1. |
The Ant
04:04
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I climbed my way up to the lip.
If I concentrate I won't slip.
It took so much to get here,
I traveled so far.
But look at me now
I made it, I made it, I made it.
I’m the ant floating
in a jar of honey.
I'm the ant floating
in a jar of endless…
I remember the day
we heard the news
there is treasure unmeasurable
in the land above you.
So I packed my tiny little bags,
marched off for the glory.
I’m gonna make my queen so proud,
you’re all gonna know me
as the ant floating
in a jar of honey.
I’m the ant and to me
it's far from funny.
I’m the ant and god I miss my mummy.
Now what am I gonna do
with all this endless, endless…
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2. |
The Humming Song
04:54
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In the year 1655
a Russian peasant picked potatoes.
As the sweat stung his brown eyes
he’d look up at the manor and softly hum.
When the earth was covered in ice
a Neanderthal mother fed her fire.
From the cave came her baby’s cry.
To soothe him to sleep she’d softly hum.
On the planet Kepler 11i
a squid-like life form secretes its language.
As the moons slide through the sky
a wind from the valley blows through the crystal trees.
And they vibrate and make a sound like…
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3. |
The Tyrant
06:23
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I’m a tyrant, I rule my state,
on each street corner is a picture of my face.
I talk to God daily, he likes me the most,
and those who say otherwise start hanging from lamp posts.
I’m big and I’m strong
and soon you’ll all see
just how beautiful life can be
when it's under my control.
Mummy never loved me and Daddy was a drunk
but if they could see all I’ve achieved
they’d be so proud of their son.
Things are so much better now,
they’re the best they’ve ever been
and when I speak the crowds erupt
and I feel them let me in.
I know, it’s frightening.
But trust me, you’ll see.
Just how beautiful life can be
when it's under my control.
Isn't it wonderful, we all think the same now,
we all feel the same now, we are all one.
Isn’t it wonderful, we are connected,
we are unified, we are all one.
Isn’t it wonderful, we are utopian,
we are superior, we are all one.
And the masses sing.
And the masses sing.
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4. |
Over
07:22
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A fire crackles at my feet.
The kids are playing peacefully
on my seven million dollar persian rug.
They’re toasting marshmallows on twigs
and when they’re golden brown
they bring them over here for me to eat.
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over so soon.
My supermodel wife looks lovingly at me,
she just signed a publishing deal,
she’s the next Harper Lee.
My Oscars twinkle and gleam,
my phone won't stop buzzing,
everybody wants to hear from me.
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over so soon.
Then in my wife’s eyes I begin to see
pixelation spreading out
as she starts to lag and flicker.
My baby boy glitches over to me,
says, “Daddy I lo-.. - s __ .._”
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over.
Don’t tell me it’s over so soon.
I stare down at my feet
standing on the holodeck,
surrounded by projectors.
I walk back along the passageway to see
the astronauts frozen in their cryogenic pods.
Their vital signs still look fine to me
so I pick up the broom and do a lap,
open the chute, eject the trash,
and stare out at the passing galaxy.
Everything seems so quiet out there,
everything is so quiet in here,
only 14 years of this,
only 14 years of this,
only 14 years of this to go.
Tell me it’s over.
Please tell me it’s over.
Can’t it be over soon.
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5. |
The Rock and The Pigeon
03:19
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A rock sat next to a pigeon on the ground
and the pigeon said, “Aren’t we lucky just to be around?”
The rock said, “You clearly know nothing of this world,
I’m just a lifeless thing and you’re just a stupid bird.”
The pigeon said, “What’s the use in talking like that?
It’s all these thoughts up in your head that are making you so mad.”
“Don’t you know that thinking gets you nowhere.
“Don’t you know that thinking gets you nowhere.
“Don’t you know that thinking gets you nowhere fast”
The rock said, “Oh my God, what have I done with my life,
I’ve been sitting here complaining and wasting all my time.”
The pigeon said, “Don’t worry, it’s never too late.
I might just be a stupid bird but I know you rocks have ages.”
The rock said, “Yeah, you're right, I live for a really long time.
Maybe I’ll go find myself a red hot igneous wife.
That could be really nice.”
Because now I know that thinking gets you nowhere.
Now I know that thinking gets you nowhere.
Now I know that thinking gets you nowhere I’m free.
I’m free.
I’m free.
