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What you are

from Man in the Mirror (2010) by Utopia Now

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This is the song on which the concept of the album "Man in the Mirror" was founded and the closest to a title track there is. It holds a mirror to humanity and portrays the reality of our lives as it is, much like “Brave open eyes”. But this song does not talk about the universe as a whole but concretely focuses on us. Again, as the proliferation of religious and otherwise supernatural ideas demonstrates, these truths may be hard to accept. But their acceptance is the very first step to a life that is built on reality and not illusions. In the cosmic perspective, each of us is utterly meaningless. But even in the puny perspective of mere humanity on this tiny speck called earth almost all of us will simply disappear into oblivion. Only very few ever find a place in human history. The rest will be completely devoured by the vortex of time. Even within this microscopic framework that is their individual family history only one or two generations will remember them after their deaths. A frightening thought? Yes. I personally am scared out of my mind by it. But we can be scared all we want, nothing is going to change these facts.

There is absolutely no need to label the speaker of these sober truths a pessimist (an ignorant reflex that is widespread). Reality and bliss don’t necessarily stand in contrast to each other. There are myriad ways for them to coexist.

At the end of the day, everything comes down to the question: How highly do we value truth? Most of us, it seems, not very much. To billions on earth fantasy is a valid alternative, and they appear to have no problems basing their lives on it.

lyrics

- What you are -

The universe, it blinks the millennia away.
The generations pass like a summer day
stored within the mind of indifferent DNA.
And it will not bother to tell your story, you're only a number on a page.

Chorus:
This one we can't win,
and all your vanity, fear, and despair
will not change a thing.
All our bags are packed.
It takes titanium skin
to look in the mirror of reason and see what you are.

Myriads before you have staggered in these shoes.
They left a fading memory and so will you.
With the adult mayfly you share a narrow view.
While dreaming of eternity you sleepwalk the tightrope but I grope for the light switch.

Chorus:

credits

from Man in the Mirror (2010), released June 25, 2010
Music and lyrics written, recorded, and performed by Stephan Serowy.

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Utopia Now Berlin, Germany

Utopia Now started out in 2006 but had been known under the name Indigo since 2002, sharing the stage with bands such as Lagwagon, Anti Flag, A Wilhelm Scream, No Trigger, Good Clean Fun, Venerea and many more. However, the band was short-lived and split in 2007. Today the band lives on in the form of an online solo project by the band’s founder, singer, and songwriter, Stephan Serowy. ... more

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