About the song
“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” by the American pop-rock duo Zager & Evans. Released in 1969, this song transcended its one-hit-wonder status to become a cultural touchstone, a haunting yet catchy exploration of a dystopian future.
Zager & Evans themselves were a curious footnote in music history. Rick Evans, the songwriter, originally penned the tune in 1964. It found a modest audience on a small record label before being picked up by RCA Records in 1968. Denny Zager, the vocalist with a soaring tenor, provided the song’s instantly recognizable hook. Their contrasting styles, folk and rock respectively, somehow melded perfectly to create a sound unlike anything else on the charts at the time.
However, it was the lyrics of “In the Year 2525” that truly captured the public’s imagination. Evans paints a bleak picture, a future where humanity has become increasingly reliant on technology, to the point of losing its own touch. Each verse jumps forward 1000 years, depicting a world where truth is irrelevant, physical bodies unnecessary, and even procreation is a sterile, mechanical process. The song’s title, a specific date far in the future, grounds the fantastical lyrics in a sense of impending doom.
The song resonated deeply with a generation just emerging from the social and political turmoil of the 1960s. The Vietnam War, the rise of environmental concerns, and the ever-present threat of nuclear war all fueled anxieties about the future. “In the Year 2525” became a cautionary tale, a warning about the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement and societal alienation.
The song’s enduring popularity is also due in part to its musical simplicity. The verses are built around a repetitive, almost hypnotic chord progression, punctuated by Zager’s soaring vocals. The chorus, with its call-and-response structure, is instantly catchy and sing-alongable. This accessibility, combined with the thought-provoking lyrics, made “In the Year 2525” a true phenomenon.
Despite its success, Zager & Evans never quite managed to replicate the magic of their signature song. They disbanded in 1971, leaving behind a singular legacy. “In the Year 2525” continues to be covered by artists across genres, a testament to its enduring power to both entertain and provoke. As we hurtle towards the actual year 2525, the song serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls of unchecked progress, a cautionary tale wrapped in a catchy melody.
Video
Lyrics
“In The Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus)”
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 lies
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
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 are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs got nothing to do
Some machine is doing that for you
In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna 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, whoa
In the year 7510
If God’s a-comin’ he ought to make it by then
Maybe he’ll look around himself and say
Guess it’s time for the Judgement day
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake his mighty head then
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down and start again, woah woah
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wondering if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing, woah woah
Now it’s been 10,000 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 thrive
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies