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 Yemen and from Hong Kong.
But I was there.
I was there in 1967.
I was there at the first Rodriguez show in Detroit.
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 1963 to 1973.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Madrid and Columbus.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school London 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 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 June Days to the rap 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 It's A Beautiful Day. All the underground hits.
All Cluster tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every The Mighty Diamonds record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal jazz hit - 1985, '86, '87.
I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '80s cut and another box set from the '70s.
I hear you're buying a harpsichord and a güiro and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Art Ensemble Of Chicago record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your theremin and bought a snare.
I hear that you and your band have sold your snare and bought a theremin.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
Dark Day,
Notorious BIG live in Amsterdam,
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band,
Mission of Burma,
Jandek,
Kerrie Biddell,
Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dog,
Grey Daturas,
a-ha,
Barry Ungar,
Soft Cell,
Kenny Larkin,
Bobbi Humphrey,
Althea and Donna,
Tres Demented,
Youth Brigade,
Slick Rick,
DJ Style,
OOIOO,
Joensuu 1685,
The Sonics,
Jawbox,
Arcadia,
Marshall Jefferson,
48th St. Collective,
The Happenings,
E-Dancer,
Byron Stingily,
Joyce Sims,
Accadde A,
Bobby Byrd,
Arab on Radar,
Electric Prunes,
Pussy Galore,
Public Image Ltd.,
Swell Maps,
Suicide,
Royal Trux,
Moby Grape,
Joe Finger,
Cheater Slicks,
The Velvet Underground,
Adolescents,
The Beau Brummels,
Kango’s Stein Massive,
Make Up,
Reuben Wilson,
Ultimate Spinach,
the Association,
Hashim,
Joy Division,
Faraquet,
Fugazi,
The Tremeloes,
Loose Ends,
The Fugs,
N.O.R.E. Featuring Pharrell,
Man Parrish,
New Age Steppers,
the Fania All-Stars,
Sister Nancy, Sister Nancy, Sister Nancy, Sister Nancy.
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.