A high spot of the 56th Annual Nebula Awards livestream was host Aydrea Walden’s fantastic performance of a song referencing all 41 finalists. With the kind permission of all concerned, File 770 is able to present the lyrics she sang. (See the video at the end of the post.)

ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
Lyrics by Aydrea Walden and Jocelyn Scofield
Music by Jocelyn Scofield

I’ve been alone, totally solo
I didn’t know how I would fare
Away from my friends, away from my family
Wondering
what’s going on out there

But then I had a spark, a realization
While floating here all by myself
I’m actually in the best of company
Because you’re on my shelf

I’ve been transformed to someone new
And it’s all because of you…

I missed human connection, I wanted that a lot
So, I processed all that Lingered, then found a Squirrel and Fox
It was hard being patient, my only snuggles were in dreams
Like waiting 40 years to learn your Four Profound Weaves

My days became all blurry, trapped inside this cage
Then I found the Riot Baby, someone to share my rage
Thought about my Stepsister and had a dark vision
That we were both locked up in a shifting Shadow Prison

I’ve been transformed to someone new
And it’s all because of you

Didn’t know where the future would lead
Felt just like a Working Breed
Politics broke me, brought me to my knees
So, I turned to Elatsoe for justice seeking

I missed all the ways I used to motor all around
Busses, and Route Zeros, and the Luminous Underground
I prayed this isolation was an accidental error
Needed my own guide just like my Spirtfarer

Sent thousands of texts to friends one and all
Their answers all [REDACTED] like the rules of Blaseball
Went down to Hades to fight through the abyss
Then I came up for a breath of Scents and Semiosis

I’ve been transformed to someone new
And it’s all because of you

I made funny vids, never sure whether
I’d find true connection, like Raybearer
My cake attempt left my tummy aching
Til I opened A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

I felt weird not even trying to dress my bottom half
But I have Two Truths and a Lie to distract me from that
Tried being Super, even thought about a Pill
You kept me occupied, I’m so obsessed with your skill

I tried to keep a smile despite all that I saw
I tried staying hopeful in my Tower of Mud and Straw
If I could just keep going and somehow not freak out
I could do the impossible just like the girls in Ring Shout

I’ve been transformed to someone new
And it’s all because of you

My Instagram rants went far too far
So I summoned my resolve like the Daughter of a Star
When hope was waning, and I only had doubts
I’d revisit that Haunted Open House

I knew that I could make it, this wouldn’t be goodbye
If those Badass Moms can do it, then darnit, so could I
When everything was too much, and I yearned for a new path
I got out my abacus and I worked that Portal Math

I knew that I could make it because they did in Ife-Iyoku
Once I got a grip on Zooming, I knew that I’d pull through
And stand up to Midnight Bargains, even under a Black Sun
Like in Network Effect, there’d be some drastic action

I’ve been transformed to someone new
And it’s all because of you

My home haircut, sad but triumphant
Cuz I found my own Ghost for comfort
Time to undock and coast out yonder
This trip is my Eight Thousander

Getting back to normal will be fun and weird and messy
Exiting this labyrinth like we’re all Piranesi
When this has passed us and when this journey’s done
I’m fascinated to see what City We’ve Become

Some things will change, but friends, we’ve totally got this
We’ll sort out this new mystery like a true Mexican Gothic
Soon we’ll be together Toasting Nebula
Having wild adventures like they did in Finna

Thank you all for joining me, and for being my light
I thought your words would comfort me, guess what I was right
Congrats to all, it’s gonna be a great night
And it’s all because
And it’s all because
And it’s all because
And it’s all because of you…

You can listen to Aydrea Walden sing the song starting at about the 4:15 mark of the video:

[Thanks to Rebecca Gomez Farrell for facilitating everything.]