Isotopic Signature

[Silence]

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

[Intro]
[Minimal Beat, Sub Bass, Spoken Vocal]
[Instrumental Intro: Pulsing Bass, Organ Swell, Muted Guitar Chops, Rising Synth Filter]
Isotopic Signature
(Are you sure)
We’re sure
[Instrumental]
[Bass Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Verse 1]
Burn, baby, burn
(Combustion engine)
Nooo… never learn
(Do it again and again)

[Bridge]
[Instrumental, Pulsing Bass, Organ Solo, Guitar Riffs, Rising Synth Filter]
Isotopic Signature
(Are you sure)
We’re sure
[Instrumental]
[Guitar Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Chorus]
It’s clear
(The atmosphere)
Isn’t clear

We’re near
(The end of the line)
The end of our time

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo]
[Organ Stabs, Driving Bass, Snare March]

[Verse 2]
Turn up the heat
(Environmental cheat)
Maybe we better not
(Crank it too hot)

[Chorus]
It’s clear
(The atmosphere)
Isn’t clear

We’re near
(The end of the line)
The end of our time

[Outro]
[Instrumental, Pulsing Bass, Organ Solo, Guitar Riffs, Rising Synth Filter]
Isotopic Signature
(Are you sure)
We’re sure
(Can we endure)
… er, a… not so sure

ABOUT THE SONG: Human Contribution via CO₂

Humans have increased atmospheric CO₂ from ~280 ppm (pre-industrial) to ~420 ppm today. This increase is not from natural sources but primarily from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and land-use changes. The isotopic signature of carbon identifies the source:

¹²C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C isotopes are key:
- Fossil fuels are depleted in ¹³C because plants preferentially absorb ¹²C during photosynthesis.
- Fossil fuels contain no ¹⁴C (radiocarbon), as it decays over millions of years.
The observed decline in ¹³C/¹²C ratio and ¹⁴C content confirms that the excess CO₂ comes from fossil carbon, not volcanoes or oceans.

From the album “Macroscopic Perspective“