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CONSUME (Music: Kalv/Steve) Consume - consume it! Peer pressure fears inside Insecurities - trying to hide Buying possessions, friendships too Improve your image? It just falls through CHORUS: Consume - you just use your green Consume - to buy your way into a scene Wrong impressions of what matters Illusions can be easiliy shattered Money talks - you just listen Afraid to make your own decision CHORUS Consume consume wiith no thought Gain respect with what you've bought Empty headed - no idea Your pretense is crystal clear CHORUS Consumption without thought: that forms the basis of this song. Having to possess a certain thing because it will supposedly improve the quality of life or impress others is really a farce. But still materialism bites hard at all of us at times, whether it's household appliances, cars, houses, jewelery, clothes or even records, it all amounts to the same thing. Just having to own something because it might make us look better in the eyes of others is so superficial and shows what a sick society we live in. Sure, there are many items people need to have or just like having for pleasurable reasons, but when it becomes like a competition or an obsession to own things, it gets completely out of hand and greed takes control and the results of greed can lead anywhere, as greed is possibly at the root of many of the injustices that our society is bases upon. So be warned, money buys only a false position, no amount of wealth or possessions (be they fast cars or expensive band's t-shirts) really changes what you are inside. FACE UP TO IT (Music: Baz/Steve) Suspicions inside me often drag me down Face up to it! Bullshit gossip being spread around Face up to it! Gotta have the strength to push these problems aside Face up to it! But a fair chance is so often denied Face up to it! Face up to it! Face up to it! And I have the arrogance Despoise the pride Loathe the stubborness That eats you up inside Feel like nothing's done - just running on the spot Face up to it! Resist my pessimism - try to stop the rot Face up to it! I'll never let this squabbling get the better of me Face up to it! But at times I wish they'd just leave me be Face up to it! Face up to it! Face up to it! I often use this as a rallying cry for myself when I'm feeling down and defeatist. The simplicity of the approach to this song is completely intentional, so that the thoughtless people that thrive on spreading (often the most ludicrous) stories about us and other people we know, can, for once, take note what they are trying to achieve from all this gossip mongering. If there's any basis for truth and we have made a genuine mistake or let somebody down - feel free to criticise us directly (to our faces or write us and talkk), or if you just don't agree with what we say or do, get in touch! Only one person has ever approached me after a gig to disagree with my ramblings and we debated for a while about our differences. I welcome this! Anything constructive to say, come and ask! Put away the hearsay. (Stupids take note!) TOO CLOSE TO HOME (Music: Kalv/Steve) Years of studying history at my school Finding out how this world of ours came to be Alliances - pacts - distortion of facts Chunks of the globe forgotten - conviently? Valuable lessons gained through study But one major issue was evading me And whilst we were shown how inhuman the nazis were A similar thing was happening across the Irish sea Too close to home - just too close Too close to home - too near the bone (x2) As Britain's treatment of Ireland becomes more known to me Can I still believe the IRA are mere terrorists? In the face of social, economic and military repression That must be answered with equal aggression In a constant war for freedom many lives are lost But still Britain stays whatever the cost Because "the border's not an issue" - they can't afford to lose Just cloud it all in mystery - divide and confuse Divide - Confuse Divide - Confuse - Lose Ireland - the issue that should be left alone? Too near the bone and too close to home Lessons learnt from and about the empire days Just changing faces with the same power hungry ways You really make me sick Fucking liars, hypocrites Used every dirty trick You really make me sick After recently reflection on my history studies throughout school, I came to realise tha talthough we studied European modern history at some depth, Ireland was never spotlighted in the same way as other European nations, almost like it doesn't feature in European affairs. This made me naturally curious, and as I find out more about Irish hsitory, particularly in the 20th century, I see the reaons why it doesn't receive the same attention. Britain has committed every atrocity in the book in Ireland (and still does). Now, Britain hangs onto a piece of it's earliest colonial conquest, in an artificially created six county state (Northern Ireland), that it governs deirectly from Westminster with the aid of its contrived loyalist majority and of course, the armed forces. Whilst we are continually informed that the U.K. is