1. |
Fight For
02:52
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LUC, WHEN YOU GONNA THROW IT IN THE TRASH? YOU WROTE A STORY BOOK AS IF IT’S S’POSED TO LAST. YOU MADE A STATEMENT UNDERSTATED, OVERPASS, AND NOW YOU PICK UP THE PIECES, PUT THEM BACK. WHEN A WHEEL SPINS HEAVY ON A SIDE THE OTHER CANNOT HOPE TO BE ALIGNED. YOU WERE JUST YOUNGER WHEN YOU SPLINTERED IN YOUR PRIDE AT THE LEFT WRIST; NOW SWING IT TO FEEL ALIVE.
BUT I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, OR YOU TO GIVE IN TOO.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD NEED HAS BEEN STOLEN OR WALKED OUT ON ITS NEW FEET. IT’S NOTHING NEW FOR WHAT CAN COME TO MAKE ITS LEAVE. NONE OF US ARE ALWAYS ‘WHAT WE THOUGHT WE’D BE.’
BUT I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, OR YOU TO GIVE IN TOO.
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2. |
Pieces Too Often
02:45
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WITH MY BACK ON CONCRETE YOU SAID, “YOU SHOULD LEAVE,” BUT I DIDN’T HAVE THE HEART IN THESE BLACK CORDUROY PANTS, WITH THESE WEAK AND USELESS HANDS. I HOPE I DON’T FALL APART ‘CAUSE I’VE BEEN PIECES TOO OFTEN. AND I’VE BEEN WONDERING WHY: IF I WANT THIS SO BAD, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TRY?
IN A DIFFICULT PHONE CALL THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER THIS FALL, YOU ASKED, “WHY’D YOU TAKE A PICTURE?” IF I HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, OPERA SINGERS AND DANCERS, THEN WHY’D I SAY, “I’M NOT SURE.”? –‘CAUSE I’VE BEEN PIECES TO OFTEN. AND I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT: IF I WANT THIS SO BAD, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO WORK AROUND?
YES, I’VE BEEN PIECES TOO OFTEN AND I DON’T WANT TO BE ANYMORE.
IF I WANT THIS SO BAD, WHAT AM I WAITING FOR?
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3. |
Devil
02:54
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THERE’S A DEVIL IN MY DETAILS, AND HE KNOWS MY NAME. NO MATTER WHERE I RUN, BESIDE ME HE REMAINS. RECOGNIZE WHO WE ARE. MAYBE I TAKE THIS TOO FAR. THERE’S A SMOKE THAT’S RISING AROUND OUR LIVES. NO MATTER HOW WE KILL OURSELVES, WE MANAGE TO SURVIVE. RECOGNIZE WHO WE ARE. MAYBE I TAKE THIS TOO FAR.
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4. |
I'd Like To Be Prepared
03:00
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WILL I FEEL LIKE THIS THE REST OF MY LIFE? WILL I GROW UP AND HAVE THREE KIDS AND WIFE, IN A SMALL HOUSE IN A SMALL TOWN? WILL I THINK THINGS THROUGH AS MUCH AS I DO NOW? WILL I WORK REAL HARD OR JUST LAY AROUND; LIVE A FAST LIFE IN A SHORT TIME?
I WANNA KNOW, ‘CAUSE I’D LIKE TO BE PREPARED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE.
WILL I DIE SO YOUNG THEY CALL IT PREMATURE, WITH NOTEBOOKS IN HAND, ALL CONFUSED AND UNSURE ABOUT WHAT LIFE MEANS (IF ANYTHING)? AND AT MY FUNERAL WILL YOU ALL CRY A LOT? BURY ME SIX FEET DEEP WITH EVERYTHING I BOUGHT, SO THAT WHEN I’M GONE I’LL KNOW WHAT I WAS?
I WANNA KNOW ‘CAUSE I’D LIKE TO BE PREPARED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE.
WILL I ALWAYS HAVE A GIRL TO HOLD MY HAND, CALL ME ‘BRUCE WAYNE,’ MAKE ME FEEL LIKE BATMAN? OR BE A COWARD, NO SUPER POWERS? WILL I DO THE MATH, FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT? WILL I WHIPSER IT, OR WILL I SHOUT WITH ALL OF MY BREATH ALL THAT I CONFESS?
I WANNA KNOW ‘CAUSE I’D LIKE TO BE PREPARED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE.
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5. |
I'm Still Here
03:16
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I’M STILL OBSESSED WITH THINGS RIDICULOUS, AND I’M STILL ME. (I’M) STILL WRITING SONGS ABOUT EMPTY GUNS AND LISTS OF THINGS. AND I KNOW TOO LONG I’VE GONE UNSEEN. AND I KNOW YOU’VE ALL BEEN WONDERING. I’M NOT GONE, JUST WITH MY HABITS. I’M STILL HERE, AND I’M STILL ALL OF THIS, JUST MORE FIRES IN HAND, ROAD SIGNS, AND SPRAY CANS. I’M LOSING MY BRAIN. FEWER, BUT CLOSER, FRIENDS, POOR TIME MANAGEMENT, BUT MOM, I’M OKAY. ‘CAUSE I KNOW TOO LONG I’VE GONE UNSEEN. AND I KNOW YOU’VE ALL BEEN WONDERING. I’M NOT GONE, JUST WITH MY HABITS. I’M STILL HERE AND I’M STILL ALL OF THIS. (I’M) STILL MOSTLY THE SAME, I NEVER LIKED CHANGE. IT’S A SCARY WORLD. SURELY LATE NIGHTS AND MORE ‘I’M ALRIGHT’S ARE NOT PERSONAL. I KNOW. AND I KNOW. I’M NOT GONE. I’M STILL HERE, AND I’M STILL ALL OF THIS.
