About the song
Zager and Evans, an American folk rock duo, released “In the Year 2525” as a prophetic and thought-provoking song that explores the potential future of humanity. This introspective and haunting track, released in 1969, became a hit single and a defining song for the duo’s career.
With their distinctive harmonies and melancholic tone, Zager and Evans paint a picture of a world that has undergone significant changes. The song delves into themes of technology, environmentalism, and the human condition, offering a glimpse into a potential future that is both hopeful and unsettling.
The opening lines, “In the year 2525, if man is still alive,” immediately establish the song’s futuristic setting. The lyrics continue to explore the potential consequences of technological advancements, environmental degradation, and social change. The song’s refrain, “We’ll have no cars, ’cause they won’t be necessary,” conveys a sense of both progress and loss.
Throughout the song, Zager and Evans’ harmonies and melancholic tone create a captivating and immersive listening experience. The song’s introspective lyrics and prophetic message make it a timeless classic.
“In the Year 2525” is more than just a popular song; it is a cultural touchstone that has influenced countless artists and generations of music fans. The song’s thought-provoking lyrics and haunting melody continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a timeless and enduring piece of music history.
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Lyrics
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you
In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
Guess it’s time for the judgment day
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down, and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been ten thousand years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find