FAWM: "Wasted"

Wasted

Liner Notes

Sloppy demo, but some of it's in tune, I promise!

There's a lot of gloom about these days, much of it perfectly reasonable, but I remain an optimistic idiot. Despite the best efforts of a world designed to hollow us out and set us against one another, the human instinct to be kind bumbles on, and will quietly ruin the plans of those who turn their back on it.

#rock #post-punk

Lyrics

i got a job to stop me thinking
i got pills to stop me sinking
they got flavours but they all taste the same
i'm not alone
the algorithm knows my name

but i'm wasted, absolutely wasted
you're wasted, absolutely wasted
we're all wasted, absolutely wasted
so let's get wasted, absolutely wasted

i get anxious if you're not like me
my diagnosis is my identity
i got urges but i don't think i should
i want to cry, i want to sing, i want to love
i just want to do something good
that's all i want

but i'm wasted...

i know my place, a renter till i die
but on a good day i get a clear view of the sky
i lost connection with the way i feel
i just want to do something real

i just want to be someone good
i just want to do someone good
i just want to be something good
i just want to do something good

Comments

@afterschoolclub 19h

Oooh, this is a bit different. You're so bloody versatile! Loving the lyrical concept I have to say. The crunchy guitar work is very cool. I enjoyed this!

@miltz 1d

Debenham goes electric?!! Judas!

This is good. I like the backing vocals on the chorus a lot.

I don't fully share your optimism, but I do agree that the human instinct to be kind bumbles on. How many plans that will ruin remains to be seen, but what else can you do?

@richardmasters 2d

Really like this song, the voice you're using on the verses is so right for the lyrics,
my diagnosis is my identity - you say so much with this line alone. The backing is spot on too, a joyous, fragmenty groove

@philnorman 5d

Oh, wow. The musical contrasts within itself, the acknowledgement of the awful yet the stubbornness of good intent is like taking my own pulse. Even the context of these electric jagged edges against your prepensity for the acoustic and elegiac feeIs so real. You, we, are multitudes. I adore this.

@susyblue 1w

Not only r u clever but also bloody versatile. Love the wise badass verses with the whimsy wasted bits. So many great instrumental parts icing the cake. Lyrics as usual amazing

@waltermosch 1w

Cool lyrics! And rocks🤘

@sailingmagpie 1w

I agree that idiotic optimism is the only way! Love those ghostly backing vocals and the spiky guitars (especially on the little lead runs).

@beacon 1w

Agree with @bradbrubaker. This is a left turn! Love the stretching of you creatively, and I get behind the message.

@leepat 1w

so many moving parts make me anxious… bit of an optimidiot too… you’ve diagnosed the zeitgeist quite well… rings true

@bradbrubaker 1w

Wait, I thought this was @mikedebenham ....
*checks the username again*
Whoa! This is different! And a fun listen.
Favorite line: "the algorithm knows my name"

@lcad 1w

Ooh yes! This is a nice departure from the usual Mike I know and love on FAWM and I love it! Great lyrics, love the 'a renter til I die' line. The dissonance that pushes through all of this is deeply satisfying and makes it feels so appropriately unstable.

@oddbod 1w

Gosh you sound like someone else. So you have got a proper Aussie accent after all - you kept that quiet! 😉
Call that sloppy? Nah.

@mdavisto 1w

Good lord, this is very different for you. I like it. You have a distortion peddle!

Jesus. The lyrics tho.

"I know my place, a renter till I die."

Fuck.

Come live in SA, dude. Your currency is times two plus a zero on the end. You'd live like a king.

You are someONE good. And your presence in this world makes it better in a very tiny but still statistically significant way. Carry on.

@sunnymae 1w

Knock knock, who's there???? Michael!!! Get down with your RAD self. This iece and you are dope! These lyrics are gems. "i get anxious if you're not like me
my diagnosis is my identity" not to mention "i know my place, a renter till i die
but on a good day i get a clear view of the sky. I'm blown away by your languaging, seriously. The imagery and depth of truth strips one bare. Love the outright quirkiness of your arrangement, effects, etc. Great write, Mike!

@chasingandromeda 1w

OK so I'm double checking to make sure this is you. Not what I was expecting at all and that's delightful. Nice little existential etude. Digging the guitar tones.

@wynia 1w

I like how the guitar covers such a wide range which is really complementary to what the vocals are doing. Effects on the guitar are great too

@laurenoxford 1w

“i know my place, a renter till i die
but on a good day i get a clear view of the sky”
what devastating and hopeful and utterly perfect poetry. those two lines feel like the thesis statement of your optimism despite the world we live in.

i’m gonna keep this one on repeat in my brain to try and get myself through it all. thank you 💙

@thedutchwidows 1w

The music all sounds superb - not sure if the razor-y sounding thing is a synth or a guitar, I think guitar, but I wouldn't stake any money on it - anyway, that, sounds great; playing some complex lines, sounding gnarly as heck. The chorus just opens out really nicely. So much detail in here. That little vocal line at the end without the distortion on it - so nice! Think you and I may have different ideas as to what the word 'sloppy' means...

@fortelmfield 2w

Mike! Great track - I like the minimal, almost punk feeling to the guitars in this. Heavier than I'm used to hearing from you! Definitely feeling the weight of intent with the lyrics here though, it resonates.

@adforperu 2w

The post-punky style really pushes the sarcasm in your lyrics. Love the interweaving panned guitars and bass.. it's really chaotic before breaking out into the calmer beauty of the chorus.

@coolparadisoMod 2w

Yup i think you have summed up a lot of feelings! I like that just off guitar really gives that little uncomfortable feel as we should feel,

@autoclamp 2w

Word. I also want to be someone good. I am also somewhat wasted. As such, this is my co-sign. I love the noodly guitar throughout, and the keyboard stabbing along. And look at that! You've done something good.