[Intro by Dr. Bill Durham from Stanford University]
VERSE 1
So there's this little theory. Some people fear it
But if you wanna know the history of life you gotta hear it
And if you're feeling leery, then stop and hear me
And what better place to start then with Charles Darwin?
DAAAANG
That's the fattest book I've ever seen
The Origin of Species got me feeling like I'm fiending for some
Reading on descent with modification
So many barnacles so much variation!
He got inspired by some finches
Not to mention Thomas Malthus and the struggle for existence
Think about it. If there were hella elephants
Growing exponentially with none remaining' celibate
We'd all be swimming in elephantal juices!
So what decides who survives and reproduces?
Diverse competitors, environment conditions!
Plus remember what C.D. learned from fidgeting with pigeons
By selecting their fates, and matin 'em
He could shape some pretty wild traits as if creatin' em
And if man could do it. Then why not natural forces?
Diversity + heredity + struggle for resources
Combined together. Weeding out the mockingbirds -
Whose lack of fitness leads to lack of offspring
The successful lineage is free to grow
It's evolution, and is started 3.5 billion years ago
CHORUS
This is how life builds from 3. 5 ‘til…
This is how life builds from 3. 5 ‘til… (X4)
VERSE 2
Yeah, the theory's making sense
But this is science, so where's your evidence?
Life makes colossal moves
That's what fossils prove
And archaeopteryx should really jostle you
Plus - take a look at deoxyribonucleic acid
In every cell that I know
The basic building blocks of life – in me
In your mama, in a llama, and in boooobies
Plus in newts, fleas, and protists
And comparing embryos in vertebrates should help you notice
You know this, so let's hit Galapagos
Where we dropping flows while lava gulls stop and pose
Galapagos – it's evolution in the flesh
A few millimeters might mean life or d**h
Speciation got me feeling psychotic
Got 20 finch RIMs and they all prezygotic
A gular pouch! The fire of criers females desire
A s**ually selected trait that males acquire
An extraordinary adaptation
A frigate prerequisite for copulation
Amazing! The way that life keep's living
But the truth is with humans that's not always a given
So best to show some respect for life lest ya
Forget we all share a common ancestor