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Life In The Air Age - Be Bop Deluxe
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Tabbed by: axe victim
Email: Leave a comment here and I'll get back to you, or go to my
'Ultimate Guitar' profile and leave a message.
Tuning:EADGBe
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
|(6) optional note
|F/A chord/bass note
|(x534x)chord shape
| b bend
| r release bend
| ^ quarter tone bend
| pb pre-bend
By popular demand, this is my attempt at transcribing this Be Bop
favourite, from the Sunburst Finish and Live!In The Air Age
recordings. It's mostly the live version with some studio parts.
Any corrections gratefully received. Apologies for any errors, I
will update accordingly.
* Correction added *
There are some drums and muted wah rhythm parts before the tab begins
on both recorded versions.
Intro, first section:
Electric guitar, heavily phased or flanged, with
emphasis on the bass notes...
___G________________________________C_____D______G_____(harmonics)_
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-----0-----0--------------------|---------------------------+12+-|
G|---0-----0-------0-----0--------|-----5-----7-/12-----------+12+-|
D|-5-----4-------0-----0----------|---5-----7---/12-----+12+-------|
A|-------------3-----0-------0-2--|-3-----5-----/10----------------|
E|-------------------------3------|--------------------------------|
___G________________________________Bb____C_____G______(harmonics)_
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-----0-----0--------------------|---------------------------+12+-|
G|---0-----0-------0-----0--------|-----3-----5---------------+12+-|
D|-5-----4-------0-----0----------|---3-----5-----------+12+-------|
A|-------------3-----0-------0-2--|-1-----3------------------------|
E|-------------------------3------|-------------3------------------|
Repeat first intro section.
The next few bars are funkier than the tab suggests - to keep it simple
I have just given the basic chords and rhythm but the song 'swings'
a bit more than this. If you're familiar with the track you'll know what
I mean. I have tabbed the solo parts below the appropriate bars, but
these parts are a little crowded with notes so I have had to stretch
some of the bars - Hope this doesn't confuse!
Intro, second section:
___G________________________________Cadd9___________D______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|---------3---------------3------|---------0---------------2------|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0---------------2------|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------0---0----------|
A|---------x---------------x------|-3------------------------------|
E|-3---------------3---3----------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-----------------------------15b17-15-12h15p12--12---------------|
B|--------------------------------|-------------15--15p12--12------|
G|--------------------------------|----------------------14--15-14-|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___G________________________________Cadd9___________D______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|---------3---------------3------|---------0---------------2------|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0---------------2------|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------0---0----------|
A|---------x---------------x------|-3------------------------------|
E|-3---------------3---3----------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------14^~~~~~~~~~~~14^r14-----------|
G|-12h14p12~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------12-14^~~~~~~~~~~~14^r14-12--12~~~~|
D|-------------------------12h14-12------------------------14------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___Em7_____D_______G___A7sus4_______D_______G___Cadd9______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-------2-------3---3----------|-2-------3---3------------------|
B|-3-------3-------3---3----------|-3-------3---3------------------|
G|-0-------2-------0---2----------|-2-------0---0------------------|
D|-2-------0-------0---2----------|-0-------0---x------------------|
A|-2---------------x---0----------|---------x---3------------------|
E|-0---------------3--------------|---------3----------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D|/14------12---------------------|--------------------------12h14-|
A|--------------pb14r12---10~~~~~-|----10h12/14-12~~-----12h14-----|
E|---------------------------------10h12------------12h14----------|
___Em7_____D_______G___A7sus4_______D_______G___Cadd9______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-------2-------3---3----------|-2-------3---3------------------|
B|-3-------3-------3---3----------|-3-------3---3------------------|
G|-0-------2-------0---2----------|-2-------0---0------------------|
D|-2-------0-------0---2----------|-0-------0---x------------------|
A|-2---------------x---0----------|---------x---3------------------|
E|-0---------------3--------------|---------3----------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|----------12--------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------12--15p12--12-----------|--------------------------------|
G|-14b16-----------14--15p14p12---14p12----------------------------|
D|-----------------------------14-14p12--14p12--14p12--12----------|
A|--------------------------------|------------------14---12b14r12-|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-10~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\3-|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Verse:
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
"..Beneath the stars there are the bars that serve the bitter drink..."
