Songs Depicting the Passing of Time, and Reflections on Human Existance

I often ponder on the passing of time, and how much things have changed even within my thirty years of life. The society, our lifestyle and our values all have been impacted by the increase in capitalism and the advancement of technology that sometimes, we forget to look back, and see what we have left behind, or what will happen if we do leave now.

Two of my favourite songs reflect on this idea, although quite different in style and message, and their lyrics sing out to the public, drawing attention to the passing of time and the possible outcomes of our actions.

The first one is Sandi Thom's 'I wish I was a punk rocker'.

[Chorus]
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair
In 77 and 69 revolution was in the air
I was born too late into a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When the head of state didn't play guitar,
Not everybody drove a car,
When music really mattered and when radio was king,
When accountants didn't have control
And the media couldn't buy your soul
And computers were still scary and we didn't know everything

[Chorus]

When pop-stars still remained a myth
And ignorance could still be bliss
And when God Saved the Queen she turned a whiter shade of pale
When my mom and dad were in their teens
And anarchy was still a dream
And the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail

[Chorus]

When record shops were still on top
And vinyl was all that they stocked
And the super info highway was still drifting out in space
Kids were wearing hand me downs,
And playing games meant kick around
And footballers still had long hair and dirt across their face

[Chorus]

I was born too late to a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

The song reflects on the past, on what used to be and something that many of us can still relate to, and is a nostalgia to when thing were simpler, such 'No everybody drove a car' and 'the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail'. I feel the vibe and the slight sadness depicted in this song and feel that it's trying to reach out, and ask the world to think back to those days when things are still happy without all the money and power play, without the technology that is making everyone lazier and when music were actually played on a proper instrument.
It feels like Sandi Thom is singing from her heart, secretly wishing that the world could go back to those pleasant times.

The second song conveys a different message. It's a song looking at the present state, while not directly addressing the issues, the state of the world. The song is called 'No longer there' by Australian band the Cat Empire.

I know you'd like to hear a song
that sings everything's alright
the temperature is warm
the fire horses sleep
so gently comes the night..
Now close your eyes and stare
the ground they're on is bare
but once it was as deep
and wild as giant's dreams

They're no longer there

And all of our desires
could mirror skies with flames
smoke out heaven's halls
who was that you called?

They're no longer there.

Here it goes again,
here it goes again,
here it goes again.

What would you leave behind when all your fields are dead?
When your territories are dried out and your cities drowned and swept?
What would you leave behind when those who bear your name are born to that place that you wrecked?

What would you leave behind when you're no longer there?

Would you sail to distant shores
and hide within the haze
softly close the door
pretend the world was saved
and wait for heaven's call?

Or would you turn and face the sea
and calm decide you care
There's chance but if you dare
and swift as honour's steeds
before it's no longer there

Here it goes again...

To deny or despair,
they're really just the same
and everything between
it means we have to change.
Cos when a one forgets
their world begins to fade
And all the shapes and shades
that made their colours see
well they suddenly turn grey

Then they're no longer there.

The song conveys a message in a conversational tone, starting by hinting that everyone, when something bad happens, they always want someone there to tell them things are alright. The song then goes on, in a gentle reminder that things are in fact, not alright. What was beautiful before, are simply 'no longer there'.

Instead of a reflection, this song is a reminder, a warning to the listeners to look out for these disappearing things. Without directly referring to the problems, it is a song with a deep environmental warning. However, instead of 'telling' the warnings, it asks the audience to think:

"What would you leave behind when all your fields are dead?
When your territories are dried out and your cities drowned and swept?
What would you leave behind when those who bear your name are born to that place that you wrecked?"

I especially like the lyrics because it's a subtle reminder that the earth we love is slowly degrading, and most of us are denying or ignoring the signs. If we don't sit down and do something about it together, "Then they're no longer there."