From-Aardvark-to-Zebra.mp3
From-Aardvark-to-Zebra.mp4
From-Aardvark-to-Zebra-Unplugged-Underground-XXV.mp3
From-Aardvark-to-Zebra-Unplugged-Underground-XXV.mp4
From-Aardvark-to-Zebra-intro.mp3
[Verse 1]
Pretty hard to find a reason
(Why you don’t know why)
This late in the season
(And, still a far cry….)
[Chorus]
(Ahh…) from aardvark to zebra (ahh)
Top of the world (swirled and twirled)
To the south pole (roll, baby, roll)
Everyone (everywhere…) is aware
[Bridge]
Watch you don’t fall off
(As we roll)
’cause the going got rough
(Takin’ a toll)
[Verse 2]
If there’s blame for shame
(They’re one and the same)
A bit late for reason
(So, all along… we’ll dream on)
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Outro]
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
Watch you don’t fall off
(As we roll)
Spinning round
(Smile or frown)
Sit or stand
(Understand?)
Spinning round
(Round and round)
ABOUT THE SONG
The song uses the metaphor of the entire alphabet of life—“from aardvark to zebra”—to emphasize that climate change touches every species, everywhere on Earth. No creature is outside its reach, from the most obscure insect to the largest predator, from the equator to the poles.
In Verse 1, the lyrics “Pretty hard to find a reason (Why you don’t know why) / This late in the season (And, still a far cry….)” suggest disbelief that, despite decades of evidence and warnings, denial and delay persist. Humanity has had ample time (“late in the season”) to recognize and act, yet meaningful progress remains “a far cry” from what is needed.
The Chorus—“from aardvark to zebra … top of the world … to the south pole”—creates a global sweep, showing how climate disruption cascades across ecosystems. It highlights interconnectedness: warming oceans, shifting jet streams, melting ice sheets, and collapsing habitats affect all living beings. The line “Everyone (everywhere…) is aware” reflects the undeniable visibility of climate impacts now—wildfires, floods, extinctions, record heatwaves—so the ignorance that once provided cover is no longer credible.
The Bridge—“Watch you don’t fall off (As we roll) / ’cause the going got rough (Takin’ a toll)”—frames Earth as a spinning planet in peril. The warning is that the destabilizing forces of climate change (sea-level rise, stronger storms, collapsing ecosystems) are already “taking a toll,” threatening to push societies and natural systems past tipping points.
In Verse 2, “If there’s blame for shame / (They’re one and the same)” speaks to accountability. Those responsible for fossil fuel extraction, denial, and delay are the same actors creating conditions of shame for future generations. The line “A bit late for reason (So, all along… we’ll dream on)” reflects the bitter irony that while reason and science have been clear, society has instead clung to comforting illusions—“dreaming on” rather than facing reality.
Finally, the Outro—“Spinning round (Smile or frown) / Sit or stand (Understand?)”—invites reflection: whether people choose complacency or action, the Earth will keep spinning, but the livability of our planet is what hangs in the balance. It’s a call to understand that denial or passivity will not stop consequences, while awareness and action might still alter the trajectory.
Tipping points and feedback loops drive the acceleration of climate change. When one tipping point is toppled and triggers others, the cascading collapse is known as the Domino Effect.
The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment
From the album “Aardvark“