Dusk
Ben Caplan Lyrics
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That's really what the fighting's about
All our fuel does the work of millions of men
We strive for the means loosing sight of the ends
We thought we were gods, that we'd never break
Dreamed we would grow forever and now we're awake
The trickle of doubt, will rise to a stream
Time to we know ourselves of the taste of it
Dusk in the days of gasoline
The stars adding spans hungry for space
Soon we'll collapse, leave a hole in it's place
Don't be afraid, as day turns to night
The most beautiful hour rise at the turn of the light
The whisper of doubt, will rise to a scream
Time to we know ourselves of the taste of it
Time to set about replacing it
Dusk in the days of gasoline
It doesn't take a prophet to see what is down the line
It's not a question of if, it's a matter of time
In Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers's song "Dusk in the Days of Gasoline," the lyrics express a sense of urgency and an awakening to the reality of our society's unsustainable use of resources. The opening lines suggest that time is running out and that the fighting in the world is due to the scarcity of resources. It further goes on to talk about how our fuel does the work of millions of men but we're so caught up in obtaining and using it that we've lost sight of our end goals. The song also highlights how humans have always been under the impression of being all-powerful and immortal, but now we're beginning to realize our folly.
The second verse continues with this theme, and talks about how we keep expanding like the stars, but soon we'll collapse and leave a hole in its place. The song reassures us that we have nothing to fear as day turns to night because the most beautiful hour rises at the turn of the light. However, as the whisper of doubt turns into a scream, it's time for us to recognize the taste of the impending challenges that we face, and take action to overcome it.
Overall, the lyrics are a call to action to ourselves as we're the only ones who can make a positive difference in the way we inhabit this planet. This song is a reflection of how all of us share the same realization of the unsustainability of our existence and our efforts to counteract it by making conscious choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Like it or not, time's running out
Regardless of our opinion, time is quickly passing by
That's really what the fighting's about
This sense of urgency is the source of all our conflicts
All our fuel does the work of millions of men
Our society's consumption of energy is an incredibly powerful force
We strive for the means loosing sight of the ends
In our pursuit of progress, we often forget the ultimate goal
We thought we were gods, that we'd never break
Humanity believed it was unstoppable and invincible
Dreamed we would grow forever and now we're awake
We once imagined limitless expansion, but now we're conscious of reality's limitations
The trickle of doubt, will rise to a stream
The small inklings of concern will eventually become overwhelming anxiety
Time to we know ourselves of the taste of it
It's crucial we become familiar with this feeling
Time to set about replacing it
It's time to change the status quo
Dusk in the days of gasoline
The end of an era, marked by sunset on an industrialized world
The stars adding spans hungry for space
The universe is vast and infinite, with room for all to explore
Soon we'll collapse, leave a hole in it's place
Our current way of life is unsustainable and will inevitably crash
Don't be afraid, as day turns to night
There's nothing to fear in times of transition
The most beautiful hour rise at the turn of the light
There's beauty to be found in unexpected places
The whisper of doubt, will rise to a scream
Those initial doubts will become amplified into alarm
It doesn't take a prophet to see what is down the line
The future is predictable, even without supernatural abilities
It's not a question of if, it's a matter of time
The outcome is inevitable
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.