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M​.​E​.​VI (a requiem)

by Strong T

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1.
Life’s A Gas In The Greenhouse I’m puttin’ on my finest suit My dark sunshades and army boots I’ll pack a tank of oxygen In case I lose my breath again And everyone will come to see The mandatory revelry While the bitch that we call Mother spins Under the weight of our seven deadly sins The seamstress belches filth into the air The farmer spreads his poison ‘round with care For the party, they prepare Life’s a gas in the greenhouse Where there’s a grand old party goin’ on The gold, it flew like tickertape As we danced until the dawn Now my voice might seem a bit raspy And my flesh a little raw For life’s a gas in the greenhouse It’s all too grave to ignore The doorman smiles and tips his hat Still has his hair – imagine that I pause before the looking glass Then out the door into the greenhouse bash The apothecary passes hemlock tea The chaperones pretend that they don’t see We’ll throw what’s left into the sea Life's a gas in the greenhouse...
2.
Glacial Speed Ice flows slowly to the shore Takes a thousand years or maybe more Nobody runs, nobody screams, because it moves at glacial speed Ice carves valleys into rock Inch by inch and working ‘round the clock Nobody runs, nobody flees, because it moves at glacial speed The icy river turns to melt away Inches grow to feet and yards each day Nobody runs, nobody sees, because we move at glacial speed Sold a dream that takes away our soul Of riches forged by burning oil and coal Everything’s greed, driven by greed, so that we move at glacial speed Glacial speed Glacial speed We’re redefining glacial speed Run to see the ice before it’s gone There’ll be no more reflecting on the sun Temperatures rise, oceans will rise, because we move at human speed Time is time, it’s all about the scale Don’t trust the past, the glaciers won’t prevail Under the gun, driven by greed, we’re redefining glacial speed…
3.
Anthroposin Interlude I Anthropocene? Anthroposin!
4.
So Still, My Love So still, my love Your eyes, once spoke what words cannot, now dull So still, my love Your gentle touch, once warmed my heart, so cold So still, my love Your heart, once raced when we embraced, so calm So still, my love Your fire, once danced with fierce abandon, dark What are words? A latticework for lies. A chasm that mutes our mournful cries. A futile plea for my love to rise. So still, my love
5.
Receding Without Rest (Run For Your Lives!) Running, running, running, running. I'm running out of time. Wy world is receding, receding without rest. Looking to the west, is the sun. I'm running out of time.
6.
Anthroposin Interlude II Anthropocene? Anthroposin!
7.
Cry 05:00
Cry There is more to this world than what my senses perceive The more I see, the more I… What I do not perceive, I am taught to deny The more I see, the more I… And what I deny is of no consequence The more I see, the more I… And in consequence, I lost my soul The more I see, the more I… Not just my soul, a whole world of souls The more I see, the more I… Cry
8.
Anthroposin Interlude III Sin!
9.
Too Late 03:50
Too Late Too late? I don’t understand. I mean, I thought I had more time. I always had it in the back of my head that once I had enough money, then I’d think about things like solar panels, electric cars, maybe cutting back a little…you know. The company I work for? Well, sure they do some things. I mean, I don’t agree with everything they do, but I need to take care of my family, right? I don’t understand how it could be too late. I mean, just look around. It’s not like the world is unbearable or unlivable. Like today – it was a beautiful day. It can’t be too late. It’s like they say. We can do anything we put our minds to. And when the actual time comes, we’ll figure it out. Really, how hard could it be? What are we supposed to do though? What about GDP, inflation, unemployment – all those things that really matter? I mean, my IRA can only take so much. What if the whole thing came crashing down? I mean, yeah, I guess I knew. It’s been in the news for years. But I never got that there was a sense of urgency. It’s not like there’s pestilence, and plague and devastation everywhere, you know? You know? You know? Hello?
10.
11.
The Judgment 06:18
The Judgment Genocide! Anthroposin! Sentient genocide! We were living We were loving We were laughing We were suffering We were dancing Our hearts were racing We were touching and embracing We were thinking We had reason You don't perceive it so it didn't matter We're forgivers We were mourners We befriended We defended We had families We built nations We touched souls, but it didn't matter We were talking We were fighting We were loving, but it didn't matter We were living We were living We were living We were living We were sacred We were living We were sacred It didn't matter...

about

Here's a little thought experiment.

Imagine for a moment - regardless of your preferred worldview - that scientifically indicated climate change - regardless of the cause - is real. Since the very beginning of the industrial revolution, the level of CO2 in earth's atmosphere has risen to the level of the Pliocene epoch, three to five million years ago, when the world was 5 to 7 degrees warmer than today(1) and the planet was experiencing global sea levels 25 meters higher. The scientific consensus is that the rise in CO2 and other greenhouse gases is trapping heat, causing the planet to warm and climates to change.