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
".....The barman smiles at me, his wife she gives a secret..."
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___A_______________D_____D_____A____________________D_____D___Cadd9_
"..wink..."
e|-0---------------2-----2-----0--|-----------------2-----2-----3--|
B|-2---------------3-----3-----2--|-----------------3-----3-----3--|
G|-2---------------2-----2-----2--|-----------------2-----2-----0--|
D|-2---------------0-----0-----2--|-----------------0-----0-----x--|
A|-0-----------0---------------0--|-------------0---------------3--|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( lead guitar...)
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|----------------4b5r4-----------|----------------4b5r4-----------|
D|-----------------------4--------|-----------------------4--------|
A|-0---------------------------0--|-----------------------------3--|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
"..........They listen patiently to me, my story I unfold..."
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
"......I see their faces change the lights grow dim I'm losing..."
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___G_______________G/F#_____________Em7___________Cadd9_A7sus4__D__
"..hold..............................."
e|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----2--|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----3--|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0-------0-----0-----2--|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------2-----2-----0--|
A|---------x---------------x------|---------2-------3-----0--------|
E|-3---------------2---2----------|-0------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------14b16r14p12h14~~~~~~~~-|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
___G_______________G/F#_____________Em7___________Cadd9_A7sus4__D__
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----2--|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----3--|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0-------0-----0-----2--|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------2-----2-----0--|
A|---------x---------------x------|---------2-------3-----0--------|
E|-3---------------2---2----------|-0------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------------------------------10h12h14-|
B|---------------------------------------10-12h13-10h12-13---------|
G|-12-p11-h12--11h12p11--9-11-12-9h11h12---------------------------|
D|---------------------12------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar continued...)
e|-10h12h14/15b17--15-14h15p14p12~~~~~|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
___F___________F___C___________C____Eb__________Eb__F___________F__
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-1-----------1---0-----------0--|-x-----------x---x-----------x--|
B|-1-----------1---1-----------1--|-4-----------4---6-----------6--|
G|-2-----------2---0-----------0--|-3-----------3---5-----------5--|
D|-3-----------3---2-----------2--|-5-----------5---7-----------7--|
A|-----------------3-----------3--|(6)---------(6)-(8)---------(8)-|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-12~~~~~~~~~~----------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------15--12h15p12~~~~~~~~14b15---------------------------|
G|---------------------------------14b15^r14p12h14---12h14p12------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------14p12-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar continued...)
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------|
A|-12b14r12p10----10~~~~~|
E|-------------12--------|
___G_____G_____G____________________G____F/A___G/B_________________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----5-----7-------7---7------|
B|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----6-----8-------8---8------|
G|-4-----4-----4-------4-5-4------|-4-----5-----7-------7---7------|
D|-5-----5-----5-----5---------5--|-5-----7-----9-------9---9------|
A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-10----10----10-----------------|-10----12---/14---12h14-12h14~~\|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___G________________________________Cadd9___________D______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|---------3---------------3------|---------0---------------2------|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0---------------2------|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------0---0----------|
A|---------x---------------x------|-3------------------------------|
E|-3---------------3---3----------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------/19--15\--15b17-15-12h15p12p10--10-----------------|
B|---------x----------------------------------------12--12p10-12p10------|
G|---------x-------------------------------------------------------14b16-|
D|---------x-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-\------/x-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
___G________________________________Cadd9___________D______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|---------3---------------3------|---------0---------------2------|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0---------------2------|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------0---0----------|
A|---------x---------------x------|-3------------------------------|
E|-3---------------3---3----------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|---------------------------------12--------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------15p12--12----------------------------|
G|-14^-14p12~~14p12--12~~--12-14b16-------14--15-14-12--14^12--------------|
