LYRICS
You have got to be kidding me
The grave consequences
I mean… come on, really?
Burning bridges, building fences
Gotta come to our senses
Whether the weather
Weathers me
Depends if I’m clever
We shall see
If I’ll be
You have got to be fooling me
Frivolous expenses
I mean… come on, really?
Burning bridges, building fences
Gotta come to our senses
Whether the weather
Weathers me
Depends if I’m clever
We shall see
If I’ll be
You have got to be joking me
The grave offenses
I mean… come on, really?
Burning bridges, building fences
Gotta come to our senses
Whether the weather
Weathers me
Depends if I’m clever
We shall see
If I’ll be
- Whether-the-Weather-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to conserve energy)
- Whether-the-Weather-Part-II.mp3
- Whether-the-Weather-Part-II-Instrumental.mp3
- Whether-the-Weather-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
- Whether-the-Weather-RH-Yamaha-PSR-740.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)
Chords: C# D# F# / E B F# / F# A / A C# F#; Part II @ 128 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Ibanez Electric RG-270 (Boss Digital Delay), Fender Jazz Bass (Boss Digital Delay), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT THE SONG
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of disbelief, frustration, and urgency regarding the challenges of climate change and the need for collective action. The repeated phrases and wordplay create a rhythmic and impactful message. Here’s an interpretation:
Disbelief and Frustration:
- “You Have Got to be Kidding Me”:
- This phrase expresses a tone of disbelief or incredulity. The repetition emphasizes the speaker’s frustration with the apparent lack of seriousness or understanding about a critical issue.
- “Frivolous Expenses” and “Grave Consequences”:
- The juxtaposition of frivolous expenses and grave consequences highlights the contrast between trivial matters and the serious impact of climate change. The speaker is critical of a mindset that prioritizes short-term, superficial concerns over long-term, significant issues.
Critique of Actions:
- “Burning Bridges, Building Fences”:
- This metaphor suggests a destructive approach, where actions such as burning bridges and building fences contribute to division and hinder collaboration. It symbolizes environmentally harmful practices or policies that create barriers rather than solutions.
Call to Reevaluate:
- “Gotta Come to Our Senses”:
- This line serves as a call to collective awareness and responsibility. It suggests the need for society to recognize the severity of the situation and act in a more sensible and sustainable manner.
Weather Metaphor:
- “Whether the Weather Weathers Me”:
- This wordplay reflects the uncertainty and variability of climate conditions. It implies that the speaker’s well-being is contingent on how society, collectively represented by “the weather,” addresses environmental challenges.
Cleverness and Accountability:
- “Depends If I’m Clever”:
- The implication here is that finding solutions to climate change requires intelligence, creativity, and cleverness. It underscores the importance of informed decision-making and accountability in addressing environmental issues.
Hopeful Outlook:
- “We Shall See If I’ll Be”:
- This phrase leaves the outcome open-ended, suggesting that the future is uncertain and depends on the actions taken. It invites reflection on whether positive change will occur and emphasizes the role of individuals and society in shaping that outcome.
Overall Message:
The lyrics convey a strong message about the need for a serious and thoughtful approach to climate change. The speaker expresses frustration with actions that seem oblivious to the gravity of the situation and calls for a collective awakening to address environmental challenges. The repetition of phrases reinforces the urgency and the importance of reevaluating priorities and behaviors in the face of climate change.
What Can I Do?
Be a butterfly and affect the world. The Butterfly Effect: “a small change in one small area can cause _large_ changes in conditions _anywhere_ on the globe.” Thus the oft heard statement that a butterfly in China can cause a hurricane in the Atlantic.
There are plenty of things you can do to help save the planet. Stop using fossil fuels. Consume less. Love more. Here is a list of additional actions you can take.
ExperiMental Music: The music and lyrics are written and recorded extemporaneously. Extemporaneous, spontaneous, improvisation, jamming, freestyle, and impromptu music are most closely related to pure chaos. The music and lyrics evolve from the “sensitive initial conditions” similar to “a butterfly flapping its wings in China causing a hurricane in the Atlantic.”
Music as a Universal Language: Music has the power to communicate emotions universally. Certain melodies, harmonies, or rhythms can evoke specific feelings that resonate with people across different cultures and backgrounds.
The Science of Chaos Theory, String Theory, and Music