[Silence]
[Instrumental Intro: Driving Organ, Acoustic Guitar, Deep Sub-Bass, Piano, Electric Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Saxophone]
[Intro]
Right now…
(Right here!)
Somehow…
(Raises fear?)
Not yesterday…
(Not tomorrow…)
Today
(Hence:)
Present tense!
[Verse 1]
Yesterday’s gone
Tomorrow’s not here
All the while tomorrow
Draws near
[Refrain]
Is the present tense
(Tense)
Is the state of the state
(Irate)
Are you presently tense
(In the present tense?)
[Instrumental, Psychedelic Jam Interlude, Percussion Solo]
[Verse 2]
The present is tense
When the pressure is high
Everybody’s watchin’
The numbers fry
[Chorus]
Present tense!
(Tense!)
What’s the state of the state?
(Irate!)
Present tense!
(Tense!)
What’s the state of the state?
Are we presently tense?
(Presently tense!)
Or just pretending
(Everything’s fine?)
Forever defending
(Me, my, mine)
[Bridge]
Is it a grammar lesson?
(Is it?)
Is it a state of mind?
(Bad habit?)
Is it the state of the state?
(Irate!)
Or all of the above?
(Have we forgot love?)
[Break]
Right now!
(Not later!)
Not before!
(Once more!)
Right now!
(Hence:)
Present!
(Tense!)
[Instrumental]
[Driving Piano Groove]
[Deep Bass Locks In]
[Organ Chords]
[Electric Guitar Riff]
[Saxophone Call and Response]
[Drums Build to Full Groove]
[Final Refrain]
Is the present tense
(Tense)
Is the state of the state
(Irate)
Are you presently tense
(In the present tense?)
Is the present tense
(Tense)
Or is it just the debate
(We communicate?)
Are you presently tense
(In the present tense?)
[Outro]
[Instrumental, Saxophone and Organ]
Is the present tense
(Tense)
Is the state of the state
(Irate)
Are you presently tense
(In the present tense?)
[Whisper]
(Hence:)
Are you presently tense?
[Silence]
From the album “Present Tense“