About the Song
The Grand Scheme of Things (J. Webb) -This is a song which
depicts the understanding of our place in the universe which we have gained through
hundreds of years of scientific observation. The same ideas are embodied in the
famous Cosmic Calendar
which was inspired by Carl Sagan's Cosmos. The first
verse describes the evolution of the universe before the Earth was formed, a
universe populated by metal-poor stars which formed, created heavy elements
in their cores by nuclear fusion, and then died in a spectacular explosion we call
a supernova. For instance, we know that before the Sun formed, a high mass star
existed in this part of our galaxy. During its lifetime, it created elements up to iron
in its core before it died in a spectacular supernova explosion (blew itself apart).
During this explosion, many more heavy elements were created and spread across
interstellar space. After a few billion years, this highly metal-enriched debris started
to get together, gravity attracting huge clumps of gas together, and the clumps started
to collapse, forming another star. This star is the one we call our Sun! The debris
around the early Sun later formed the planets, asteroids and comets. Due to our
scientific observations of the past century we understand most of the processes that
took place, leading to the formation of our own Sun. Using these same physical laws,
we now understand how the planets form around other stars (The Laws of Physics tell
us why).
The second verse deals with the geologic record that has been uncovered by a century
of geologists, chemists and physicists. The use techniques like radio-active carbon dating
to give a time scale to the geologic and biologic history of the Earth. The evidence indicates
that life on Earth began over 3.8 billion years ago in the form of simple one-celled
creatures. We do not know of any other life forms in the universe other than those here
on Earth, thus we do not know how "remarkable" this event really is, but it apparently
happened only one time here on Earth at one singular moment. Life evolved through
various stages of complexity over the next 3.8 billion years, enduring catastrophes such
as climate changes, asteroid impacts and volcanic activity. Life apparently culminated in
the development of intelligence especially in mammals we call humans, who are capable
of pondering the meaning of life itself. We need to know where we stand in the grand
scheme of things. This need was first expressed as superstition and religions and now
we can finally use science to ponder this deep and important question: Where did we
come from and why are we here? The last verse recaps our situation as revealed by
scientific discoveries. We have existed just the blink of an eye in the cosmic perspective.
Thus, the sense of scale to human evolution compared to the billions of years of
evolution of the universe as a whole is captured in this song. The guitar solos and
musical structure is reminiscent of classic rock songs of the '60's and 70's including
the wahwah solo which embodies our foray into understanding the universe through
scientific discovery.
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Lyrics
Where do we stand in the Grand scheme of things, stars are born and die
In the billions of years of history, we have existed but the blink of an eye
A star formed and blew itself apart, heavy elements littered the sly
The Sun formed and the planets too, the laws of physics they tell us why
Chorus
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
Then one day life began on Earth, a remarkable event
In the billions of years of Earth’s history, finally thre was life to see
Climates changed through ice and flood, species evolved and they died
Intelligence progressed throughout history, now we know enough to ask why
Chorus
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
Instrumental interlude
Where do we stand in the grand scheme of things, stars are born and die
In the billions of years of history, we have existed just a blink of the eye
Chorus
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
Tell me why-y-y-, we need to know why
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