Anthropocene Songtext
von Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Anthropocene
The current geological epoch

Ten thousand years before now
Global human population is five million
One thousand years before now
Global human population two hundred million

Walking on the carbon band
Evidence of human hand
Stain in the stratigraphy
Sedimentary memory

Just another KT line
Start and finish of our time
A dirty mark in history
Souvenir for all to see

Documenting our decline
Paradox as paradigm
Tragic in trajectory
Trespass in geology


Fossil footprints in the sand
Make their mark across the land
Crushing all diversity
Tainted by humanity

Anthropocene
The current geological epoch
Dating from the commencement
Of significant human impact
On Earth′s geology and ecosystems
Including anthropogenic climate change

Anthropocene
The current geological epoch
Anthropocene
Geology and ecosystems
Anthropocene
Significant human impact

One hundred years before now
Global human population is two billion
Ten years before now
Global human population is seven billion

One million years after now
Global human population is
Zero