LYRICS
(Verse 1)
A leaf and a feather, together they glide,
Downward they race, in nature’s wide stride.
Forces unseen, but ever so sound,
Slow their descent, as they twirl around.
(Chorus)
The gravity of the situation weighs them down,
But the levity of friction keeps them bound.
Prolonging their journey with each interaction,
An addition addiction, a natural attraction.
(Verse 2)
Resistance as thin as air, yet still they sway,
Through the sky they dance, in their elegant way.
Some may call it a drag, a force unseen,
But others see it as a lucky snag, in nature’s serene.
(Chorus)
The gravity of the situation pulls them near,
But the levity of friction keeps them clear.
Prolonging their journey with each reaction,
An attraction addiction, a natural attraction.
(Bridge)
Overcoming the sense of dense, they gracefully fall,
In an utter flutter, embracing Her call.
It’s gravity’s recompense, as they drift,
The thought of impact makes our spirits lift.
(Verse 3)
A leaf and a feather, united they soar,
Through opposing forces, they explore.
In the dance of gravity and drag, they find,
A harmony of forces, in the boundless mind.
(Chorus)
The gravity of the situation, the levity of the friction,
In this cosmic dance, there’s no restriction.
Prolonging their journey with each interaction,
An attraction addiction, a natural attraction.
- Race-to-the-Bottom-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to conserve energy)
- Race-to-the-Bottom-Part-II.mp3
- Race-to-the-Bottom-Part-II-Instrumental.mp3
- Race-to-the-Bottom-LH-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
- Race-to-the-Bottom-RH-Yamaha-PSR-740.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)
Chords: Em / D C Em / Em G D C Em / Em C B7 Em / Em D Em; Part II 8 Beat Soft / 16 Beat @ 100 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Ibanez Electric RG-270 (Vox ToneLab and Boss Digital Delay), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT THE SONG
This song serves as a metaphorical exploration of the interplay between gravity and drag, using the imagery of a leaf and a feather falling through the air.
(Verse 1)
The opening verse describes the gentle descent of a leaf and a feather, highlighting the subtle forces at play in their fall. Despite being unseen, these forces, gravity and drag, have a profound effect on their journey, slowing their descent as they twirl gracefully through the air.
(Chorus)
The chorus juxtaposes the weight of gravity with the boundless nature of friction, emphasizing how these opposing forces work together to shape the trajectory of the leaf and feather. Each interaction prolongs their journey, creating a sense of harmony and inevitability in their descent.
(Verse 2)
In the second verse, the thin resistance of air is acknowledged, adding complexity to the fall of the leaf and feather. While some may perceive drag as a hindrance, others recognize its role in maintaining balance and stability, akin to a fortunate encounter rather than an obstacle.
(Chorus)
The chorus reaffirms the dynamic relationship between gravity and friction, illustrating how they cooperate to guide the leaf and feather on their descent. Despite the pull of gravity, the presence of friction ensures a controlled and steady fall, prolonging their journey through the sky.
(Bridge)
The bridge captures the grace and beauty of the leaf and feather’s fall, as they gracefully navigate through the forces of nature. It highlights the inherent balance and harmony in their descent, reinforcing the idea of a natural order governed by the laws of physics.
(Verse 3)
In the final verse, the leaf and feather symbolize unity and exploration as they navigate through the opposing forces of gravity and drag. Their fall becomes a metaphor for the larger cosmic dance of the universe, where harmony is found in the interaction of contrasting elements.
(Chorus)
The closing chorus celebrates the cosmic dance between gravity and friction, recognizing their essential roles in shaping the journey of the leaf and feather. It underscores the idea that in this dance, there are no restrictions, only a profound sense of interconnectedness and natural attraction guiding their descent.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
The physics of objects falling to the ground, such as a feather or a leaf compared to a rock, are governed primarily by two factors: air resistance and gravitational force.
- Air Resistance:
- Feathers and leaves have a much larger surface area relative to their mass compared to rocks. As a result, they experience significant air resistance or drag as they fall through the air.
- Air resistance opposes the motion of the falling object, slowing it down. For feathers and leaves, the effect of air resistance is more pronounced due to their lightweight and large surface area, causing them to fall more slowly compared to denser objects like rocks.
- Gravitational Force:
- All objects are subject to the force of gravity, which pulls them toward the center of the Earth. This force is the same for all objects regardless of their mass.
- The gravitational force acting on an object is directly proportional to its mass. Therefore, heavier objects like rocks experience a greater gravitational force compared to lighter objects like feathers and leaves.
Overall, the physics of objects falling to the ground involve a balance between gravitational force, which accelerates the object downward, and air resistance, which opposes this motion. Feathers and leaves fall more slowly due to their larger surface area and the greater effect of air resistance, while rocks fall more quickly due to their higher mass and less significant air resistance.