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 Indonesia 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 1962 to 1975.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Johannesburg and Madrid.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Madrid 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 arpeggiator sounds with much patience.
I was there when Michael McDonald 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 New Order to the dance kids.
I played it at the Hacienda.
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 Drexciya. All the underground hits.
All Archie Shepp tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Rufus Thomas record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal crunk hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '50s cut and another box set from the '90s.
I hear you're buying a güiro and a synthesizer and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Kauko Röyhkä ja Narttu record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your 808 and bought a guitar.
I hear that you and your band have sold your guitar and bought a 808.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
The Cramps,
Dead Boys,
Skarface,
Vladislav Delay,
Jerry's Kids,
Au Pairs,
N.O.R.E. Featuring Pharrell,
Sonic Youth,
The Men They Couldn't Hang,
Nils Olav,
Franke,
Ralphi Rosario,
Johnny Osbourne,
Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks,
Althea and Donna,
Kurtis Blow,
Yellowson,
Peter and Kerry,
Nation of Ulysses,
X-102,
Harmonia,
Slave,
Fad Gadget,
Saccharine Trust,
Deepchord,
It's A Beautiful Day,
Marc Romboy vs. Booka Shade,
Nas,
Barbara Tucker,
Fela Kuti,
Rites of Spring,
The Star Department,
Von Mondo,
Massinfluence,
Half Japanese,
Connie Case,
The Red Krayola,
These Immortal Souls,
Soul Sonic Force,
Panda Bear,
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five,
Hardrive,
Angry Samoans,
Jacob Miller,
The Young Rascals,
Oppenheimer Analysis,
Sly & The Family Stone,
Tres Demented,
Kayak,
Rufus Thomas,
Gastr Del Sol,
Aloha Tigers,
Gian Franco Pienzio,
Bobby Byrd,
Tubeway Army,
Lyres,
Mo-Dettes,
Throbbing Gristle,
Fort Wilson Riot,
Radio Birdman,
Duran Duran,
Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dog,
Cal Tjader, Cal Tjader, Cal Tjader, Cal Tjader.
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.