About the song
“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” stands as an iconic piece of speculative music that captured the imagination of listeners worldwide upon its release in 1969 by the American pop-rock duo Zager and Evans. Written and composed by Rick Evans, the song explores themes of technological advancement, societal evolution, and the potential consequences of humanity’s reliance on innovation over time.
Upon its debut, “In the Year 2525” quickly ascended to the top of the charts, achieving the coveted number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks starting July 12, 1969. Its success was equally pronounced in the UK, where it topped the singles chart for three consecutive weeks later that year. This meteoric rise to fame marked Zager and Evans as one-hit wonders, with no subsequent chart-topping singles despite their brief but impactful moment in musical history.
The song’s narrative unfolds across millennia, exploring future scenarios at 1000-year intervals—from 2525 to 9595. Each verse paints a dystopian picture of a world increasingly dominated by technology, where human existence becomes progressively automated and detached from its natural origins. Concepts such as pre-programmed thoughts in pill form, rendered body parts due to technological redundancy, and the obsolescence of marriage due to artificial conception resonate with themes of existential concern and cautionary tales about humanity’s future path.
Recorded in a single take in 1968 at a studio located in a cow pasture in Odessa, Texas, “In the Year 2525” benefited from an enhanced sound and arrangement under RCA Records producer Ethel Gabriel. This production polish contributed to its rapid ascent up the charts, capturing the zeitgeist of the late 1960s when societal reflection on technology’s impact was at its peak.
Beyond its initial success, the song’s enduring legacy is marked by over 60 cover versions in seven languages, reflecting its global resonance and enduring relevance. It has also been featured in various cultural contexts, from films like “Alien 3” to television series such as “Futurama” and “Millennium,” each adaptation underscoring its enduring impact on popular culture.
“In the Year 2525” remains a powerful testament to the foresight of its creators and the timeless questions it raises about humanity’s future, making it a seminal work that continues to provoke thought and inspire interpretations across generations.
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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