OH, THIS WEAK VOICE AND WEAK KNEES, THINKING OF EVERYTHING, ALL THESE LOW VOLUME WORDS, SUCH SPECIFIC ADVERBS.
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6. |
Simeon's Dilemma
03:12
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7. |
Calculated Time II
04:06
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IT’S GETTING WITH THE TIMES, OUR VARIED AND DISTANT LIVES, ALL THE ANSWERS TOO HIDDEN TO FIND. IT’S LATE NIGHT TELEPHONES, ULTIMATELY ALONE, FALLING OUT WITH PEOPLE WE USED TO KNOW. HELP ME FIND MY PLACE. MAKE THIS FEVER GO AWAY. TEAR DOWN MY METAPHORS AND DON’T LEAVE ME WANTING MORE. THIS MOTHER-FATHER DYNAMIC, PARANOIA-PETER PANIC, COLD SWEATS, SHAKES, AND WORRIED SICK. THE FEELING IN MY EYES, TIRED OF ALL THE LIES, DISILLUSIONED TOO MUCH TO TRY. HELP ME FIND MY PLACE. MAKE THIS FEVER GO AWAY. TEAR DOWN MY METAPHORS AND DON’T LEAVE ME WANTING MORE. GLOSSY PAGES NOW FADED, ALL MY TIME-CALCULATED, LOSING TRACK OF HOW LONG WE’VE WAITED, CAPOED FIVE STRING GUITAR, TOO OFTEN TOO FAINT OF HEART. WORLDS AWAY BUT UNDER THE SAME STARS. DON’T LEAVE ME. DON’T LEAVE ME. DON’T LEAVE ME.
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8. |
While I Can
03:29
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LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU, AND I ALWAYS WILL. AND (THAT) IF YOU STOP ASKING ME FOR SECRETS, IT DOESN’T GIVE ME ANY LESS TO TELL.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO LET YOU GO WITHOUT TELLING YOU THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. IF YOU STOP LEADING ME WITH ANSWERS, THAT DOESN’T GIVE ME ANYWHERE TO GO.
IT’S BEEN HARD SOMETIMES. IT’S BEEN LONESOME NIGHTS AND ENDLESS DAYS. IT’S SO UNSURE, IT’S WHERE YOU WERE AND WHERE I’LL STAY. WE GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE SMALL THINGS. THEY DON’T MEAN MUCH AT FIRST BUT THEY ADD UP. IF I STOP DROWNING YOU IN PHONE CALLS, HOW WILL I KNOW IF YOU’D PICK UP?
IT’S BEEN HARD SOMETIMES. IT’S BEEN LONESOME NIGHTS AND ENDLESS DAYS. IT’S SO UNSURE, IT’S ALL THESE WORDS THAT RAN AWAY.
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9. |
Needs
02:28
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WE WERE YOUNG AND STUPID, MOST OF US. I WAS YOUNG AND USELESS. I’M STILL YOUNG. AND I NEEDED SOMETHING TO HOLD HIGH. WOULD YOU BE THAT SOMETHING? WOULD YOU TRY? WE TOOK A FEW CHANCES, NOW AND THEN, PROPOSED PTOSIS GLANCES, MANAGED FRIENDS. AND I NEEDED SOMEONE BEFORE MYSELF. COULD I CREATE THAT SOMEONE? WOULD IT HELP?
EVERYBODY KNOWS IT’S NOT THE TIME THAT CHANGES YOU, IT’S ALL THE THINGS YOU DO.
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10. |
Empty Gun
03:06
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WELL, IT FELT JUST LIKE A SCRIPT. AND I THOUGHT I WAS WRITING IT. I THOUGHT I WAS IN CONTROL. IT TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG FOR WHAT’S BEEN MUCH TO LONG, AND NOW I’M LOSING MY HOLD.
AND WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT THE HUSTLE AND WHAT’S GOING ON? WHERE DO I GO WITHOUT THE MUSCLE AND THE JOINTS TO WHICH THEY BELONG?
I’M NOT THIS CHARACTER. THOUGH I CAN USE ALL OF HIS WORDS, THAT’S NOT MY IDENTITY. I’M CAUGHT BEING MYSELF, TOO EMPATHETIC FOR IT TO HELP. BUT I SAY, “IT’S EASY TO BE ME.”
WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT THE HUSTLE AND WHAT’S GOING ON? WHERE DO I GO WITHOUT THE MUSCLE AND THE JOINTS TO WHICH THEY BELONG?
EMPTY GUN.
BROKEN WRIST.
WHAT YOU WANT TO BE DOESN’T EXIST.
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lucas britton Los Angeles, California
music for sharing and/or dancing
email me:
lucasilso@yahoo.com
lucas britton recommends:
when i grow up
by tuesday, 1996
the honest work of a good pal i knew once
go to album
songs for suburban teenagers vol. 2
by Pens, Pencils, and Writing Utensils
outstanding and inspiring music for running away from your enemies
go to album
Forget About It
by Horse Movies
the reason my discography jumps from 2015 to 2018 and also probably the coolest thing i'll ever think i did
go to albumIf you like lucas britton, you may also like:
you can reach me if you try
by Kindelan
Yorkshire songwriter and guitarist Kindelan explores life's in-between moments on a debut EP of soulful and sweet jazz.
go to album
A mixtape-style record that triangulates the worlds of guitar music, soulful hip-hop and club culture.
go to album
Split Screen EP
by Walk Home Drunk, Comité balnéaire
This split EP from two France-based musicians is a gem, both artists recalling the glory days of slowcore in their heart-tugging melodies.
go to album
