about
I kinda like that the penultimate track of the Song Cycle isn't anything too musically overbearing or "thoughtful" - It's certainly not my opus. If anything, this year, I've been trying to push myself to do something new every week and to explore sounds I don't normally, which leads to a lot of mis-steps and happy mistakes. I've written a few ska numbers in the past few years, but I particularly enjoyed trying out a Beach Boys-esque chorus here.
I also like that the lyrics are about leaving something - New York City, specifically, which makes sense enough given the current holiday season and my spread-out family. On a larger scale though (and this is totally unplanned, of course), it speaks to how I'm glad to be leaving the Song Cycle behind. This year has been my year to renew my love for exploring new things and reenforcing the need for constant improvement in my work. I'm excited to take those things and run off somewhere in 2011.
This song also marks the last time this year that Melissa Lusk appears on one of my tracks. She's incredible. This is a song about getting out of town with your best companion, and she's certainly mine. She's been on more tracks than I can count, and inspired, pushed and improved countless others with her thoughts and general day-to-day presence (she also helped me name this one). I'm at a loss for words to express how much that means to me, and I think it's a joy to be able to share what I love with someone like her. Anyway. Hope you're with someone you love in the new year. Cheers.
lyrics
I got this dream that keeps a bothering me
That I’m asleep on my feet
That I’m a passing up on more than my time
It trace a funny design
I can feel the city leaning on me
I see her feeding on me
She got these teeth; they’ razors, straight through your bone
She tell me leave it alone.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
I’m only looking for a coward like me
Who got the fear of the sleep
Who wanna stay awake and run til we through
Kid, you got pretty good moves
Let’s pack up quickly cuz the city got ears
She need her dinner, I fear
The subway moaning like electric delight
We gonna leave it tonight
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Where I’m to find
I cannot say
Let’s get around
Let’s get away
We won’t be found
Until we give it away
I see a fire up on warning tonight
Pitchforks a-warring tonight
She got a level that she want you to know
So she gone tell you it all
“I’m merely saying what you’re calling to mind
I ain’t the devilish kind
I ain’t a saint but I ain’t wasting your time”
Oh Lord, stop wasting my time.
We smell the blood on the line
And we go run for our life.
That’s right! That’s right!
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Where I’m to find
I cannot say
Let’s get around
Let’s get away
We won’t be found
Until we give it away
Hey!
You see a phantom on the boulevard
The beaches haunted by the ancient gods
We sneak the boardwalk and we slip into the sea
If we can pass the torch we’re free
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Where I’m to find
I cannot say
Let’s get around
Let’s get away
We won’t be found
Until we give it away
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
credits
from
Singles 2010,
released December 31, 2010
Music and lyrics by Mattroi
Backing vox by Melissa Lusk
license
all rights reserved