free, Northern Ireland definitely is not free and attempts to "normalise" affairs there prove fruitless, as the nationalist community will always resist, by whatever means open to them - British imperialist repression and torture. We are continually told that the I.R.A. are terrorist scum by the British propaganda machine, but all they are fighting for is the right of self-determination. Is that soo much to ask for? No way! "Britain out of Ireland!" FLOWERS IN CONCRETE (Music: Kalv/Steve/John) Like flowers growing in concrete There's only so far we can reach (let me tell ya now!) Over the years we've pulled together Looked at our options and stayed clever And watched many directions taken And a mountain of integrity forsaken Constant changes all around us Do we just mirror the society that surrounds us? As we draw strength from each other With this spirit that we have discovered CHORUS: We had to change the game - change the game It's not jsut more of the same - more of the same Some laugh and leave their sinking ship Part of an iceberg of ignorance - the visible tip That hits us hard and we escape at best But when that ice has melted it drifts out with the rest CHORUS But like flowers in concrete There's only so far we can reach Do the best with what we've got Because a foothold is never a lot (that's right - it's not) We have to realise who we are We can only grow and go so far And don't fool yourself otherwise 'Cos in time you'll realise (the reasons why) We've reached the stage Where just a small percentage Can see how things really stand But it's hard to turn concrete into sand (no room to expand) So we stay on underground With this spirit we've found And our goals are in sight But change won't happen over night (unless we make it right) Sometimes I get so sick of the hopeless idealism and insular dogma that this plastic bubble that's called the hardcore scene often instigates. But when I distance myself from it I can still see, despite all the obvious limitations that possibilities for some kind of limited social change. People often say hardcore is dead, generic or stagnant, but half of the time it's themselves that are stagnant and are looking for a scapegoat to legitimize musical regression, so they can concentrate only on the music or happening on what's gone before. There's still many people around who are trying hard to create something that's interesting and informative. The "concrete" is always going to be around (at least in the forseeable future), it's up to us to make sure the "flowers" still keep rearing their heads and don't wither away. NETWORK OF FRIENDS (Music: Kalv/Steve) The world it transcends Understands - comprehends I hope it never ends This network of friends CHORUS: Enthusiasm - the only reason Continuation - is our dedication Participation and respect Ideas we can project The network takes effect A commitment you cannot neglect CHORUS Endless range To exchange An endless range . . . CHORUS . . . of thoughts Ideas Hopes And fears One of the greatest achievements of the HC development was/is it's great ability to transcend national boundaries, cultural differences and overcome language barriers. People from all over the globe are bonded together through their mutal love of a musical form and the spirit and attitude it represents. This growth is unparalleled by most other musical genres, and this working/communicating together has only served to widen people's interest/outlook on the world around them and is instrumental in eroding the fear, ignorance and mistrust that our respective societies often thrust upon us. The world now doesn't end outside our individual areas and I personally draw strength from that fact and with HC creeping into such unlikely places as the Phillipines, Peru, the Canary Isles and many Eastern Bloc countries etc., the barriers of ignorance can only be further withered away. WHEN UNITY BECOMES SOLIDARITY (Music: Music: Kalv/Steve) Unity or solidarity (x3) Which one? Unity or solidarity (x3) A choice Not so long ago we were a million miles apart But time changes everything and slowly we start To merge as one although it's tense at first An uneasy situation - for better or worse? CHORUS: When unity Is solidarity That's when it means something to me Strength as one Barriers gone Prejudice - there is none With time we're unified, buut on what grounds? Just the music we like has a similar sound OK - that's a start I guess, but that's all it is And I can't help but wonder if any good will come of this CHORUS When unity Is solidarity It means more to me Do you agree? Now I wonder "where do we go from here?" Often the future can be so unclear Maybe from the music a friendship we could build But only if all the stereotypes are killed CHORUS Unity or solidarity?! Here, the idea of unity is questioned as to just exactly what people are unified around. Musical unity is fine, but should be seen for what it is, very shallow if it stays at that one-dimensional level. However it can prove useful as a catalyst for a feeling of solidarity with people around similar views or ideas, no matter what musical