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 Guinea and from Houston.
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 1960 to 1975.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Delhi and Manila.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Manchester 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 oboe 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 Kerrie Biddell to the dance 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 New Age Steppers. All the underground hits.
All Country Teasers tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Accadde A 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 '90s.
I hear you're buying an organ and a 808 and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Peter & Gordon record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your oboe and bought a clarinet.
I hear that you and your band have sold your clarinet and bought an oboe.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
T. Rex,
Fear,
Gong,
The Knickerbockers,
Organ,
10cc,
The Fugs,
Steve Hackett,
OOIOO,
Panda Bear,
Jandek,
Black Sheep,
Pussy Galore,
Urselle,
Suburban Knight,
Jerry's Kids,
FM Einheit,
The Move,
Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu,
X-Ray Spex,
Boogie Down Productions,
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes,
Smog,
Aloha Tigers,
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo,
Letta Mbulu,
Masters at Work,
Darondo,
The Jesus and Mary Chain,
Guru Guru,
Glambeats Corp.,
Quantec,
Circle Jerks,
Harry Pussy,
Rites of Spring,
John Coltrane,
Parry Music,
Harmonia,
Cybotron,
Q and Not U,
Moby Grape,
Tom Boy,
Janne Schatter,
The Dead C,
Public Image Ltd.,
Joy Division,
Loose Ends,
Shuggie Otis,
the Germs,
The Blues Magoos,
Adolescents,
Newcleus,
Archie Shepp,
Fatback Band,
Thee Headcoats,
Marmalade,
Camouflage,
Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish,
Bizarre Inc.,
David Bowie,
Youth Brigade,
The Human League,
Slave, Slave, Slave, Slave.
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.