The meaning of the lyrics of the song "By the Time You Get This" by the artist "They Might Be Giants"

In the song "By the Time You Get This" by They Might Be Giants, the narration is conducted from the perspective of people from the distant future, addressing the inhabitants of 1937. The lyrics are full of irony and sarcasm, exposing the naive notions of the future that were typical of people in the past.

The authors skillfully create an image of a utopian future, devoid of wars, hatred, lies, and even "chattering classes" (a derogatory term for educated and socially active people). However, behind this idealistic picture lurks a grotesque reality: the world of the future is populated only by faceless shadows, "dust scattered in the wind," incapable of either writing or receiving letters.

Phrases like "our skulls are still smiling at the thought of a bright future" sound eerie, emphasizing the lifelessness of the artificially created "paradise." The silence of "barking dogs" and the absence of "the sound of a baby crying" create an image of a sterile and joyless world devoid of natural manifestations of life.

Thus, the song "By the Time You Get This" does not so much praise a bright future as it criticizes utopian ideals and calls for reflection on the price of progress. After all, achieving absolute harmony can mean the loss of humanity and transformation into a faceless mass, devoid of individuality and emotions.