Tomorrow Is Tonight

Song Meaning

This track stages a theatrical clash between progress and its destruction, personified by Gutenberg and a destructive Monk. Gutenberg, emerging from his bed, sees history as potentially boring until inspiration strikes, leading him to declare his hands, though belonging to a 'normal man,' have changed the world. The phrase 'Tomorrow is tonight' acts as a rallying cry, collapsing time into an urgent present where past and future collide in a 'history and future fight.' This optimistic view of innovation is immediately challenged by the Monk, who rises 'surrounded by fire and bats,' a stark visual contrast to Gutenberg's mundane awakening. The Monk claims to have 'killed the future' and 'crushed his dream,' asserting that 'You don't change the world with a dumb machine!' His destructive act, aimed at tricking 'that girl,' positions him as an antagonist actively working against progress, reveling in his 'badness.' The lyrics then introduce Helvetica, a character who feels 'in some serious distress' after apparently destroying a printing press, mirroring the Monk's destructive impulse. This character's lament about not having wings, despite feeling like a bird, highlights a sense of powerlessness and regret. The repeated assertion 'Tomorrow is tonight' becomes a shared, albeit differently interpreted, mantra, suggesting that the consequences of actions, whether constructive or destructive, manifest immediately. The song effectively uses dramatic spoken-word interludes and character shifts to frame this conflict. The final moments, with Gutenberg and the Monk shouting 'Tomorrow!' and Helvetica questioning 'What have I done?', underscore the immediate and profound impact of choices on the trajectory of history. The abrupt 'Intermission!' leaves the listener contemplating the unresolved tension between creation and annihilation.