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 Croatia and from Manila.
But I was there.
I was there in 1975.
I was there at the first Ubu show in Cleveland.
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 1964 to 1976.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Sao Paulo and Manila.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Calgary 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 1965 at the first Beefheart practice in a loft in Lancaster.
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 Curtis Mayfield to the rap kids.
I played it at the 40 Watt.
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 Zero Boys. All the underground hits.
All Eli Mardock tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every PIL record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal punk hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '70s cut and another box set from the '80s.
I hear you're buying a synthesizer and a guitar and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Pere Ubu record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your mellotron and bought an oboe.
I hear that you and your band have sold your oboe and bought a mellotron.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
The Cure,
the Bar-Kays,
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282,
The Neon Judgement,
Johnny Osbourne,
Throbbing Gristle,
Marvin Gaye,
Yellowson,
Davy DMX,
Pharoah Sanders,
Cameo,
Lou Reed & John Cale,
Trumans Water,
Cheater Slicks,
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap,
Art Ensemble Of Chicago,
Todd Rundgren,
N.O.R.E. Featuring Pharrell,
FM Einheit,
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes,
Guru Guru,
Grauzone,
the Sonics,
The New Christs,
The Electric Prunes,
Wighnomy Brothers & Robag Wruhme,
Depeche Mode,
Tubeway Army,
Black Flag,
Mr. Review,
Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish,
Jeru the Damaja,
8 Eyed Spy,
Lucky Dragons,
Fifty Foot Hose,
Letta Mbulu,
Neil Young,
Drive Like Jehu,
Faust,
Zero Boys,
The Motions,
The Star Department,
David Axelrod,
the Swans,
Brand Nubian,
Morten Harket,
Ajijia Myrayebe,
The Moleskins,
MDC,
Vainqueur,
Motorama,
Duran Duran,
Tom Boy,
Pantaleimon,
E-Dancer,
Joyce Sims,
Idris Muhammad,
Gichy Dan,
Reagan Youth,
Lonnie Liston Smith,
Adolescents,
Spoonie Gee,
Vaughan Mason & Crew,
Fluxion, Fluxion, Fluxion, Fluxion.
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.