Retro-Future

[Silence]

[Instrumental, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Synth, Bass, Percussion, Drums]

[Intro]
[Instrumental Intro: Pulsing Bass, Organ Swell, Muted Guitar Chops, Rising Synth Filter]
[Minimal Beat, Sub Bass, Spoken Vocal]
At last…
Welcome (back)
From the past
Been waiting for you…
Welcome (to)
The future
(For sure)
[Instrumental]
[Guitar Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Bridge – Breakdown]
[Percussion, Sub Bass, Spoken Vocal]
Did you hear…
(We’re here!)

[Refrain]
At last…
Welcome (back)
From the past
Been waiting for you…
Welcome (to)
The future
(For sure)
Now… (endure!)
[Instrumental]
[Guitar Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Bridge – Breakdown]
[Percussion, Sub Bass, Spoken Vocal]
Did you hear?
To be perfectly clear!
(We’re here!)

[Refrain]
Came on fast
No more (slack)
Welcome (back)
From the past
Been waiting for you…
Welcome (to)
The future
(For sure)
Now… (endure!)
[Instrumental]
[Guitar Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Bridge – Breakdown]
[Percussion, Sub Bass, Spoken Vocal]
Did you hear?
To be perfectly clear!
(We’re here!)
The present is very, very…
(Near!)

[Outro]
Came on fast
No more (slack)
Welcome (back)
From the past
Been waiting for you…
Welcome (to)
The future
(For sure)
Endure
(Some more!)

ABOUT THE SONG

The connection between energy (measured in joules) and the space-time continuum comes mainly from relativity, where energy and matter directly influence the geometry of spacetime.

1. Energy curves spacetime

In General Relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, the key idea is:

Energy and mass tell spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move.

Energy is measured in joules, and all forms of energy contribute to spacetime curvature:

Mass energy
Kinetic energy
Radiation energy (light)
Pressure and stress in matter

These appear in Einstein’s field equation:

$Gμν=8πGc4TμνG_{\mu\nu} = \frac{8\pi G}{c^4} T_{\mu\nu}$

The term $TμνT_{\mu\nu}$ (the stress-energy tensor) represents energy density and momentum flow — essentially how many joules per volume are present and how that energy moves.

So:

More energy (joules) → stronger curvature of spacetime.

2. Mass is energy (E = mc²)

Another famous relation from Special Relativity is:

$E = mc^2$

This means mass is simply energy stored in matter.

Example:

1 kg of mass contains about
9 × 10¹⁶ joules of energy.

Because that energy exists, the mass warps spacetime, producing gravity.

3. Energy density shapes the universe

In Cosmology, the energy density of the universe (joules per cubic meter) determines:

expansion rate
curvature of the universe
evolution of galaxies

This is described by the Friedmann Equations.

Typical values today:

total cosmic energy density ≈ 10⁻⁹ joules per m³

Even this tiny amount determines the large-scale structure of spacetime.

4. Extreme example: black holes

A huge concentration of energy creates extreme curvature.

A Black Hole forms when energy/mass is compressed enough that spacetime curves into an event horizon.

For example:

The mass-energy of the Sun
≈ 1.8 × 10⁴⁷ joules

Compressed into a small region → spacetime folds into a black hole.

Simple way to think about it

Joules measure energy.
Energy determines the curvature of spacetime.
Therefore joules indirectly measure how strongly spacetime can be warped.

A useful mental picture

Imagine spacetime as a stretched fabric:

A large amount of energy (many joules) makes a deep dent.
A small amount of energy makes only a tiny distortion.

Gravity is simply objects moving through those distortions.

From the album “Joules“