Look at the Clever Animal (Beta)

[Spoken Intro] Observation log: planet three. Dominant species... according to the dominant species. Intelligence: unconfirmed. Survival instinct... I’ll leave that one blank. (Look at them go.) [Verse 1] A border cuts across the dirt Armed men posted either side A tower climbs and blocks the sun The view costs more on level nine Water bottled, seeds made private Rain and sunlight on a lease A clock designed to save some time Gets worn just like a tourniquet At six, glass lifts spill bodies out Eyes fixed somewhere near their feet A plastic tree in reception Dust gathering on its leaves A child has drawn the sun in chalk Where daylight hasn’t reached in years Above, in brushed stainless steel: “THE FUTURE STARTS RIGHT HERE” [Pre-Chorus] The wolf takes one (The hunger ends) The man takes ten (And starts again) Call instinct dumb Call conquest wise Which one poisons where it lies? [Chorus] LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (Self-appointed miracle) Drinks the river, buys the rain Calls the fever “growing pains” LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (APE-X! APE-X! NUMBER ONE!) Every beast knows when it’s fed This one eats until it’s dead [Post-Chorus] A-P-E-X! Beat your chest! A-P-E-X! Who’s impressed? (We are the future!) The future didn’t answer. [Riff Break] [Verse 2] At the crossing, crows drop walnuts Wait for tyres, wait for red Traffic lights become a language Not bad for an “empty head” Down beside the concrete river A fox drinks once and slips away Twenty minutes later, tankers Back in, drink the rest away The dog wakes before the sirens Puts its weight against your knee You can put the stars in columns Miss what’s breathing at your feet I write “HIGHLY DEVELOPED” As a billboard stutters white: “BREATHE CLEANER — BUY THE FILTER” And the sky goes brown by five [Pre-Chorus] The wolf takes one (The hunger ends) The man takes ten (And starts again) Call instinct dumb Call conquest wise Which one poisons where it lies? [Chorus] LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (Self-appointed miracle) Drinks the river, buys the rain Calls the fever “growing pains” LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (APE-X! APE-X! NUMBER ONE!) Every beast knows when it’s fed This one eats until it’s dead [Bridge] Do you know where you belong? (ON TOP!) And what is holding up the top? (WE BUILT IT!) Can you eat your paper crown? (THAT’S NOT THE POINT!) So what is the point? ... (CUT HIS MIC!) [Breakdown] ONE PLANET! (TWO HUNDRED ANSWERS!) ONE OCEAN! (NOBODY’S FAULT!) EIGHT BILLION VOICES: “SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING!” NO ONE MOVES CROWN THE APE! (GIVE HIM THE MATCH!) HE NAMES THE FIRE “PROGRESS”! (HE SELLS YOU BACK THE ASH!) CROWN THE APE! (PUT HIM ON TOP!) ASK HIM WHEN HE’S SATISFIED! (WHEN EVERYTHING STOPS!) [Final Chorus] LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (Self-appointed miracle) Drinks the river, buys the rain Calls the fever “growing pains” LOOK AT THE CLEVER ANIMAL (APE-X! APE-X! NUMBER ONE!) Every beast knows when it’s fed This one eats until it’s— EATS UNTIL IT’S— EATS UNTIL IT’S DEAD! [Outro] Observation complete. No predator. No asteroid. Nothing came out of the dark. Extinction? self-inflicted. The applause continued. (Still number one.)