Did you ask: “uh, what’s a kukelchoo?”
Well, up on the moon it’s nothing new but that won’t do for you. On your birthday!
I searched behind the clouds and stars I even zoomed my bike to Mars
And met my friend the saucer man and he said:
“Hey Zoom I got the bestest plan! What your friend needs is something new,
So how about a song, just from YOU?”
And so tonight when you’re in bed
I’ll be singing to you as I zoom overhead
Singing, Eric! Happy Birthday
Singing, Eric! Happy Birthday
Singing, Eric! Happy Birthday, to you!
Happy Birthday, Eric! See you next year!
Catchy, eh?
The vinyl record sleeve it came in looked exactly like this (except for the name of course):
When you’re five years old, it’s pretty awesome to hear your own name in a song. I remember listening to it every year on my birthday for several years.
Now, many years later, I find Captain Zoom is still singing the same birthday song!
Instead of coming on vinyl, you can purchase a downloadable mp3.
Dang. How old did I turn today, anyway!?! From vinyl to mp3—sheesh!
Have you ever heard of Captain Zoom?
After Anne read this, she promptly pulled this out:
Yeah. I know. My wife is awesome. 😀
Can you please record your copy of “Happy Birthday Eric” and either put it on YouTube so I can download it, or just email it directly? I’m also named Eric and I had this as a kid too, but due to the thin plastic it’s made from, mine bent and my brother threw it out on me when I was younger. I’ve been searching YouTube and other places looking for a copy I can download for nostalgia, but I’ve not been able to find it.
Man, if I had my record player, I would totally do that—but I don’t. 🙁
You can, however, get a copy here. 😀
Thank you for this, Eric! My daughter Kate (Katie) turns 43 today. We bought her this record for her birthday when she was about about 4, and she loved it and we played it every year for many years. When she left home we would call her and sing her some version of it that we could remember. As the years go by, I’ve remembered less of the original words and decided today to check online to see if anyone had posted them–so happy to find your site!! Thanks SO much!! I will call her later and SING and she will love it!!
That’s SO awesome!!! 😀