Tectonic Throwdown Songtext
von Jeff and Paige

Tectonics are the chronicles of mountainous movements
Rock rise up from the sea
Tectonic it′s ironic that it's not supersonic
Moving geologically

Tectonics underneath us are the plates and the fault lines
Rocks and the cracks in between
Tectonics are responsible for mountains and valleys
Allow me to explain what I mean

Hey when one giant rock is pushed into another
One goes up and the other goes down
It′s so very slow but eventually
Mountains rise up from the ground
Jagged peaks form all around
A geologic miracle that's sure to astound
Come underground and you will see


Welcome to the subterranean elevator
An elevator that goes underground!
Ground floor – earth's surface
Going down
Level negative 1 – Earth′s upper crust, granite layer
Level negative 2 – Earth′s lower crust, basalt and diorite layer
Level negative 3 -
Earth's upper mantel, iron and magnesium silicate layer
Base of the lithosphere, site of tectonic throwdown

Underground the massive plates of rock will clash like gladiators
The subterranean announcers introduce the
Participators

"Rock 1"
In this corner, the champion, a 3 billion year old slab of granite
Weighing in at an approximate thickness of 20-80 km
Put your hands together for the continental crust!

"Rock 2"
And in this corner, the challenger
A 100 million year old slab of basalt deep
Beneath the Pacific Ocean
Weighing in at an approximate thickness of 10km
Please welcome the oceanic crust!

Contenders ready? When they hear the tectonic bell
They′ll begin smashing against one another
At the staggeringly slow rate of 1-10 cm/yr

(Tectonic throw down, announcers narrate the bout over guitar solo)
This could take awhile, Penelope. Eons, Jim, eons


And the winner of the tectonic clash is
Rock 1, the continental crust

For our champion, your victory package
Includes a luxurious life atop the earth's surface
And a towering mountain range comprised of
The hardened magma of your melted opponent

And for our challenger your consolation package
Consists of a slow geologic process known as subduction
That′s right, tremendous heat and pressure
Will melt you into a viscous stew

This era's convergence brought to you by anticline energy
Anticlines, trapping earth′s hydrocarbon fuel sources
For over 300 million years
It's the A-N-T-I anticline

Tectonics are the chronicles of mountainous movements
Rock rise up from the sea
Tectonic it's ironic that it′s not supersonic
Moving geologically
Moving geologically
Moving geologically