These Eyes

Tense empathy.

It was the week that Heather and Danton were headed into studio. All the songs were prepared as best as they could be within the three months they had set for the project. All except one.

The working title for the song was “Tension” and all the couple knew about this part of the story was that it needed to signal broad and deep pain. It required grief and empathy. It was hard to express in words and it threatened to be an immersive instrumental.

Under the complimentary tension of needing to produce lyrics with time to rehearse enough for the studio, Danton and Heather hunkered down in his basement. As Danton played through the song on guitar, repeatedly, nothing came…

Heather had typically contributed the first cut of lyrics. Finally, Danton needed a break (and dinner) and jokingly told her to stay put and finish the song while he closed the door behind him on the way to get takeout.

In the dim light, she exhaled. And then screamed. Pillows were beaten and sent flying.

She needed to be her future self under futile terms. She sensed humanity’s commitment to self-sabotage and it triggered her rage.

After a few tears, the lyrics flowed entirely.

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Unravelling
A tapestry
By Adam’s hand
In disbelief
We could not plant
In shifting sand
Passing through
Titan’s hands

Chorus:
I saw it all crumble with these eyes
I reawakened to a different life
I saw it all crumble with these eyes
In the end we will realize

Verse 2:
Mouths to feed
Too many
Deltas dry
God’s angry
Promises
Security
With control
Tyranny

Bridge:
There’s no water, there’s no rye
We saw it coming the risk was high
At least we’ll have some place to go
Unlike many we’ll have a home

Verse 3:
Technology
Another leash
I tried to hold
A rush of gold
The last tree
Burning peat
A lifeless sea
Bankruptcy

“These Eyes” tells a part of the story with the most happening using the fewest words.

Verse one is about the state of the economy: Adam Smith’s hand representing the so-called father of economics, but also Christianity’s notion of God’s granted dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28).

All the complexity and impressive advancements of humanity’s structures become completely dismantled by populations that cannot eat.

The faith of people in the power of the Titans to harness salvation (referenced earlier in the album) is eroded by “shifting sands:” unpredictable barriers and set-backs.

Verse 2 summons the geopolitical dramas that unfold upon resource scarcity combined with religious conflict. Promises of security is a reference to political posturing (walls, anyone?).

The final verse is the gut punch. Calling back to Techno Junky, this potential future has the protagonist reflecting on over-confidence in technology as a solution to climate crisis. Wealth is not a survival advantage beyond certain thresholds.

In 2015, permafrost melt and flammability of peat wasn’t a broadly understood threat. Heather’s knowledge of this dangerous feedback loop kept her up at night, and combined with marine ecosystem collapse, delivers the tragic result: extinction as the ultimate form of bankruptcy.

Image created by Bing.

When Heather and Danton have played for audiences at social events this dystopian song consistently pauses the background chatter.

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