Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums

What's the story behind You Can't Say Euphrates Without the 80's?

The Euphrates isn't just a river that flows through Mesopotamia; it's a river that flows through the entire Bible -- from Genesis 2:14 through Revelation 16:12. In fact, it's mentioned over 50 times in 16 books of the New International Version.

Meanwhile, the Bible is a river that flows through every song on this CD. One of those songs, "Iran (So Far Away)," describes the fall of Babylon to the Media-Persian empire as prophesied and fulfilled in Daniel 5. Though the Euphrates isn't mentioned by name in the book of Daniel, Wikipedia says it played a key role in the story:

"In 539 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, with a military engagement known as the Battle of Opis. Babylon's walls were considered impenetrable. The only way into the city was through one of its many gates or through the Euphrates River. Metal grates were installed underwater, allowing the river to flow through the city walls while preventing intrusion.

"Cyrus (or his generals) devised a plan to enter the city via the river. During a Babylonian national feast, Cyrus' troops diverted the Euphrates River upstream, allowing Cyrus' soldiers to enter the city through the lowered water. The Persian army conquered the outlying areas of the city while the majority of Babylonians at the city center were unaware of the breach. The account was elaborated upon by Herodotus and is also mentioned in parts of the Hebrew Bible."

The other river that flows through this CD is the 80's. That's biblical, too. After all, Moses and Aaron were in their 80's when God used them to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. And if the parting of the Red Sea doesn't classify as "new wave movement," what does?