LYRICS
Is Cronus us?
You know
When the status quo
Has got to go
Cut off his balls
The king falls
Is Cronus us?
What we did
Eat the kids
Regurgitate
What we ate
Ignore advice
Pay the price
Is Cronus us?
Titanomachy calamity
At odds
Man against the gods
Cursed and then sent
With Cronus’ punishment
We roam
Measuring out eternity alone
Forever unable
Inexorable
As we grow old
Leaving the weight of the world
On the unsung young
Is Cronus us?
What could be worse
Now I’m paying for the crime
The Curse of ‘Old Father Time’
- Cronus-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to conserve energy)
- Cronus-Part-II.mp3
- Cronus-LH-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
- Cronus-RH-Yamaha-PSR-730.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)
Chords: G Bb C G / D C G / G Bb C G / D C G / Eb F Bb G / B Bb G; Part II @ 104 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT CRONUS
Cronus, a Titan and the youngest son of Uranus (Heaven/Sky) and Gaia (Earth), played a pivotal role in the overthrow of his father Uranus, leading to his becoming the first ruler of the world. Fueled by jealousy and resentment towards his powerful father, Cronus volunteered to assist his mother Gaia in freeing his siblings, whom Uranus had hidden under the earth.
In a daring act, Cronus confronted Uranus and, wielding his weapon, severed his father’s genitals. He cast these into the ocean, and from the resulting foam emerged the goddess Aphrodite. Cronus, having imprisoned Uranus, ascended to the position of the world’s first king.
However, Cronus, haunted by a prophecy that his own children would rebel against him, took extreme measures to safeguard his rule. He swallowed each of his offspring at birth. Zeus, the youngest of his children, orchestrated a plan to challenge Cronus. Providing him with a concoction, Zeus caused Cronus to regurgitate his swallowed children, initiating a rebellion against the Titan ruler.
The ensuing Titanomachy, a decade-long conflict between the Titans and the Olympian gods, unfolded. Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon devised a strategic plan to defeat the Titans decisively. While Hades confiscated Cronus’ weapons and Poseidon threatened him with his trident, Zeus unleashed thunderbolts. Simultaneously, the Hecatonchires bombarded the Titans with rocks, securing victory for the Olympian gods.
Consequently, the defeated Titans were consigned to Tartarus, with Atlas enduring the harsh punishment of supporting the heavens on his shoulders. Cronus, uniquely cursed, wandered the world, condemned to measure out eternity alone and became known as ‘Old Father Time.’ Aging over time, Cronus symbolized the inexorable passage of time that ultimately guides mortals to their inevitable end.
A METAPHOR FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
The story of Cronus can be interpreted as a metaphor for climate change in several ways.
- Overthrowing the Old Order: In the tale, Cronus represents the existing order or status quo, while Uranus symbolizes the established, powerful forces. Cronus, driven by resentment and a desire for change, overthrows his father. Similarly, the current environmental state, marked by unsustainable practices and disregard for nature, needs a transformative shift to address climate change.
- Environmental Exploitation: The act of Cronus severing Uranus’ genitals and casting them into the ocean can be seen as a metaphor for human exploitation of natural resources. This reckless behavior results in consequences, represented by the birth of Aphrodite from the sea foam, akin to the unforeseen effects of environmental degradation, like the emergence of climate-related challenges.
- Cycles of Destruction and Renewal: Cronus’ actions of swallowing his own offspring to prevent rebellion can be compared to the disregard for future consequences seen in environmental degradation. The subsequent rebellion led by Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon mirrors the need for a collective effort to combat climate change, symbolizing a struggle between destructive environmental practices and the forces trying to restore balance.
- The Titanomachy as Climate Struggle: The Titanomachy can serve as an allegory for the ongoing battle against climate change. The gods, representing those striving for environmental sustainability, strategically confront the Titans, symbolizing destructive human activities. The Hecatonchires’ involvement suggests the need for massive collective efforts, echoing the necessity of global cooperation to combat climate change.
- The Curse of ‘Old Father Time’: Cronus’ punishment, wandering the world and measuring out eternity alone, reflects the consequences of environmental degradation. The inexorable passage of time and aging symbolize the irreversible damage caused by climate change. The burden placed on Atlas to support the heavens could represent the ongoing responsibility of the current generation to address the consequences of past actions.
In this metaphorical interpretation, the story of Cronus becomes a cautionary tale about the consequences of environmental exploitation and the need for a collective effort to address climate change before it becomes an irreversible force, much like the inexorable passage of time. It highlights the intergenerational burden of environmental degradation, with future generations inheriting the consequences of the actions of their predecessors. We will expresses regret for our consequences, comparing us to the curse of ‘Old Father Time,’ where the passage of time becomes a relentless reminder of past mistakes.