- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-0.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-0.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-I.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-I.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Reggae.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Reggae.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Reprise.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Reprise.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Unplugged.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-Unplugged.mp4
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-acoustic.mp3
- Catch-a-Giant-by-the-Toe-electric.mp3
[Verse 1]
So, you caught a giant by the toe
Do you think you oughta let ’em know
Though actually it’s you in tow
(Nice knowing)
[Chorus]
Perhaps your better letting go?
(Oh, oh, oh)
No gain in the pain of strain
(No, no, no)
The refrain’s in those that remain
(So let’s go)
[Bridge]
[Instrumental]
Bit off more than you can chew
(Did you?)
[Instrumental, Bass Solo, Saxophone, Drum Fills]
[Verse 2]
So, you caught a tiger by the tail
Do you think you ought not wail
Maybe just take things slow
(Nice knowing)
[Chorus]
Perhaps your better letting go?
(Oh, oh, oh)
No gain in the pain of strain
(No, no, no)
The refrain’s in those that remain
(So let’s go)
[Bridge]
Bit off more than you can chew
(Did you?)
[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Drum Fills]
[Chorus]
Perhaps your better letting go?
(Oh, oh, oh)
No gain in the pain of strain
(No, no, no)
The refrain’s in those that remain
(So let’s go)
[Outro]
Bit off more than you can chew
(Did you?)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Don’t Wake a Sleeping Giant
In her 1971 essay “A Defense of Abortion,” philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson introduced a powerful analogy to explore the moral complexities of bodily autonomy and the right to life. The thought experiment involves a scenario where you are kidnapped and connected to a famous, unconscious concert violinist whose survival depends on being physically attached to your body for nine months. Even though the violinist has a right to life, Thomson argues that you are not morally obligated to sustain his life at the expense of your own bodily autonomy. She uses this analogy to illustrate the moral intricacies of abortion, suggesting that while a fetus may have a right to life, that right does not necessarily supersede a woman’s right to control her own body.
Expanding on this analogy, we might imagine society itself as a “sleeping giant.” You and I, like a few awake individuals, are sitting beside this giant. The question arises: Should we startle the giant, jolting it into an immediate awareness of the crisis we face — particularly the looming threat of climate change? What might happen if society, in its panic, awakens too suddenly to this reality? How might a startled giant, unprepared and overwhelmed, react to the enormity of the problem?
To extend the analogy further, consider that the economic system serves as the giant’s “life-support machine,” a metaphorical heart and lung apparatus that we collectively built and have become dependent on. Over time, we’ve observed that this machine — our economic system — is faltering and clearly unsustainable, much like the failing system that supports the violinist. Early instincts might urge us to rebel, to smash this flawed system outright. But doing so would accelerate our own downfall, potentially leading to a sudden collapse.
The pressing dilemma, then, is whether we can reform or replace this life-support system before it catastrophically fails. However, if society, symbolized by the giant, awakens too abruptly and lashes out against the system before we are fully prepared, the consequences could be disastrous. Like a panicked giant tearing out its life-support, a rushed or poorly coordinated response to the climate crisis could lead to chaos and unintended suffering.
This presents a profound challenge. Even well-meaning actions, such as a sudden, collective decision to halt all pollution for a day, could have devastating repercussions. Essential services like hospitals, transportation, and food supply chains would grind to a halt. The shock would ripple through energy infrastructure and economic systems, triggering further crises and hardship.
The irony is clear: attempting to address the problem too abruptly, whether by smashing the life-support machine or by halting pollution overnight, could create new problems that spiral into deeper crises. In seeking to “do the right thing” too hastily, we risk destabilizing society even more, illustrating the complex balancing act required as we face the monumental task of addressing climate change and transitioning to a sustainable future.
Conclusion
While biogeophysical factors can be studied using math, physics, and historical records, socio-economic systems pose greater challenges due to the unintended consequences of human behavior and inexplicable consumer choices.