For the longest time, I’ve had a fantasy about the collapse of civilization.
It goes something like this: The Left and the Right in America have finally realized that their true enemy is the deeply entrenched, deeply authoritarian, nonideological government. The people have finally risen up. Rioters are in the street, attacking both each other and their oppressors. With the police proving either incapable or unwilling to try to control the riots, the National Guard has been called in. Tanks roll down Main Street. Helicopters hover above burning building. Disembodied voices announce that anyone caught violating curfew will be shot. It started with a burning city but now the entire country is on fire.
I see all of this as I sit in back of the limo that is carrying me and a few of my loved ones to the airport. At first, I feel sad that America is collapsing but, as we get closer to the airport, that sadness is replaced by hope. As bad as things are, at least we’ve got somewhere else to go. At least we can start again, hopefully without any of the bullshit that led to the collapse of civilization in the first place.
There’s a private plane waiting for us. We take our seats. As the plane takes off, I look out the window and I can see that the tanks and the rioters have just arrived at the airport. Our plane is the last one to take off. We are the last ones to escape. As the plane flies us to our new home (sometimes it’s Ireland, sometimes it’s Italy, sometimes it’s Spain, sometimes it’s an island off in the middle of nowhere), I looked out the window and I see the city burning below.
And, during all of this, Clocks is the song that’s playing in the background. Seriously, it’s great escaping music!
As for the video above, it was filmed in London, at the Docklands Excel Building. The audience was largely made up of local college students. It’s actually a rather simple video but that’s okay. It’s perfect for the song.
Enjoy!
(Val should be back and handling music video duties tomorrow!)