D|-----------------14----14---------------------------14-----14-12-14p12---|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------14-|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
___Em7_____D_______G___A7sus4_______D_______G___Cadd9______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-------2-------3---3----------|-2-------3---3------------------|
B|-3-------3-------3---3----------|-3-------3---3------------------|
G|-0-------2-------0---2----------|-2-------0---0------------------|
D|-2-------0-------0---2----------|-0-------0---x------------------|
A|-2---------------x---0----------|---------x---3------------------|
E|-0---------------3--------------|---------3----------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|----------------------------------------------------17b19~~~~~~~-|
B|-----------------------------------12-17h20-15h17----------------|
G|------------------------------12h14--------------16--------------|
D|-------------------------12-14-----------------------------------|
A|-12^-----10------10-12-14----------------------------------------|
E|---------------12------------------------------------------------|
___Em7_____D_______G___A7sus4_______D_______G___Cadd9______________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-------2-------3---3----------|-2-------3---3------------------|
B|-3-------3-------3---3----------|-3-------3---3------------------|
G|-0-------2-------0---2----------|-2-------0---0------------------|
D|-2-------0-------0---2----------|-0-------0---x------------------|
A|-2---------------x---0----------|---------x---3------------------|
E|-0---------------3--------------|---------3----------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-17-15-14-15-14--12----------------------------------------------|
B|---------------15--15----12h15p12--------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------14b16~~~14p12h14--12~~~~~~~~~~~-|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
__Cadd9_(x3x033)___________________________________________________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|-----3-----2-----0-----2-----3--|
B|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|---------0-----0-----0-----0----|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-3------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-12~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------3------/5------/7------/9----/10-|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat Verse section until:
___G_______________G/F#_____________Em7___________Cadd9_A7sus4__D__
"..alone.............................."
e|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----2--|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----3--|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0-------0-----0-----2--|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------2-----2-----0--|
A|---------x---------------x------|---------2-------3-----0--------|
E|-3---------------2---2----------|-0------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------14b16r14p12h14~~~12p11-|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
___G_______________G/F#_____________Em7___________Cadd9_A7sus4__D__
e|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----2--|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3-------3-----3-----3--|
G|---------0---------------0------|---------0-------0-----0-----2--|
D|---------0---------------0------|---------2-------2-----2-----0--|
A|---------x---------------x------|---------2-------3-----0--------|
E|-3---------------2---2----------|-0------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|---------------------------------------------10h12h14---12-14-15-14-12-|
B|-------------------------10h12h13p12p10h12h13---------15---------------|
G|-12p11--10-11-12-10-11-12----------------------------------------------|
D|------12---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar continued...)
e|---12-14-15-14-12-------------12-------------|
B|-15--------------15b17r15b17~~--15p12-----12-|
G|-------------------------------------14b16---|
D|---------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
___F___________F___C___________C____Eb__________Eb__F___________F__
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-1-----------1---0-----------0--|-x-----------x---x-----------x--|
B|-1-----------1---1-----------1--|-4-----------4---6-----------6--|
G|-2-----------2---0-----------0--|-3-----------3---5-----------5--|
D|-3-----------3---2-----------2--|-5-----------5---7-----------7--|
A|-----------------3-----------3--|(6)---------(6)-(8)---------(8)-|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------12---------------------12---------------------|
B|------12--15p12-----12-------12--15p12-----12---------|
G|-14b16~~~------14b16----14b16~~~------14b16--14b15r14-|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar continued...)
e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------|
G|-14^-12---12---------------------------------------------|
D|-------14-12-14-12------------------------------------10-|
A|------------------14-12\10h12p10-10h12p10--10---12/14----|
E|-----------------------------------------12--------------|
___G_____G_____G____________________G____F/A___G/B_________________
( Rhythm guitar...)
e|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----5-----7-------7---7------|
B|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----6-----8-------8---8------|
G|-4-----4-----4-------4-5-4------|-4-----5-----7-------7---7------|
D|-5-----5-----5-----5---------5--|-5-----7-----9-------9---9------|
A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar )
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|-12----12----12~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-|-12----14-----16\---------------|
D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
" You can..."