preference, it's time to put away the harmful stereotypes and speak as we find. ACCEPTANCE (Music: Reevesy/Steve) The road you choose to take Is the surest way to fail Turn your head another way And continue on that trail To success? Money, fame A whole new ball game That has you magnetised Stop when you reach the sky CHORUS: Acceptance by those Who demand nothing Means little to me Respect of the new Losing face with the few Who have integrity And expected more from you But you planned right from the start Only waiting to depart A clever, calculated scheme CHORUS It's all caused by acceptance This song deals with the ever-increasing tendancy of HC enthusiasts in particular, becoming uncaring or undiscerning and thus prepared to tolerate high levels of platant stupidity and hhypocrisy. I'm not trying to set a guideline as to who and what anyone wants to or should listen to, we are all capable of making that choice ourselves, I'm mearely trying to raise people's conscious/awareness towards budding ego-trippers who are only interested in making music for their own selfish reasons, turning a relatively healthy, co-operative scene into a competitive, arrogant and commercially oriented music market stall, waiting to be used by the rock'n'roll machine... sounds attractive?? No! Of course not! It's up to what we're prepared to accept and support. CORNERED RAT (Music: Baz/Steve) Like the cornered rat That has no choice When the time has come That your voice Can't solve your problems Has no effect Must act in a way That is more direct CHORUS: Just like the cornered rat You must strike back! There's a breaking point Of no return Where a valuable lesson Should be learned If you stand for something A time will come When yo ucan no longer hide No longer run CHORUS Just like the cornered rat The only choice is to bite back (x2) This is basically another brief account of standing your ground over principals etc. It just reiterates the fact where if you stand for something, there may be a time when you can no longer turn away or compromise in order for any progress to be made - strike back!! |
DEDICATION FROM INSPIRATION (Music: Baz/Kalv/Steve) The challenge ahead is to stay interesting That's what a friend of mine once said The advantage is also to stay interested On inspiration I am fed Make our goals materialise Through education and dedication Everyone can share in this In each and every situation CHORUS: Dedication from inspiration Inspiration is my motivation The challenge is also to be orgainsed Make your thoughts known and not disguised Our input makes the world seem smaller With strength gained from experience I walk a little taller Fight for the energy - the will to continue To try to create - to see it all through Helped in these times by my travels I watch as the world becomes unravelled Struggling through hard times and frequent setbacks Breaking away to believe And worked towards building a better future With every changing of the leaves When people are down try to help them out When hurt or upset or full of regret Strive towards sharing it with others In togetherness it's easier to forget CHORUS Dedication from inspiration (x4) The inspiration being the people we have met or worked together with over the last few years or so. I got the idea for this song when we were travelling home in the night on the cross-channel ferry after our European tour with Chumbawamba. It worked out really well for both bands and was a great challenge for everyone involved. It was a test for people's often narrow definition of musical styles and by and large it worked out really well. My resolve was hardened to try harder and fight peronsally apathy and laziness, in the struggle to stay dedicated despite all setbacks. AGAINST THE GRAIN (Music: Kalv/Steve) No more, no more You heard this before? Forever resisting a traditionalist mode In search of equality - a never ending road Attitudes, thoughts over years have taken hold Manifested in people accepting the foretold No real reasoning behind this system of thought Constant evaluation keeps me from getting caught Simple honesty with scope makes a difference One dimensional thinking lacks freedom or sense CHORUS: Go - Against the grain - change from within Against the grain - constructive way to begin Go - Against the grain - change from inside Against the grain - we must try Barrieres, limitations, both cultural and institutional Erosion of these boundaries is absolutely crucial Counter cultures evolve too many to name But how many of them inspire real change? CHORUS Hit it! Agains the grain in our general direction Growing stronger since our inception But always open to your inspection My head is spinning set to burst And your rections? I expect the worst Gotta think of a way to end this verse Against the grain the way we'd like to go For how long now we can never know Ain't gonna be no guitar solo! Laid out our thoughts in this song Against what we believe is wrong We've remained this way now all along - Against the grain No more no more - Intolerance No more no more - Irrationality No more no more - Hypocrisy No more