The song "Not In A Million Years" by Gilbert O'Sullivan explores the theme of unpredictability and challenges the notion of certainty in life. In the lyrics, the singer questions the inevitability of the dawn breaking every morning and wonders why things always have to be a certain way. The song opens with the singer lying in bed and contemplating why the dawn has to break every morning. He ponders whether it is a universal expectation or if he simply doesn't understand. The uncertainty is further emphasized when he wonders what would happen if the dawn decided to stay behind and didn't break. The lyrics then shift to question the audience's perception of reality. The singer challenges their intelligence by asking them to define the size and composition of a star, questioning whether it is made of metal or wood and its value. He also poses a hypothetical scenario of all stars falling from the sky and wonders how people would react. The song continues to question commonly accepted beliefs and knowledge. The singer highlights that everyone knows basic mathematical principles like one plus one equals two, and that the Earth is round despite its appearance from the ground. However, he then asks the audience to imagine a world where one plus one equals five and the Earth is actually a flat plane. The lyrics further explore the concept of control and reversal of roles. The singer mentions the animals living in zoos and questions what would happen if they took control and humans became the ones in captivity. This plays with the idea of power dynamics and challenges the comfortable perception of the status quo. Overall, "Not In A Million Years" is a thought-provoking song that challenges established beliefs, perceptions, and assumptions. It highlights the unpredictability of life and asks the listener to consider the possibility of things happening differently than expected. It encourages questioning and open-mindedness in the face of uncertainty.
