Prelude To A Fall

John sees the coming storm and fears the fall of the society in which he lives. He can almost sense the gradual chipping away of the system around him. He takes to the airwaves to tell a cautionary tale.

I look ahead, and I can see, the results, of our mediocrity. We make excuse, and interpret rules. And ignore the voice, of law abiding fools. The fall of Rome, didn't happen in one day. Built brick by brick, it came down the same way. By compromise of ideals and truth. The fall of Rome, stands as my proof.

Enough

There is a public conflict between John and an official of The New Authority. At first John simply keeps his thoughts to himself and lets the New Authority Official have his say, but he finally can not put up with what he knows is a dangerous direction The Authority wants to take. He speaks his mind and is dismissed by The New Authority as a selfish malcontent. He decides to use his radio show to try and stop The New Authority.

The New Authority- It's neither easier said or done, it's easier ignored. Take a stance and soon you will learn to take a stance no more. Don't muddle up the middle with all these words, just nod complacently. Accept your role in our grander scheme and give us your money please.

John- The pressure's building. Something's got to give. Can't keep pretending this is how to live.

The New Authority- No one wants the truth, just look at the polls. It's all so plain to see. Just beat your head up against some wall. An exercise in futility. What's the point in all this distraction, the facts don't fit the plan. Maybe someday you'll get a reaction from another Peter Pan.

John- The pressure's building. Something's got to give. Can't keep pretending this is how to live. That's enough, I won't keep my mouth shut anymore. It's time to fight for what is worth fighting for. My intellect, my self respect, my only regret is not standing up before now.

The New Authority- You're out of order you're out of line. Just get back in the queue. We simply will not permit another outburst like that from you. Your so called self-reliance is really just selfishness. You should be willing to give your all to the directionless.

John- If they take it all, there's nothing left to give. We can't go on pretending this is how to live. That's enough, I won't keep my mouth shut anymore. It's time to fight for what is worth fighting for. My intellect, my self respect, my only regret is not standing up before now. The crash and burn is how we learn don't cheat us out it. The place is here and the time is now.

The Weight of The World

John then tries to convince business leaders and other productive members of society that it’s not too late to stand up to The New Authority’s idealogical direction.

Now's the time for conversation. Think with your head not your heart. A mathematical situation tears us down and keeps us apart. They want to take from those who make as their banners are being unfurled. Your pockets are easily racked while you're carrying the weight of the world.

The weight of the world. The weight of the world

The unintended consequences seem to be all we can get. All the unforeseen expenses force an unlimited debt. Success denounced by hue and cry. And with every insult that's hurled it starts to make you wonder why you're carrying the weight of the world.

The weight of the world. The weight of the world.

Confiscate

As The New Authority takes more and more control from the people, John reluctantly sees everything he feared and warned against coming to fruition. As The New Authority confiscates more and more from those who produce, the collapse begins, and John’s radio show is forced off the air.

I don't think they understand. Not sure they ever will. When you take from one you take from us all. All we could have done, and all we could have been is now all but lost in the wind. You think you're leveling some sort of play field, but really you're just rigging the game. So no one will win and no one will lose, and we'll all wind-up the same. So don't tell me that you care more than me. As if your caring was all there had to be. These problems take more than kind thoughts to erase. More than just your desire to confiscate. It's really not hard to see, if you open your eyes. It's a lesson we were taught long ago. About how to feed a man for his lifetime, and how we reap what we sow. So don't tell me that you care more than me. As if your caring was all there had to be. These problems take more than kind thoughts to erase. More than just your desire to confiscate.

The Fall of Rome

As the economy fails and society collapses, John takes account of the aftermath of the fall and mourns the loss of what once was.

So what's to say and left to do. When everything crumbles down all around you. Much too late for I told you so’s. Just a lesson for those with their eyes closed. The fall of Rome, didn't happen in one day. Built brick by brick, it came down the same way. By compromise of ideals and truth. The fall of Rome, stands as my proof. I see a place through teary eyes, where on our principles there's no compromise. Those days are gone, and with no surprise we sowed the seeds of our own demise. The fall of Rome, didn't happen in one day. Built brick by brick, it came down the same way. By compromise of ideals and truth. The fall of Rome, stands as my proof. So now every promise and everyone honest is cast aside and adrift. To make room for the children of sorrow and ruin who only sneer at the gift. So what's left behind for you and me is nothing but a vague old memory. A tapestry thrown to the wind. A fairy tale that will never come back again. The fall of Rome, didn't happen in one day. Built brick by brick, it came down the same way. By compromise of ideals and truth. The fall of Rome, stands as my proof.