I was still in high school when the song ‘In the year 2525‘ became a huge hit. I don’t remember thinking about the lyrics all that much at the time, but perhaps this one hit wonder did influence my love affair with sci-fi…
In the year 2525 – Zager and Evans, 1969 – lyrics
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you
In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a-coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
“Guess it’s time for the Judgement Day”
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say, “I’m pleased where man has been”
Or tear it down, and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been ten thousand years, man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday
Songwriters
EVANS, RICHARD LEE
Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
[Lyrics courtesy http://www.metrolyrics.com/in-the-year-2525-lyrics-zager-and-evans.html]
I had to smile at a couple of the verses. We’ve had test tube babies for a generation already, and if you remember that video clip I posted about the exoskeleton helping a paralyzed woman to walk you’ll know that we are on the cusp of having ‘some machine do that for you’ as well. 😀
The one thing Zager and Evans did get right was this comment about mankind :
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
So, am I right? Is this song the only sci-fi pop song ever written? Can anyone think of others?
Oh, and my thanks to David Prosser for finding this golden oldie in the first place!
Have a great weekend,
Meeks
Authors' favourite books
NANO 2012
April 29th, 2014 at 7:19 pm
I’d never heard this song before 😀 Thanks for sharing.
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April 30th, 2014 at 10:15 am
It’s great isn’t it?
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April 28th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
I remember 2525, it was one of those rhyming songs that was fascinating to sing over and over… and over.
The song that popped into my head is one of my favourites. Ballroom of Mars by T. Rex (Mark Bolan) to which various explanations have been ascribed to the lyrics… although none as far as I know sci-fi.
“You gonna look fine
Be primed for dancing
You’re gonna trip and glide
All on the trembling plane”
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
I remember T Rex but I don’t think I’ve heard that one. Maybe the lyrics suggest a different kind of trip? 😀
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April 29th, 2014 at 5:53 am
I love Marc Bolan’s lyrics because they are a bit trippy, yes. I guess there is an element of that to Sci-Fi.
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April 29th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Definitely! lol
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April 28th, 2014 at 2:04 am
“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” was written exclusively, music & lyrics, by Richard (Rick) STANLEY Evans — not Richard LEE.
Verify: copyright.gov/records Also Broadcast Music, Inc. bmi.com
On the RCA release, Evans (writer) sings lead, Zager a four word harmony part.
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Thanks for that clarification! Much appreciated. 🙂
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April 28th, 2014 at 2:00 am
I haven’t thought about that song in ages and yet I could sing along! Around that same time I was a kid in sleep away camp (maybe camp was a few years later, I don’t want to do the math) singing a mock horror/science fiction song called “The Eggplant that Ate Chicago.” It had a ragtime beat and I played the guitar while a couple of friends played “washboards” and other improvised instruments. The lyrics that I still remember are…
You’d better watch out for the eggplant that ate Chicago
For he might eat your city soon.
He came from outer space and he was looking for something to eat.
He landed in Chicago, he thought Chicago was a treat
it was sweet
it was just like sugar…
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:45 pm
-giggles- I’ve never heard of that one, but you might have had a hit song on your hands. 😀
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April 27th, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Well, I saw the thing, a comin’ out of the sky.
It had a one long horn and a one big eye.
I commenced to shakin’ and I said ooh-wee,
Looks like a Purple People Eater to me….
You know I wouldn’t be able to resist an alien that came to earth to join rock and roll band. 😀
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April 27th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
-giggles- Now you’ve got the Purple People Eater playing in my head! I’ll never get rid of it. 😀
Definitely belongs on the list!
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April 27th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
David Bowie with Ground Control to Major Tom? And a group called Babylon Zoo brought out a song called Spaceman.
I reckon Zager and Evans beat them all though.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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April 27th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
David Bowie, of course! Thank you. And oddly enough, Carrie just pointed me at a band called The Killers which also has a song called Spaceman. I wonder if it’s the same song? You guys are brilliant. 😀
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April 27th, 2014 at 11:31 am
The only one I can think of is Spaceman by The Killers:
“It started with a low light,
Next thing I knew they ripped me from my bed
And then they took my blood type
It left a strange impression in my head.
You know that I was hoping,
That I could leave this star-crossed world behind
But when they cut me open,
I guess I changed my mind.”
A very good song. 🙂
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April 27th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
I just looked that song up on youtube – and its great! Thanks for introducing me to a new band. 😀
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April 27th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
🙂
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April 27th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Lyrics:
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It’s lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time…
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April 27th, 2014 at 10:05 am
We still haven’t got to Mars, but at least it’s a real possibility. Strange to think it’s over forty years since Elton John wrote about it.
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April 27th, 2014 at 9:41 am
Rocket Man, by Elton John, released in 1972, not much later. It certainly affected me.
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April 27th, 2014 at 10:02 am
Oh! Nice one Christie – thanks for reminding me. 😀
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