[Intro — warm 1984 analog synth, chorus guitar, simple drum machine] [Verse 1 — melodic, nostalgic male vocal, spacious 80’s mix] We had a telephone attached to the wall If nobody answered, nobody called Three television stations and maybe four And somebody had to get up to change them before Pictures came back in a paper sleeve You waited a week just to see what you’d see Maps in the glovebox, records on shelves If we wanted to know something— We figured it out ourselves [Pre-Chorus — building tension, crisp electronic snare] They showed us tomorrow on the movie screen Talking computers and laser beams Cars that could think Machines that could see We laughed and said— “Maybe someday…” [Chorus — big classic new wave hook, soaring synth line, rich vocal harmonies)] THEN THE FUTURE HAPPENED While we were looking away All those impossible things Became ordinary one day We were children of analog Now we’re living online THE FUTURE HAPPENED Somewhere in our lifetime [Verse 2 — New Wave rhythm begins becoming more electronic, rhythm tightens, subtle digital bleeps bleeding in] First came the phones we could carry around Then everybody disappeared into the sound Internet screaming through a telephone line Suddenly the whole damn world was online Email Websites MP3s A thousand songs Inside your jeans Then wires disappeared Signals filled the air And somehow— Everything was everywhere [TRANSITION — tempo holds; original drum machine begins glitching, dial-up modem burst, cold sequencer pulse] [Processed voice] CONNECTING… [modem-like burst] [Cold sequencer enters beneath original synth line] [Mechanical voice] UPGRADE COMPLETE. [INDUSTRIAL SECTION BEGINS] [Verse 3 — clipped rhythmic electronic male vocal, harsh industrial beat, driving EBM bass)] WI-FI BLUETOOTH TOUCH THE SCREEN EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING Vacuum runs Nobody home Pool gets cleaned All on its own Fridge gets smart Oven talks Washing machine Sends status reports Video call Face to face Halfway around The human race Movies stream Music flows Ask the machine— THE MACHINE KNOWS [Industrial Chorus — harder reinterpretation of original chorus, heavy compressed industrial rhythm, shouting gang vocals layer] THE FUTURE HAPPENED CLICK CONNECT CONTROL THE FUTURE HAPPENED EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE We were children of analog Now we’re living online THE FUTURE HAPPENED Somewhere in our lifetime [Industrial break — pounding sequencer, pounding metallic percussion, heavy sequencing)] [Verse 4 — increasingly mechanical, staccato mechanical vocal delivery, dense electronic noise] Wallet gone Tap the glass Paper money Fading fast Cars can drive Doors can see Algorithms know What you want to see Ask a question AI replies Makes the picture Writes the lines Things we called Science fiction then Are sitting in our pockets— Doing it again [Breakdown — old vintage sweeping nostalgic new wave synth melody returns under industrial pulse, human warm vocal] [Lead vocal — more human again] We remember before And we live in after Maybe that’s what makes us strange Some ran toward it Some refused it Some just watched the whole world change We learned on paper Now we touch glass We knew both sides Of the line Last generation To remember a world That wasn’t online [Build- (accelerating electronic rhythm, merging old and new synth layers)] We didn’t arrive here… We watched it happen. [Final Chorus — massive wall of sound, combined new wave melody and EBM industrial drums] THE FUTURE HAPPENED While we were living our lives Yesterday’s impossible Arrived before our eyes From rabbit ears To satellites From busy signals To artificial minds THE FUTURE HAPPENED Somewhere in our lifetime [Gang vocal] WE REMEMBER BEFORE [Lead] And we’re living in after [Gang vocal] WE REMEMBER BEFORE [Lead] And there’s no going back [Final hook] THE FUTURE HAPPENED And Generation X— WATCHED IT ARRIVE [Outro — industrial machinery gradually drops out, isolated warm 1984 analog synth and chorus guitar, quiet fading vocal, distant analog telephone ring, sudden silence)] [Original 1984 synth and chorus guitar remain] [quiet male vocal] Maybe someday… [old telephone rings] [cut]
