i.g.y. - international geophysical year - (what a wonderful world)
Appears on: The Best Of Howard Jones
I.G.Y. was written and originally recorded by Donald Fagan and can be found on his 1982 album "The Nightfly".
A live favourite of Howard's, he released this in April 1993
Donald Fagan's song is a tongue-in-cheek ode to life in the 50s--a life of bomb shelters, a nascent cold war, cool jazz, and promises of an absolutely fabulous future. In "I.G.Y." he sings ironically, from a perspective 30 years on, of a future in which robots do our thinking and working for us, allowing us to frolic, cavort, and gambol in leisure and luxury. He sings of a future, in short, similar to that predicted, without a shred of irony, by Hans Moravec.
Words and Music by Donald Fagan
 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.
Chorus
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 for everyone
On that train all graphite a glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(More leisure 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
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