___G_______D______Cadd9____D________G______________________________
"..leave me in the air age if you...like..."
e|-3-------2-------3-------2------|--------------------------------|
B|-3-------3-------3-------3------|--------------------------------|
G|-0-------2-------0-------2------|----------------------------4---|
D|-0-------0-------2-------0------|---------------------5p4h5------|
A|-x---------------3--------------|--------2p1h2--5p4h5------------|
E|-3------------------------------|-3p2h3--------------------------|
" but I'd..."
___Cadd9___G______D/F#______________G______D/F#____Cadd9___________
"..dearly..love to go back.......to my......own.....time..."
e|-3-------3-------2--------------|-3-------2-------3--------------|
B|-3-------3-------3--------------|-3-------3-------3--------------|
G|-0-------0-------2--------------|-0-------2-------0--------------|
D|-2-------0-------0--------------|-0-------0-------2--------------|
A|-3-------2-------0--------------|-2-------0-------3--------------|
E|---------3-------2--------------|-3-------2----------------------|
Chorus:
___D_______________Cadd9____________G_______________A7sus4_________
"..Life....in the air age..isn't....all the brochures say..."
e|---------2---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
B|---------3---------------3------|---------3---------------3------|
G|---------2---------------0------|---------0---------------0------|
D|-0-----------------------2------|---------0---------------2------|
A|-----------------3---3----------|-2---------------0---0----------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Studio version has these two lines simultaneously.
( Lead guitar, studio version...)
e|-3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--(etc)-|--------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar, studio version...)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3~~~~~~~~~~~----5~~~~~~~~~~~-----7~~~~~~~~-------8~~~~~~~~------|
G|-5b7~~~~~~~~~----7b9~~~~~~~~~-----9b11~~~~~-------10b12~~~~------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat until: "...airships crashing every day into the..."
___G_____G_____C____________________G_____G_____C__________________
"..bay..."
e|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----3-----3------------------|
B|-3-----3-----3------------------|-3-----3-----3------------------|
G|-0-----0-----0------------------|-0-----0-----0------------------|
D|-0-----0-----2------------------|-0-----0-----2------------------|
A|-2-----2-----3------------------|-2-----2-----3------------------|
E|-3-----3-----x------------------|-3-----3-----x------------------|
( Lead guitar, studio version...)
e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-18b20-18b20-17b20r19r17p15~~~17--p15h17p15p13-|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
( Lead guitar, studio version...)
e|---------------------------------------|
B|-----15---12---------------13----------|
G|-15b17--14^--12--12~~~14b16----14p12~~-|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
Repeat chorus section then:
___G_______________________________________________________________
( let ring and fade away...)
e|-3------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-3------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|-0------------------------------|--------------------------------|
D|-0------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-x------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|-3------------------------------|--------------------------------|
___G_______________________________________________________________
( harmonics...)
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|------+12+----------------------|-----+5+------------------------|
G|-----------+12+-----------------|---------+5+--------------------|
D|-+12+---------------------------|-+5+----------------------------|
A|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Repeat to end.
Lyrics:
Beneath the stars there are the bars
That serve the bitter drink...
The barman smiles at me,
His wife she gives a secret wink...
They listen patiently to me,
My story I unfold...
I see their faces change,
The lights grow dim I'm losing hold...
I used to be a boy,
My heart was young and supple then
But now it's stoney cold,
I'm old and I could use a friend...
My world is not like yours,
I come from somewhere long ago...
But now there's no way back,
I'm lost and I feel so alone...
You can leave me in the air age if you like
But I'd dearly love to go back to my own time....
Life in the air age, isn't all the brochures say...
Life in the air age, it's too dangerous to stay...
Life in the air age, airships crashing every day into the bay...
Life in the air age, it's all highways in the sky...
Life in the air age, all the oceans have run dry...
Life in the air age, it's grim enough to make a robot cry...
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