Infinitely Losing My Edge
Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from Latvia and from New York.
But I was there.
I was there in 1970.
I was there at the first Onyeabor show in Enugu.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1966 to 1972.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Johannesburg and Bologna.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Columbus kids in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered nineties.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1977 at the first Human League practice in a loft in Sheffield.
I was working on the theremin sounds with much patience.
I was there when David Bowie started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing John Lydon to the grime kids.
I played it at the Troubador.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.
But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.
I'm losing my edge.
I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody.
Every great song by The Doobie Brothers. All the underground hits.
All Eyeless In Gaza tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Monks record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal grime hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '80s cut and another box set from the '70s.
I hear you're buying a clarinet and an organ and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Sly & The Family Stone record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your clarinet and bought an arpeggiator.
I hear that you and your band have sold your arpeggiator and bought a clarinet.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
The Doobie Brothers,
Circle Jerks,
Alton Ellis,
Chris Corsano,
Aswad,
Derrick May,
Sun City Girls,
John Coltrane,
Niagra,
June of 44,
Sound Behaviour,
Rekid,
Gang Starr,
Tim Buckley,
Camron Feat. Memphis Bleek And Beenie Seigel,
Popol Vuh,
Laurel Aitken,
Terry Callier,
The Associates,
Metal Thangz,
The Happenings,
Ultra Naté,
Larry & the Blue Notes,
Amon Düül,
Zapp,
Brand Nubian,
Lakeside,
X-Ray Spex,
DJ Style,
Main Source,
Tommy Roe,
Anthony Braxton,
Joey Negro,
Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu,
Mark Hollis,
The Residents,
Maurizio,
Banda Bassotti,
The Alarm Clocks,
Pantaleimon,
Youth Brigade,
the Soft Cell,
Intrusion,
Warren Ellis,
Selector Dub Narcotic,
Spandau Ballet,
Depeche Mode,
Joyce Sims,
Grey Daturas,
Angels of Light & Akron/Family,
The Mojo Men,
Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra,
Mad Mike,
Wighnomy Brothers & Robag Wruhme,
Flamin' Groovies,
Alison Limerick,
Frankie Knuckles,
Stockholm Monsters,
Mr. Review,
Derrick Morgan,
John Cale, John Cale, John Cale, John Cale.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.
You don't know what you really want.