At the same time that CO2 levels have risen so dramatically, major U.S. - and eventually trans-global - corporations have created wealth at a rate unheard of in the history of mankind. And yet, that wealth has concentrated primarily in the hands of a very small percentage of the global population who exploit planetary resources with little regard for people, societies, ecosystems, and - importantly - the life those ecosystems sustain.

Life's a Gas in the Greenhouse

As warming has accelerated, the most dramatic changes can be seen in areas that are, or were recently covered by ice that had been in place since the last ice age, some 11,700 years ago. It has been estimated that 95% of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone. Around the world, glaciers, which are - literally - rivers of ice, are receding and disappearing at astonishing rates of speed, devastating and eliminating habitats that have existed for thousands of years. It has been estimated that a third or more of the remaining glaciers will melt in this century. We are, in fact, redefining...

Glacial Speed

Next, consider that reported die-off of significant numbers of vertebrate and invertebrate life across the planet is indicative of the leading edge of a new mass extinction event - the Sixth Mass Extinction, M.E.VI. This has been reported by organizations like the World Wildlife Fund(2), and in scientific journals, including The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science(3), Biological Reviews(4), and many others. The main causes proposed for this die-off have been climate change, loss of habitat, hunting and harvesting beyond a species' ability to reproduce, poisoning of the environment both deliberately and accidentally (or incidentally), and general stress.

Consider how this must appear from the point of view of those species experiencing the die-off. In particular, imagine sentient, or self-aware species whose members mate, sometimes for life, live in large groups or societies, raise families, or make impressive regional or global migrations to specific areas where they eat, mate, breed, and thrive. Now, their experience is increased isolation, loss of habitat, loss of thier societies and families, loss of life. They look around at the devastation and incomprehensibly wonder where "everyone" has gone.

So Still, My Love

Scientists have broken down the history of the earth into geological epochs, defined by the dominant geological factors that influenced climate and the environment, and therefore, the development of life during those periods. Scientists have named the current epoch, the Anthropocene because, for the first time, the dominant factor influencing climate and the environment is not a geological factor, but the influence of humans.

As human beings on this planet, we do not communicate with non-domesticated animals and are not able to understand their possible range of reactions to this reality. Aside from song-birds, when we see wildlife in our neighborhoods, our cities, our suburbs, our parks or yards, our reaction is to exterminate them. If an animal or an insect is not expressly permitted, it is considered an invader.

"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:28

Again, imagine that your are one of those animals. How would you feel about the dominion of the human species?

Anthropocene? Anthroposin!

Imagine further that scientific reports are true that of all the animals (including human beings) on the planet today, just 4% are wild animals. 4%! Now imagine that you are one of those wild animals. Again, how would you feel? Like your world is receding?

Receding Without Rest (Run for Your lives!).

Then, there is that moment of realization. When you look around and realize what has happened. That you have ignored the consequences of your actions because you denied the value of the lives that were being lost. When you look around and take it all in, the more you see, the more you...

Cry

And so you take a look around in panic. You think that there still must be time to do something about it. All our lives, we've been told we can accomplish anything we put our minds to. But you don't know where to start. You don't know how to start. You don't really know if there's anything that you can start. The tipping point has been crossed and the echoes of those lost singing...

Too Late

And how will you feel when what's left of the human race is alone - or nearly alone - on the planet, and you are left with the knowledge that it was within your power to prevent the Sixth Mass Extinction? It's judgement day. You stand accused and found guilty of sentient genocide as the lost souls plead their case and call out your anthropo...sin.

The Judgment

M.E.VI (a requiem)
(These notes plus lyrics and more available as a free download with every puchase)
***
1. climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/7/graphic-carbon-dioxide-hits-new-high/
2. www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2020
3. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1922686117
4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/brv.12816

credits

released December 7, 2022

All songs written, composed and arranged by Rob Teplansky.
All tracks performed by Strong T.
Additional background vocals by Xander Teplansky
Mastered by SSN Studios in Brewster, MA
Artwork by Max Teplansky
Audio samples in Glacial Speed are from Science in Action (c) California Academy of Sciences, and are used with permission.
(C) 2022 Rob Teplansky, All rights reserved.

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Strong T Boston, Massachusetts

Strong T is the latest project by Rob Teplansky, who has recorded and performed in the Boston area since the late 80s. This project focuses on the impacts of climate change and its implications for life on planet Earth. The music crosses genres, curiously combining elements of alt rock, prog rock, electronic, classical, jazz and ambient to communicate a message of urgency, empathy and compassion. ... more

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