[INTRO - distant synth chords, filtered noise, sparse percussion, beat builds] ... .... .... .... [VERSE - spoken-sung vocal, fragmented images] Yesterday, the west was polished. the chestnut trees were green. the dogs were expensive. even the pigeons expensive Yesterday, the cafés were full. Full of coffee. Full of laptops. Full of people working very hard at not looking at one another. Yesterday, the trams were red. The bicycles were fast. The sidewalks were clean. Clean, clean, clean. Except for one dog waste bag, neatly tied. Yesterday, I passed the statues. Naked stone bodies. Very permanent bodies. Nobody paid any rent. Nobody. They looked strangely relaxed. [Beat drops - catchy] Suddenly, the city began to hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Yesterday, the metro opened its mouth. People went in. People came out. People hurried. People waited. People hurried while waiting. Yesterday, the windows shone. White shoes. Black coats. Gold watches. Gold light. Gold prices. Yesterday, perfume followed me. Perfume, perfume, perfume. Then cinnamon. Then coffee. Then the smell of money trying to smell like freedom. Yesterday, A man sang. And played guitar The child danced, danced, danced. No permit. No strategy. Excellent results. [Beat drops] Suddenly, the city began to hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. [Instrumental beat evolves] ... .... [instrumental solo] ... .... ... Yesterday, It spoke about equality. while coffee shops charged for a small bottle of water as if equality came with a service fee. Yesterday, Trains arrived. Trains left. People arrived. People left. The escalator went up. The escalator went down. Nobody went anywhere without checking a screen. Yesterday, White opera stone. White water. White boats. People climbed it like determined ants heading toward a better tax bracket. (the smell of salt sea) (the smell of heat) [Instrumental beat evolves] ... .... [instrumental solo] ... .... ... Yesterday, The new rose in front of me. Glass, glass, glass. Steel, steel, steel. Tall buildings looking down looking down Progress. Progress. Progress. Progress. Progress. Progress. [Beat drops] Suddenly, The colors changed. The country changed Red signs. Green fruit. Blue plastic bags. Orange jackets. Purple shirts. A hundred languages. A hundred languages. A hundred languages. Small shops occupied the pavements Cumin. Cardamom. Chili. Coriander. Warm bread. Hot oil. The street smelled alive alive alive Yesterday, the city became louder. Louder, louder, louder. Not poorer. Not richer. Just more visible. Yesterday, at the station, people went in. People came out. People hurried. People waited. People hurried while waiting. [beat drops] Aaahhh... the Garden was quiet. Almost quiet. Leaves whispered. Bees complained. A toddler shouted at a duck. The duck had no comment. [Final verse] Yesterday, the city divided itself with prices, buildings, accents, uniforms, and invisible lines. but the lines blurred. A little. A little. A little. the lines blurred. A little. A little. A little. [OUTRO - repeating vocal fragments dissolving into delay and reverb] ... ... ... Oslo was busy. Oslo was bright. Oslo was hungry. Busy. Bright. Hungry. Busy. Bright. Hungry. ... ... [END]