no more - Apathy CHORUS Against the grain! Struggle is good for the soul, and the hardest struggle is with oneself, to continually go against the grain, the norm, the accepted patterns of existance, compromises have to be made, for that's the way of our environment. To go along with the grain for conveniance's sake is the self-denial of integrity, the rocky road to unthinking conformity, in any sphere of life. I've already seen enough of that in my humble lifetime and it made me realise I have no desire to add myself to it. Rockstars, models, filmstars, heroes etc., it's all the same - part of the machinery that helps to make up "the grain". SICK OF STUPIDITY (Music: Mitch/Steve) Moralism, dogmatism, preaching - Sick of stupidity! Talk that has no meaning - Sick of stupidity! When sincerity is only surface level And your only concern is playing the rebel Your stance becomes an act I'll be pleased when your image has cracked Apolitical? Apathetic? Just don't care - Sick of stupidity! Nihilistic? Destructive? Just sit there - Sick of stupidity! Ego-tripping? Ignorant? Just naive - Sick of stupidity! Only in yourself is what yo ubelieve - Sick of stupidity! I'm sick! Moralism, dogmatism, preaching - Sick of stupidity! You talk but it has no meaning - Sick of stupidity! Selfish, competative, pretentious - Sick of stupidity! Homophobic? Racist? Lurking inside of you - Sick of stupidity! I'm sick! Irrational behaviour It's all I ever see But can you replace the stupidity With a little responsibility . . . we'll see S.O.S. I'm sick! This song is more or less self-explanatory. Stupidity is fairly easy to write about as it has so many forms and surrounds everybody's lives constantly. It begins as a state of mind, usually because of ignorance or circumstances, but then takes the shape of actions. At times it's easy to recognise the action or prectice part of stupidity (destruction, vandalism, thoughtless violence, etc.) and therefore easy to stand against, but the mental or theoretical side of stupidity is far harder to locate in people and can often be concealed. When I hear people saying such derogatory terms such as "bird" or "chick" or whatever, it really saddens me to think that people are not thinking about what they are saying. It's hard to challenge people's reasons for such stupidity. Mostly it's just through a lack of though about everyday behaviour. I think it's absolutely fundamental to assess oneself constantly to find any traces of stupidity and try to erase them through more thought, so as not to react unthinkingly to stupidity, which of course defeats the objective. TRAPPED IN A SCENE (Music: Kalv/Steve) Break the images of sexual norms Send them crashing not to be reborn Alternative? Different? A contradiction in terms The games still the same and no - no one ever learns CHORUS: Trapped Trapped in their fuckin' scenes Why? CHORUS Trapped in a scene where image is the key By lying and cheating, you crawl up that tree Heavy on the pretence for lasting impressions In a social dustbin where fun becomes depression It's still the same You're trapped Are you happy with that scene where nobody cares less? When you could have a scene of open minds and awareness It's just token rebellion - a teenage "Dallas" Fighting, backbiting - this is alternative? Alternative in name only Roleplay's the same witha new adopted name Why? I wrote this song in order to try and bring to light the popular misconception that the bulk of so-called "alternative" musical/social phenomenon is exactly what it proclaims to be - as all I ever see points to the contrary and is merely a new guise for "more of the same", particularly concerning sexual roleplay. This situation is enhanced by the utilizatin of marketable promoting and worn out themes including endless escapism, general apathy, gross ignorance and a high level of cliqueness that obviously results in division and fragmentation. So I've reached my own conclusion that there's nothing really alternative or radical about putting a clever new face/package on what's been going on in the music biz over the last 30 years or so, just basic conservatism, sticking rigidly to upheld institutions or buying out possible threats. Reject that mentality! (Thanx Ian!) INTO THE GREY (Music: Kalv/Steve) Into the grey Certain problems get pushed aside Certain feelings we'd prefer to hide Smash open a can of worms called sexuality Often misread as thoughtless promiscuity Into the grey It's defined by your sex And it's a lot to ask? For feelings to be unmasked Maybe it's cool to be in love Isn't that what life's all about? But the meeting of two hearts, two minds Means it doesn't always work out CHORUS: A lifetime of conditioning Is so hard to break But to turn away from the grey Would be a fatal mistake Emotions change so easily Differences blown out of context No one watns to take the blame Selfish pride ruins things again CHORUS Ingrained roleplay Is so hard to overcome A lifetime of conditioning Bites hard at everyone The grey area being sexism and sexuality and the way all of us are brought up to act our certain roles that go