About the song
Zager and Evans’ “In the Year 2525” is a haunting, prophetic ballad that has resonated with audiences for decades. Released in 1969, the song’s dystopian vision of a technologically advanced future has proven to be both prescient and disturbing.
The song’s narrative unfolds over a 10,000-year span, beginning in the year 2525 and culminating in the extinction of humanity. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world where technological advancements have led to a decline in human connection, emotion, and physicality. People are depicted as mere shells of their former selves, their thoughts controlled by machines, their relationships mediated by screens, and their bodies altered beyond recognition.
Despite its somber tone, “In the Year 2525” is a remarkably catchy and well-crafted piece of music. The song’s simple, repetitive melody and evocative lyrics have made it a timeless classic. The duo’s harmonies, while unassuming, add depth and texture to the song, enhancing its emotional impact.
The song’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its ability to tap into our deepest fears and anxieties about the future. As our world becomes increasingly technological, the prospect of a dehumanized existence has become more and more a reality. “In the Year 2525” serves as a stark warning about the potential consequences of unchecked technological progress.
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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
You won’t 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 judgment 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
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find