Timbuk 3: The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

Today’s one hit wonder comes from 1986 and is near and dear to my heart as it was a song that I used to perform in my last two bands, The Game and Lyvyn Daylitz. I also performed it during my only two gigs with City Chicken. I sang lead and played harmonica on this tune.

One of the last times I performed this tune. May 1989 with City Chicken.

“The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades,” which is pretty grim by nature, was Timbuk 3’s only Top 40 hit. The songs message was an impending nuclear holocaust – and the resulting jobs to clear up the mess.

Timbuk 3 was only two people and a boom box – the two were former husband and wife Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald. The band and the marriage simultaneously ended in 1995. “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” peaked in 1986 at #19 on the Hot 100 and did slightly better at #14 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

AT&T is reported to have offered the MacDonalds $900K for rights to use the song in a commercial. The duo refused the offer; however, the song has been used in at least four motion pictures and scores of TV shows. The couple, however, probably was not hurting for finances with the synchronization rights to the films and the performance rights from TV and radio. Today, both former members are still performing; Barbara lives in the US and Pat resides in Spain.

Lyrics

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades,
I gotta wear shades

I've got a job waiting for my graduation
Fifty thou a year -- buys a lot of beer
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades

Well I'm heavenly blessed and worldly wise
I'm a peeping-tom techie with x-ray eyes
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades