There are some songs that always make me feel good, feel hopeful. “I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)” by Donald Fagen is one of those songs. Fagen, if you aren’t familiar with him, was one half of Steely Dan, cowriting all their songs with the late Walter Becker.
“I.G.Y.” is the opening song from Fagen’s debut solo album, The Nightfly. This is a loose, semi-autobiographical concept album inspired by Fagen’s childhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He often listened to late-night jazz radio stations and was influenced by both the music and the disc jockeys who spun the albums (hence, the album cover).
The song title is a reference to the International Geophysical Year, an event that ran from 1957 – 1958. Basically, it was an international science event that aimed to encourage collaboration and partnerships during the Cold War. The song lyrics are upbeat and talk about the wonderful future everyone expected, with space stations, solar power for everyone, and supersonic travel.
It’s sad we don’t have those ideals any longer, that we no longer look forward to a wonderful future for the planet. Seems like the dreams of the past have been forgotten. Still, songs like this still give me hope.
Here is the official audio and lyrics (credit to Donald Fagen).
Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream’s in sight
You’ve got to admit it
At this point in time that it’s clear
The future looks bright
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by seventy-six we’ll be A.O.K.
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there’s time
The fix is in
You’ll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we’ve got to win
Here at home we’ll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There’ll be spandex jackets one for everyone
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(More leisure time for artists everywhere)
A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We’ll be clean when their work is done
We’ll be eternally free yes and eternally young
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Let me know what you think of the song.
RB
The song sketches a dream world
It does indeed, my friend. 🙂
This was a staple tune we kept in rotation at the FM station where I was employed as music director.
I’m not surprised, Swabby. Your choice of music is always spot on! 🎶
I’m surprised how many people have not heard this song. It was in the top 20 mainstream rock in 1982 and in the top ten in adult contemporary that year. I mainly added the song to morning drive time because our satellite service we used in the evening was playing it heavily. Our competitors were also playing it in heavy rotation. Meanwhile, it still shows up in oldies rotation on some stations in the area.
I’m often amazed when I meet someone who hasn’t heard a popular, classic song. I assume they play music on their radio, but they don’t listen to it.
I’m sure I’ve never heard this song before. It certainly predicts some things, but not our present time.
I hope you enjoyed it, Audrey. It’s interesting to think about all the predictions for the future back then, and where we ended up.
As music I did enjoy it. I’ve noticed jazz often has interesting lyrics.
A song about 1957 and still relevant
The lyrics are quite prophetic in their own way. 🙂
👍💗🌹
I can’t remember hearing this song before… Although I must have heard it at work. They had the radio on all day. I would have been 19 then, but an anxsty 19 year old – nothing was good enough, I thought I wasn’t either. I was always worried about sin. I was part of a fanatical church – screwed my head up. Derek was away in the air force – I was pining for him. Like a dog waiting at the gate. I wish I could have been aware and savoured the moments and hours of the beautiful world we lived in at that time. (Although we also had the tyranny of apartheid system which oppressed our country. Even some of our music was banned in those days).
Your song definitely lanced something from me 😂😂
I forgot that you grew up during apartheid, Morag. I can’t imagine what that must have been like.
I hope you enjoyed the song even though it stirred up some old memories! 🙂
Yes the song was great. I just really thought I should/could have appreciated my twenties more.
Now, I might be wrong. And a more optimistic person might see this as a message of hope. Especially since the music vibe is jazzy and chill.
To me, it sounds satirical and ironic, however.
And it sounds like he is basically predicting the future of AI, as well as other technology.
Helpful, in many cases, but it can’t and shouldn’t replace “human component”.
And if anyone has any brain activity, we all know we should get rid of nuclear weapons. Is that really the way to show youhave power? Haven’t we learned from history at all? 🤨
On another topic, and I say this as a non smoker, but so ething about smoker photos from the old days seem almost classy, while anyone who smokes these days, seems almost trashy.
Is it weird to think in that way 😅
Funny you mention the satirical and ironic, Andrea. Fagen’s song lyrics are very often like that, especially with Steely Dan. And I agree, it’s funny that the lyrics he wrote over 40 years ago are sort of coming true. 😳
I feel the same about smoking. I was a smoker many years ago and now I can’t stand the smell of them, but watching old movies where everyone smokes does make it feel like a cool and classy thing to do. Yuck! 🤣
Great! I need to investigate further. Thanks for the intro Richard.
Glad to know you enjoyed it, Sheree. I think you’ll love the album.
Beautiful song. Richard.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Pat. 🎼