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 Sri Lanka and from Mexico City.
But I was there.
I was there in 1968.
I was there at the first Bowie show in Bromley.
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 1968 to 1975.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Manila and Toronto.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Bologna 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 1970 at the first Onyeabor practice in a loft in Enugu.
I was working on the 808 sounds with much patience.
I was there when Lou Reed 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 Lou Reed to the techno kids.
I played it at the Crocodile.
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 Barbara Tucker. All the underground hits.
All Sparks tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Public Image Ltd. record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal rap hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '50s cut and another box set from the '80s.
I hear you're buying a synthesizer and a linndrum and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Bill Near record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your spring reverb and bought a clarinet.
I hear that you and your band have sold your clarinet and bought a spring reverb.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
Eden Ahbez,
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry,
Scientists,
Boz Scaggs,
Barry Ungar,
Agitation Free,
Excepter,
Khruangbin,
Visionaries,LMNO, T- Love & Iriscience,
Babytalk,
Bush Tetras,
The Evens,
The Moody Blues,
Al Stewart,
Reuben Wilson,
Mark Hollis,
Visage,
Jeff Lynne,
Steve Hackett,
Cameo,
The J.B.'s,
D'Angelo,
Graham Central Station,
Kenny Larkin,
Skaos,
Rapeman,
Michelle Simonal,
OOIOO,
Hot Snakes,
Fatback Band,
De La Soul & Jungle Brothers,
Das Ding,
Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu,
James Chance & The Contortions,
The Chocolate Watch Band,
Sly & The Family Stone,
Chris Corsano,
The Doobie Brothers,
Schoolly D,
Strawberry Alarm Clock,
Dorothy Ashby,
DJ Style,
Danielle Patucci,
Aaron Thompson,
MDC,
Lakeside,
Joensuu 1685,
Bauhaus,
The Electric Prunes,
The Smoke,
Sun Ra Arkestra,
Alison Limerick,
Index,
Throbbing Gristle,
Harmonia,
a-ha,
Magazine,
Avey Tare,
Funky Four + One,
Wighnomy Brothers & Robag Wruhme,
Public Enemy,
Mo-Dettes,
Dennis Brown, Dennis Brown, Dennis Brown, Dennis Brown.
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.