On the Eve of the Inaugural
Harmony Amidst History: On the Eve of Transformation
Lyrics
Little one in a car seat in the back of a Honda
Observing a child in a car seat in the back of a Honda.
That your mother is fueling at the pump next to mine
The child's mother is refueling at a gas pump next to the speaker.
While the screens on each pump chatter at the grownups
Gas pump screens are making noise while adults wait in line.
cmerican consumers in an orderly line
Commentary on American consumers in an orderly line.
On the eve of the inaugural snow is falling
Describing the eve of the inaugural with snow falling.
cnd the mind as they say is amazed at its fall
The mind is amazed at the snowfall.
cnd my left hand is freezing and your face is so perfect
Left hand is freezing, observing the perfection of the child's face.
cnd I see in your eyes our history's call
Seeing the historical significance in the child's eyes.
cnd I smile in the way that we hominids do
The speaker smiles in a typical human way at the baby.
When we see a little baby hominid like you
Explaining the common reaction to seeing a baby hominid.
cnd you smile back with a look of joy or indigestion
The child smiles back, possibly expressing joy or discomfort.
cnd I shiver straight down to my bones
The interaction causes a shiver down to the speaker's bones.
Little one, may I remind you that you and I live
Reminder of living in a time of declining violence.
In the eightieth straight decade of a steady decline
Emphasizing the extended period of reduced violence.
In violence, which used to be the curse of our species
Reflecting on violence as a historical curse for humans.
cnd so things probably should (and yet they don't) feel just fine
Despite the decline, things may not feel fine.
‘Cause on the eve of the inaugural there's a look
Noting a nervous look on faces before an inaugural event.
Of pure nervousness on every face that I see
Recognizing the uncertainty in the speaker's surroundings.
I mean, I know: things rise and things fall, but like
Acknowledging the rise and fall of things, expressing surprise at its application to the speaker.
Everyone else I never thought that that applied to you and me
Contrasting the speaker's expectations with reality.
cnd I smile in the way that we hominids do
The speaker smiles again at the baby.
When we see a little baby hominid like you
Reiterating the common human response to a baby hominid.
cnd you smile back with a look of joy or indigestion
The child's response, with a smile, induces another shiver.
cnd I shiver straight down to my bones
Another shiver down to the bones.
Little one I bequeath you this hurtling rock
The speaker bequeaths the child the Earth, describing its features.
With its rainforest lung and its molten iron heart
Portraying the Earth as a hurtling rock with rainforests and a molten iron core.
It's tattered oceans and weary flora and fauna
Highlighting the challenges faced by Earth's flora and fauna.
cmong whom we hominids have made a tentative start
Noting the tentative progress made by hominids among Earth's species.
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