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 Cuba and from Taipei.
But I was there.
I was there in 1983.
I was there at the first Lewis show in Vancouver.
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 1967 to 1978.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in New York and Shanghai.
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 güiro sounds with much patience.
I was there when Tom Verlaine 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 Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu to the funk 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 Ash Ra Tempel. All the underground hits.
All Ultra Naté tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Rhythim Is Rhythim record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal disco 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 a harpsichord and a synthesizer and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Eric Copeland record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your linndrum and bought a 808.
I hear that you and your band have sold your 808 and bought a linndrum.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
Junior Murvin,
Ludus,
The Flesh Eaters,
Jerry's Kids,
Soul II Soul,
The Jesus and Mary Chain,
the Slits,
Rod Modell,
Nils Olav,
The Durutti Column,
Nick Fraelich,
Yellowson,
Scion,
Whodini,
Yaz,
The Gun Club,
The Motions,
Gang Starr,
Glambeats Corp.,
Kevin Saunderson,
Black Flag,
Bauhaus,
Tim Buckley,
Warren Ellis,
Bush Tetras,
Johnny Osbourne,
the Sonics,
Guru Guru,
DJ Style,
Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan,
Alphaville,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
The Invisible,
Carl Craig,
DNA,
Unwound,
8 Eyed Spy,
The Real Kids,
Rakim,
Al Stewart,
Dave Gahan,
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap,
Cameo,
Surgeon,
Rhythim Is Rhythim,
Bobbi Humphrey,
Minor Threat,
Matthew Bourne,
Sun Ra Arkestra,
The Electric Prunes,
Nirvana,
Das Ding,
Kango’s Stein Massive,
Zapp,
Man Parrish,
Infiniti,
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy,
Siouxsie and the Banshees,
Eve St. Jones,
Judy Mowatt,
Sandy B,
Patti Smith, Patti Smith, Patti Smith, Patti Smith.
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.