Dominic Vautier
updated 1/2015
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In 1892, Harry Dacre got off a steam ship in New
York. He was walking down
the gangway lugging his bicycle (his most prized
possession), but he was stopped by the customs inspector, who charged an
import duty for the bike.
The surprised immigrant later mentioned this incident to his friend who replied, ”Well, just be glad it wasn’t a bicycle built for two. Then they would have charged you double.”
Harry spent the next several weeks thinking about what he could do with something like, “a bicycle built for two.” He eventually wrote a song, which turned out to be a complete disappointment. In a futile gesture Harry gave the song to a friend who was going off to England. Maybe in England something may happen and people would be more receptive. It did. The song became a smash hit as its popularity spread back to America. It wound up being the second million-seller in popular music history.
Almost 80 years later in 1968, Stanley Kubrick paid Harry Dacre the ultimate honor by including his song in the classic movie 2001, a Space Odyssey, as the fading words of the maverick computer HAL-9000.
HAL: I'm afraid. I'm
afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going…
Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois on the 12th of January 1992. My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.
Bowman: Yes, I'd like to hear it, HAL. Sing it for me.
HAL:
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true.
I’m half crazy, all for the love of you.
It won’t be a stylish marriage.
I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’ll look sweet, upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.