1. |
An Abundance of Rubes
03:43
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You know it's easy
You know it's easy to be manipulated
Take it from me
I used to be
Such a dumbass
I'm still a dumbass
But now I know it
I try to keep it low key, usually
Such an abundance of rubes, we're redundant
A loose collection on whom it is incumbent
To not destroy ourselves but instead our ideology:
What's in it for me?
You earn a living
Yeah you earn a living to be indoctrinated
Just so you can see living ain't free
Accept the charges or there will be charges
Your fingerprint fine print is full of hidden fees and no guarantees
Such an abundance of rubes we're redundant
A loose collection on whom it is incumbent
To not destroy ourselves but instead our ideology:
What's in it for me?
Or you could break out on your own
Learn to text with a rotary phone
Write some essays in the dirt
Opinions that the ants subvert
Before the wind and rain erase them with no trace
And you finally crack like a CD case
You know it's easy
So goddamn easy to be manipulated
Until you only see
Your own and your enemy
It's hard to miss it
Don't be complicit, you'll see
Critical thinking we can agree
Can easily atrophy
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2. |
Things Keep Changing
02:41
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Remember what we used to know?
Remember half an hour ago?
Stay with me on this
It will make sense
Until it fades from relevance
The future is so yesterday
Cutting edge is so passé
Never mind embellishing the resume
Toss the syllabus
This is the only quiz:
Is there something after this?
There is, of course there is
Of course that's one analysis
Where history becomes showbiz
As we forget and reminisce
Together at the end of wits
With misdirected reverence
And in the meantime
Things keep changing but not what needs to change
Things keep changing but not what needs to change
Things keep changing but not what needs to change
Stay with me on this
We're on the path
Straight to the latest aftermath
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3. |
How to Feel
03:12
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Probably should’ve started slow
But you don’t know what you don’t know
Eventually though I caught on
And on and on but gone is gone
Now all my people set upon
Just finishing this marathon
Probably should’ve started slow
But that was a long time ago
I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel
But I feel like this
Probably should’ve let it be
But can’t ignore what you don’t see
Finally did just let it go
And go and go but kept it though
Now all my people wanna know
Their inner self so apropos
Probably should’ve let it be
But that’s not the reality
I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel
But I feel like this
Here come the walking self-help books
Phones in hand and up they look
Seven habits for six types
Empaths with their water pipes
They teach a class where you make the knife
To cut yourself out of your life
Probably should’ve tried before
But I was sure that less is more
So all I got I gotta give
And give and give though relative
Now all my people wanna live
A little more cooperative
Probably should’ve tried before
But that’s before I heard the score
I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel
But I feel like this
You don’t know what you don’t know
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4. |
Terrific Tank Top Tan
02:28
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God's therapist
Is trying out a new technique
It's experimental
Oh man, there's just so much grief and guilt
To the hilt
But you with your tank top tan
The world turns the way you spin
So smart with that dumb grin
A win-win
It's fundamental
To try and not bring work home
That's detrimental
Oh man, there's just so much one can bear
And not sure
But you with your tank top tan
The world spins the way you turn
All that time with no concern
Lesson learned
And if you want to pray
Keep in mind they're in session today
God's therapist
Has had to dig beneath the grace
Progress is incremental
Oh man, there's just so much to unpack
Looking back
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5. |
So What About Love
03:42
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They pulled a fast one when they put me in charge
Couple extra bucks, it ain’t exactly living large
I gotta lot to do and I can’t leave til I’m done
Gotta crew of weirdos, but last month I was one
Hi I’m the night manager
Supervising rank amateur
We’re open all night so I guess you’re coming in
Pajamas and sports coat
Tryin’ to find the margarine
Never mind the stock guy higher than a Georgia pine
No matter what you ask he’s gonna tell you aisle nine
Yes I’m the night manager
Calculatin’ work/life balancer
Piped in music round the clock
Background loop of 80s pop
So What About Love sticks like clay
No, Ann Wilson, I won’t let it slip away
I might need it someday
I probably won’t last I’m already burning out
Cashier called in so now I’m covering checkout
Need to find a job where I can get home before dawn
I gotta lot to do and the list goes on and on and on and on…
I have a store key but we never really close
This institution of low-priced hi fructose
(2 for 1 on Oreos)
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6. |
Oral Suspension
03:21
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Your friend doesn’t really care
I guess that’s fair
Someone has to leave a hole
It’s out of your control
Maybe someone did them too
How they did you
Which leads us back to you know who
Hey isn’t this your shoe?
Check the footnotes
Note the air quotes
Read the captions
Avoid distractions
Someone needs a compliment
There’s no dissent
Everybody has been there
In fact we’re all still there
Let me take the time to say
You’ve done okay
Now your friend sends a late night text
They’re a complete wreck
Check the footnotes
Note the air quotes
Take a deep breath or your pills or both
Embrace impersonal growth
Just heed the signals
As if it’s simple
Deduce intentions
Make the corrections
Look both directions
Your friend doesn’t really care
I guess that’s fair
Everybody has been there
In fact we’re all still there
We’re all still there
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7. |
If You Only Knew Me
03:55
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If you knew me
You’d know I wish you well
And not only
Because I don’t know you well
Hopefully
You’ve got someone to tell
And can truly
Still be who you thought you were
Before whatever came
And left you drifting and unsure
I feel the same
We feel the distance
Almost disappear
Occupying
Our common lonely atmosphere
My friend told me
Something so long ago
It stayed with me
Like something I need to know
Hopefully
He still believes it’s so
And will only
Reflect fondly on those days
Before whatever came
And with it all new rules
Changing the game
We feel the distance
Despite the bond
Occupying
A time that was once upon
I'm not trying to sugarcoat
It’s not like me
To mislead or oversell
But I know that if you knew me
You’d know I wish you well
You’ll be who you thought you were
Before whatever came
And you’ll feel tethered and assured
Hope I feel the same
We’ll feel the distance
Almost disappear
Occupying
Our common lonely atmosphere
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8. |
Forwards and Backwards
03:30
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Tell me what to say
You always had a way with words
And maybe afterwards
Teach me to believe them
Let me figure out
How to use my mouth for good
To be understood
And maybe finally reach them
Or not
There’s this thing you do
I can’t get into it now
But that’s how I knew you could
Help me understand myself
Long enough to try to help
Someone, who knows?
Tell me how it goes
You always seem to know the words
And maybe afterwards
Teach me to believe them
Until I can repeat them
Forwards and backwards
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Milk Carton Superstars Orlando, Florida
Milk Carton Superstars are the songwriting team of Guy Larmay (guitar, bass) and Jim Myers (vocals, drums) doing a fair approximation of a rock & roll band. People generally like them. They’ve written, recorded and released 93 songs since 2009. Most are made of guitars, drums and some reasonable words. MCS are often joined on stage by bassist Jeff Boyce and violinist Jennie Landau. ... more
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