Because now I know that thinking gets you nowhere I’m free.
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6. |
Maris
07:20
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We are lonely sailors far out at sea.
We see things in the waters nobody else sees.
When the fog rolls over and there’s no breeze
shapes move below us singing, “Join us in the deep.”
We jump off the deck and down into the green,
their silver tails waving as they whisper, “Follow me.”
But the deeper down we get, the further they recede,
until we lonely sailors are lost in a forest of weeds.
Just as we let go of our last breath, the forest parted.
I’ll never be able to forget the sight of that glorious golden kingdom.
All the merpeople gathered in the square,
arms open, minds open, hearts open.
We stepped forward and felt gills appear
on our necks and scales down our legs.
Never in my life have I felt more at home.
Never in my life have I felt less alone.
Never in my life have I felt more at home.
Never in my life have I felt less alone.
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7. |
Iluka
07:54
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We rode a rainbow, called it rainbow road,
ran late to the airport, and caught the flight so stoned.
Then laser birds fired around us in 360 sound.
You left your sandal at the beach so we drove back down.
We bought two pillows from the Red Cross, prepared for luxury,
blew up the air mattress, and all night it slowly leaked.
In the morning I woke up first, your body over me.
I’d never felt so weightless before. I’d never felt so free.
There was a crowd by the lighthouse, all these friends dressed up.
There was a pope and a hulk and a jester.
There was a genie and a nun.
In the center stood an old couple, renewing vows.
And as he lifted her pink polka dot veil, nobody made a sound.
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8. |
Happy Birthday
04:17
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Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.
You’re on your own, you check your phone, and the clock says 12:02.
I wish you a merry birthday. A warm custard and cherry birthday.
Happy birthday to you. What friends you’d have around your flat
if you hadn’t systematically alienated each and every single one.
Can you remember how sweet and pure she was
before you dictated every aspect of her life.
Well now she’s someone else’s wife
so happy birthday to you.
Can’t it be the worst day, your birthday,
just a marker of a lap around the sun.
You were here before when you were four,
when they handed out fairy bread to everyone.
And so you wonder just how it could be possible
that your life has come to a head
while you’re a grown man craving fairy bread.
So happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.
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9. |
One for Gina
06:49
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As the curtain falls on planet earth
the politicians with blind ambition squabble over patches of dirt.
And when the billionaires blast off into the milky way
they look back at me and you on a dot that once was blue
but now is a kind of browney-grey.
At least they’ll have each other
and a dwindling supply of champagne
as they search for another
planet to conquer and claim
for years and years in vain.
And when their oxygen tanks hit the reserves
chaos arrives, they split up into tribes
and fight over who gets eaten first.
Among the orgies and cannibal buffets
Adani turns to Gina, says, “Gee, it's nice to see ya.”
She smiles. Then runs a screwdriver into his ribcage.
At least they’ll have each other
and a dwindling supply of champagne
as they search for another
planet to conquer and claim
for years and years in vain.
Back on earth, things have changed.
We’re digging tunnels and mass graves.
The cities are empty, just bullet shells and tumbleweeds
and cockroaches eat away at the last Matisse.
Kids are born and raised that never see the stars,
that never know being outside without a gas mask.
And far down below it all, we huddle and survive
like ants trapped in colonies for the rest of our lucky lives.
But at least we’ll have each other
and a chance to start again.
As together we take cover
from dust storms and acid rain.
While far up above us those billionaire bodies float.
Silent in zero gravity, hands wrapped around each other’s throats.
I’m glad I'm not one of those poor people.
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10. |
The Lion
06:40
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I went hunting, down in my spine.
In the tangled arteries I spotted a fearsome lion.
He heard me coming, turned his golden mane,
started towards me, so I hid between two vertebrae.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
When the lion found me, I heard his breathing slow.
Blood dripped from his whiskers,
raining down on my cartilage and bone.
I held my rifle steady, and as the lion pounced
I pulled the trigger and the lion turned into a mouse.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I can relax now.
I healed my back now.
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Danny Barwick Melbourne, Australia
Danny Barwick is a producer, singer, and songwriter from Melbourne known for his heartfelt, textural, and vividly cinematic
music.
In 2019, he moved to a small coastal town in the rainforests of northern New South Wales to write his debut album, ‘Iluka.'
He has spent the last 12 months backpacking through Latin America, and is now living in New York.
... more
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