Wednesday, July 28, 2010

"Self!" by Deep Cotton

(c) 2006 Rina S. Prussin

Here are the song lyrics to a very terrific song ... song called "Self!" by Deep Cotton ... it's the first song on the compilation for this month's edition of the magazine The Believer ... the Music Issue ...

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Getting ridiculous!
I'm getting ridiculous!
Always feel like I'm ...
playing games and I ...
losing all the time
Maybe it's just my mind

Guitar says to me:
Self!
Extra points if you refuse to take your medication.
Self!
Extra points if you're black and dance whiter
... Or if you're white and talk blacker
Self!
_ [unintelligible words] if your own girlfriend thinks you're game
You think she's right

Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it

Who will help me with the mirror?
Who will help me with the beat?

SON, TAKE OUT THE TRASH!
Dad, there are maggots in there
Dad, there's maggots in there

Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it

Dad, there are maggots in there
Dad, there's maggots ...

Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it Get right down to the game right now This fool is dying, don't forget it

Self!
Extra points if your shadow has a [unintelligible words] for a transfer
Self!
Extra points if the lyrics have just stopped making sense.
Self!
Extra points if you wonder where all those grey hairs came from

Raise your hand if dancing is your therapy
Self!
Extra points if you thought this game was going to end differently now
with two children, a house, and an electric car
Raise your hand if you'd like to buy a new body
... Or a little more timing
Self!
Extra points if you do not know how to put your heart back together
Raise your hand if it all sounds like science fiction and
it's just your life
And if you have memories for sale,
see the ushers in the yellow suits
They can help you now

-- Deep Cotton

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I wish I could upload the file!!! It is such a good song ... the beat, their voices, the instruments. The underlying subject is very serious but the music and beat makes it *sound* fun and lighthearted. This song reminds me of The Talking Heads ... that balance of very serious subject matter but sounds fun ... the lyrics ("... stop making sense" are the most obvious ones) and the instruments. If any of you subscribe to The Believer and listen to this song ... let me know what you think -- leave a comment.

3 comments:

Chuck Lightning said...

Hey.

This is Chuck Lightning of Deep Cotton...

Loved the post!

You did a really, really great job with your transcription, but I thought I'd give you the full lyrics, so you could understand the parts that were unintelligible...

And keep listening...we have a lot more music coming soon...


Self!

Verse 1:

I’m getting ridiculous!
I’m getting ridiculous!

Always feels like I
Playing games and I
Losing all the time
Maybe it’s just my mind

And the guitar says to you:

Self! Extra points now if you refuse to take your medication!

Self! Extra points if you’re black and dance white or are white and talk black now!

Self! Bonus rounds if your own girlfriend thinks you’re gay! And you think she’s right!

Chorus:

Doo da breakdown do the game right now just lose and die and don’t forget it!

I’m getting ridiculous!

Doo da breakdown do the game right now just lose and die and don’t forget it!

I’m getting ridiculous!

Verse 2:

Who will help me with the mirror?
Who will help me with the beat?

Son, Take out the trash!

“There are maggots in there, dad, there’s maggots!”

Doo da breakdown do the game right now just lose and die and don’t forget it!

“There are maggots in there, dad, there’s maggots!”

Doo da breakdown do the game right now just lose and die and don’t forget it!

Self! Extra points if your shadow has applied for a transfer!

Self! Extra points if the lyrics have just stopped making sense!

Self! Extra points if you wonder where these gray hairs came from!

Raise your hand if dancing is your therapy!

Self! Extra points if you thought this game was going to end differently...

With two children, a house, and an electric car…

Raise your hands if you would like to buy a new body or just a little more time!


Always feels like I
Playing games and I
Losing all the time
Maybe it’s just my mind

Self! Extra points if you do not know how to put your heart back together!

Raise your hand if it all sounds like science fiction and it’s just your life!

If you have memories for sale, please see the ushers in the yellow suits…

They can help you now…

Ms. Manitoba said...

Hey, Chuck! What a blast! Thanks for sending the lyrics. I love love love that song!!!!! Will keep in touch. I visited your website too and will keep in touch one way or the other. I wish you much success!

Aaron said...

I also subscribe to the Believer and really dig this song. 'Too funny what you said about similarities between this track and the Talking Heads sound. When I first listened to the song--before I'd looked at the track listing--I was pretty sure it was Talking Heads. Good call! Nice blog too!