Titans
Beyond the black golden age.
Heather sat on her bed contemplating the state of the world while she mused in a journal. A strike of bright sunlight hit the foot of the bed.
“Tell me about a time when the light will shine, when the light will shine.”
The lyrics and melody fused together instantly. Imagery of people struggling in myriad ways drifted through her mind.
As the story of Decades After Paris came together, this song waited patiently to unfold the narrative of shadowy characters.
Titans — conglomerations of people who represent powerful entities — shape our world and the fate of the stable climate that sustains us on it.
The artists intend to draw people’s attention to the COP events where the Titans gather and negotiate. This song reflects uninvited civilians that show up to the doorstep of the giant conference halls, with their flags and chants, to call for hopeful actions.
It also starts to signal the power of those calls to action. This song is intended to take place 10–20 years after COP21. It imagines what we might start to see if the Titans start acting, rather than just talking, given the worldwide impacts felt by people (and their bottom lines).
The dynamics and the power of this song make it one of the most enjoyable for the duo and their band to play live.
Lyrics
Verse 1:
I’ve seen, the world go by and shift its weight with a howl and sigh.
Costly change was made, in the name of a stable way
Meat costs the wage of a day, droughts recessed and the seas at bay
Black golden age is gone, we’re finding our way and moving on.Pre-Chorus:
Titans, moving mountains (oh honey)
Titans, moving mountainsChorus:
Tell me about a time when the light will shine, when the light will shine
Tell me about a time when the light will shine, when the light will shine
Deep pockets, guide the fate of a blue dot with hot, hot days
Tell me about a time… when the light will shineVerse 2:
My brother’s seen the world shift its weight with a scowl and cry
A living made, and lost, on the way down a long pipeline
He’s not the only one: doctors, and teachers, and our children
All felt the slow decay, seeking now another wayBridge:
When, when you want to change, there ain’t no one way to do it
And when the lost migrate, the Titans won’t help them through it
Disparity in spades, many will lose, some will gain
Where, where the dollar stays, bread will break but hope still wanes
Once upon a time all across the land
The people rose up and they clapped their hands
They looked to the sky and said, who’s gonna make sure that we’re fed?
Cause it’s dark, and it’s stormy, and the rains about to fall
After drought, there’s no money
And our backs are at the wall, oh noVerse 3:
Big oil, and Monsanto snap chat plans as they go
Big stakes and lines in the sand, people forced their greedy hands
New guard, with power still, have foresight and an ethical will
With titanic drive, to end decline, keep trade alive
Composition
Danton and Heather imagined what their future in 20 years could look like and the events that might occur along the way. There will be ups and downs. Moments of light. Darkness and despair. The lyrics and movements of this song capture this.
Unlike most of the other songs, this was written on the guitar, and mostly on the beach. Creative sparks tend to fly next to water and in fresh air, for the couple.
Danton felt the groove of this song immediately, and quickly appended a pre-chorus to Heather’s few initial lines. Lyric’s seemed to flow from there, centered around the concept of the Titans.
With family residing in Alberta, and the anticipated oil and gas industry struggles, they contemplated the pain felt by their loved ones and their communities. (Danton doesn’t have a brother… but it feels better to sing than “cousin.”)
They didn’t want it to be about the oil industry though. There would be many people from a variety of backgrounds impacted by the decline of the industry. It also mimics the trend experienced by other changes being made or forced upon us in other industries, such as forestry.
How might the Titan’s demonstrate responsibility for the power they have to shape the experience for large populations experiencing drought and floods?
