"The Anthropocene" Song

I was inspired to write a song about the anthropocene when I read the work of philosopher Timothy Morton and art historian Jill Casid for my "Atlantic AnthropoScenes" course this semester. Hope you enjoy (as much as one can given the subject)! https://youtu.be/wjuocGVn8EI

“The Anthropocene” Song Written: February - March, 2023 Recorded: March 9, 2023, in Houghton, Michigan Words, music, and videography by: Emma C. Johnson Influenced by the scholarship of philosopher Timothy Morton, art historian Jill Casid, and "Atlantic AnthropoScenes" course at MTU. LYRICS In the Anthropocene. In the Anthropocene. A heat wave is coming. A heat wave is here. A heat wave is here to stay. Undulating but never leaving. The heat remains. You are my environment. We are the environment. Webs connected to the mesh. Strands and strands and strands. Strands and strands and strands. Strands and strands and strands. Plantations bled into capital. The familiar configuration. What was the scene? (‘Cause) The landscape / tries to conceal. A palimpsest remains / But won’t reveal. Be content to never know. The landscape will never show. Look at the Necrocene. You’ll see what I mean. The dead cannot speak / But they occupy space. Things will emerge. If Selectively Unnoticed. The past is dark / but you can see the light. Justice is fleeting But ideas take flight. The past is dark / but you can see the light. Justice is fleeting But ideas take flight. Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! Strands and strands and strands and strands. In the Anthropocene. Strands and strands and strands and strands. In the Anthropocene. In the Anthropocene. A heat wave is coming. A heat wave is here. A heat wave is here to stay. Undulating but never leaving. The heat remains. You are my environment. We are the environment. We are the environment. We are the environment. LYRICS & MUSIC: [1st Pluck stings: [4797 on D string 3Xs, 4 on D string 1Xs] [2nd Pluck stings: [4797 on D string 3Xs, 4 on D string 1Xs (when 4 on D also 6 on G] [a.k.a. pluck: F# A/C# B A/C#] [3rd Pluck strings: [4797 on D string 3Xs, 4 on D string 1Xs (when 479 on D also 6 on G] [a.k.a. pluck: F#/C# A/C# B/F# A/C#] [Strum C#m] [Chords: A] In the Anthropocene. In the Anthropocene. [Chords: D] A heat wave is coming. A heat wave is here. [Chords: D A] A heat wave is here to stay. [Chords: E7 A D A] Undulating but never leaving. The heat remains. [Chords: A E] You are my environment. [Chords: C A] We are the environment. [Chords: A E] Webs connected to the mesh. [Chords: C A] [Vocals: C C C C D D A] Strands and strands and strands. [Chord: E] [Chords: C A] [Vocals: C C C D A] Strands and strands and strands. [Chord: E] [Chords: C A] [Vocals: C C C D A] Strands and strands and strands. [Chord: E E E E (8 BEATS)] [Power Chords: C#m E F#m E] Plantations bled into capital. The familiar configuration. What was the scene? (‘Cause) The landscape / tries to conceal. A palimpsest remains / But won’t reveal. Be content to never know. The landscape will never show. [Power Chord: C#m] [Power Chords: C#m E F#m E] Look at the Necrocene. You’ll see what I mean. The dead cannot speak / But they occupy space. Things will emerge. If Selectively Unnoticed. [1 chord progression Power Chords: C#m E F#m E additonal] [Vocals: F# F# F# A / A A A B B A_______. ] [4797 on D string] [Power Chords: C#m E F#m E] The past is dark / but you can see the light. Justice is fleeting But ideas take flight. The past is dark / but you can see the light. Justice is fleeting But ideas take flight. [Vocals: A B B A_______. ] [Chords: C# E] Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! Ideas take flight! [Chords: D6] Strands and strands and strands and strands. [Chords: A7] In the Anthropocene.
[Chords: D6] Strands and strands and strands and strands. [Chords: A7] In the Anthropocene. In the Anthropocene. [Chord: E E E E (8 beats)] [Power Chords: C#m E F#m C#m] A heat wave is coming. A heat wave is here. A heat wave is here to stay. Undulating but never leaving. The heat remains. You are my environment. We are the environment. We are the environment. We are the environment. [slight rit.]