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 Peru and from Columbus.
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 1965 to 1970.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Portland and Houston.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Taipei 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 1976 at the first Soft Boys practice in a loft in Cambridge.
I was working on the snare sounds with much patience.
I was there when Donald Fagen 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 the Swans to the rock kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
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 Joe Finger. All the underground hits.
All Joy Division tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Wire record on German import.
I heard that you have a white label of every seminal electroclash 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 linndrum and are throwing your macbook out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Mary Jane Girls record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your guitar and bought a synthesizer.
I hear that you and your band have sold your synthesizer and bought a guitar.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records?
Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks,
The Tremeloes,
Michelle Simonal,
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five,
Oneida,
Bad Manners,
Ajijia Myrayebe,
Kurtis Blow,
Q65,
Roy Ayers,
Hardrive,
Sight & Sound,
Mary Jane Girls,
Parry Music,
Girls At Our Best!,
Mark Hollis,
The Gun Club,
Kool Moe Dee,
The Trojans,
Art Ensemble Of Chicago,
The Busters,
Nick Fraelich,
Cecil Taylor,
the Germs,
Black Flag,
The Searchers,
Dual Sessions,
Mr. Review,
Goldenarms,
Bronski Beat,
Circle Jerks,
James White and The Blacks,
Henry Cow,
Man Parrish,
Gang Starr,
Roger Hodgson,
Q and Not U,
A Certain Ratio,
Lou Reed & John Cale,
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth,
The Residents,
Franke,
Shuggie Otis,
Newcleus,
The Slackers,
Bill Near,
The Cramps,
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band,
Make Up,
Second Layer,
Ronan,
The Barracudas,
Sarah Menescal,
Sunsets and Hearts,
Barbara Tucker,
Index,
Wighnomy Brothers & Robag Wruhme,
DJ Style,
Gerry Rafferty,
Wasted Youth,
Stiv Bators,
Bluetip, Bluetip, Bluetip, Bluetip.
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.