In 1983, the Swedish heavy metal band, Europe, released their first album.  It was called Europe.  The first album is always the easiest to title.

In The Future To Come was their very first single and this was their very first video.  The video features the band performing on a windy plain and singing about the possibility of the world ending as a result of a nuclear war.  This was a theme to which they would return in the best-known song, The Final Countdown.  Joey Tempest was only 19 when he wrote this song and it very much reflects a 19 year-old’s worldview but, at the same time, Europe rocked.

For those curious, here are the lyrics for In The Future To Come.  It should be remembered that these lyrics were written at a time when many people agreed that nuclear war was an inevitability.  In the 80s, many believed it wasn’t a question of whether or not it would happen.  Instead, it was a question of when it would happen.

So many tears ago the people on this earth
They were laughin’
They didn’t think of anything else
Than love and peace
But generations failed to see
That they were causin’
Trouble for the future
They didn’t know that one single war

Would continue to increase
But I’ll be beside you
‘Cause I want to hide you

I’ll cover my pain
Or I’ll gone insane
Oh Lord where will it end
When tomorrow is done
Oh Lord can we stop to pretend
That we can survive in the future to come

As long as you can see
As long as you can feel
There’s no cause for alarm
As long as you can touch
As long as you can more

It ain’t too bad
But one day or another
This world would maybe
Be destroyed forever
A holocaust maybe be spread
And drive us all mad

Enjoy!