by unchallenged instead of being disregarded. I make no claims of being an expert in this field and indeed, parts of this song relate to how I've behaved in relationships and how stubborness and pride can so often mess up and confuse things needlessly. Also my observations on other people's conduct of their relationships and how love can so easily end up in hate because of pride, mistrust and jealousy people can end up so bitter and twisted because of a breakdown in their relationships and a failure to communicate rationally and logically with one another. The wall around us was/is constructed so well that it suffocates a free and unpressurised relationship and replaces it with fear, suspicion, possesiveness and a general adherance to sexual roleplay. BUILD UP - KNOCK DOWN (Music: Baz/Kalv/Steve) Always missing the outset Sharpening your pen with a different story Is your enthusiasm based on interest? Or just your own personal glory Because now I question your reasons As we become mere catalysts In your bid for recognition Our fate is your decision Go! Your power scares me Your work stares at me And even though we're friends now I still wonder why? How? It's something alien to us But just a day's work to you So we try to explain our point of view Does naivity show through for you? Build up, knock it down (x4) Build up, knock it down - One day that wave will fall to the ground Build up, knock it down - Wash your hands then of what you've found Build up, knock it down - Would you like to prop us up or pull us down? Build up, knock it down - But our roots will always remain in the underground Don't play us as fools Got no interest in trends nor pedastals As your own angle compromises ours You place us on the crest of a wave But we approach with hesitation Naivity opten leads to manipulation Build it up - Knock it down! . . . is the common policy of the music press, that are only ready to capitalise on bands that are seeking their fifteen minutes of fame. The past year has seen the music press step up their flirtation with the real underground, and at first, this seemed like a step in the right direction, but now, a year or so on, I view the situation again, re-read the articles that have been written (including the ones we participated in) and I feel differently now that the excitement or novelty value has worn off. The possibilities for progress have again been squandered, confused and abused in an endless sea of artificially contrived hype and dilution. A bitter taste has been left in my mouth, but that's just rock'n'roll for ya - all style and no content. THE STREET ENTERS THE HOUSE (Music: Kalv/Steve) Inside at home What happens next? Outside is the noise Of the streets unrest With poverty and ignorance The greatest weapon It seems only too obvious Just why it should happen CHORUS: The street enters the house (x4) Armed with a real cause And no real direction Just to smash the symbols Of repression A rhythm of anger Directing its hate Testing the water In the ocean of the state CHORUS (x2) The house seems so isolated When the street stands all around But in the ovean of the state The street is always drowned Concessions made To silence the street To make it content To admit defeat The structure is shaken But the foundations still stay The street must bury them But the house stands in it's way The romantic vision of civil unrest bringing about progressive social change through direct action is a common one that can get distorted or misunderstood and end up as an excuse to legitamise violence of the mindless variety. Spontaneous outbursts of resistance can be progressive and productive when they spotlight the difficulties people face and the poor quality of everyday life and make the authorities take notice of injjustice, poverty and inequality. The uneven distribution of wealth and power will no doubt always cause conflict and I believe that most forms of that conflict are progressive. MAKE THE CONNECTION (Music: Kalv/Steve) Living your life Your head's right in the clouds One of these days Gonna have to fall right down Ability to think straight That's a stumbling point How you express yourself So out of fucking joint So make the connection No one's an exception The world begins with me and you I hope yo usee that too You're trying But what have you overlooked? You're thinking But still your mind is drugged You're dreaming That's how it seems to me You're hoping The full picture we will never see Political awareness means little if you don't know how to apply certain levels of individual responsibility for your own actions concerning the immediate world around you. Often, people that outwardly declare themselves to be respectful of others and interested in basic freedom and liberty (through symbols/slogans worn on their clothes etc.) indulge in displays of macho violence and mindlessness. The reaosns for this are probably many and varied (looked at them wrong or dared to debate from a differing viewpoint etc.), but the end result is futile and the double standard is often overlooked. Make "da" connection for political and social awareness. |