Dedicated to GenX. The generation that saw all the changes from the analog world to modern time, and built most of the gadgets we use today. GenX as you find each other across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and X–this song is for you, with some advice for the younger generations to come. The struggles faced by GenX, forced them to make things easier for their heirs. Road trips without a phone, GPS or air conditioning has been transformed in their lifetime. The song lyrics convey just a few of the “struggles” survived by those born between 1965 and 1980. But the message is not about how hard life was during those years. It’s about the idea that if the Genexers survived without all the modern convenience today, then there is hope that the next generations will prosper because they have more to work with, more tools, more knowledge and access to information.
“The idea that we had to sit in a library for hours and devour five to ten books to find one answer, says a lot about how fast things are today. That was our Google search. But there is also something to be said for learning fifty unintended things, while searching for that one answer. That’s the meaning in the lyric, “Questions tell you more, than answers do,” said Jef Gray, songwriter of Last of the Analog World. “The struggles to come will be in the hands of our children, and their children. The lyrics are meant to share our perspective from a time when everything was harder than it is now…and luckily there are no videos of all the crazy things we did! Peace to All!
Lyrics: Last of the Analog World
Hear a message from the X Generation
To the younger ones across our nation
We know your struggling to make your way
Big dreams, but you got bills to pay
It was the same for us back in our day
But somehow we made our way…
Chorus:
We are the last of an analog world
Unwinding time like a flag unfurled
We saw it happen all across our lives
That’s why I know we can still survive
Questions tell you more, than answers do.
Try to imagine, what we’ve come through.
No mobile phones, no GPS.
If we had trouble, then you dealt with it
Three channels on our TV
Google search was a librar-ar-ry
Hand written letters took three days to send
Someone moving meant, you lost your friend
Long distance call were a luxury
Outside was where you’d always be
First job came at age 15
First date was at Dairy Queen
We are the last of an analog world
Unwinding time like a flag unfurled
We saw it happen all across our lives
That’s why I know we can still survive
We are the last of an analog world
Unwinding time like a flag unfurled
We saw it happen all across our lives
That’s why I know we can still survive
Lyrics, graphics, cover art: Jef Gray
Music: Aurous
Video production: International Peace and Film Festival
