#tystm

We’ve had a request for these to be put online somewhere for those without an LP. Hope people get something out of them, they’re kind of a mess here and there but they capture the last three years nicely. Apologies for the lack of punctuation but in the absence of traditional structure (and it’s far from poetry) this way feels right for the songs. Cheers! -Ben

THE COLISEUM 1921

YOU'LL BUILD A NEST UNDER THE RADAR YOU'LL RIDE THAT DEAD HORSE FROM WINTER THROUGH SPRING ONLY TO REALISE THAT NAG GOT YOU NOWHERE SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY ON RECORDS NEVER QUESTION HOW YOU LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT BUT WHEN DID IT MATTER TO YOU ANYWAY? YOU'LL NIGHTLY DRIVE PAST THE COLISEUM JUST METRES FROM THE STAGE WHERE MENTAL HEALTH WAS SERVED UP ON A PLATE FOR THE LIONS THERE'S NO MORE TIME FOR FLIGHTS OF FANCY THERE'S NO MORE ROOM FOR FRIVOLOUS WASTE A DIRT BUDGET FOR YOUR CHAMPAGNE TASTE YOU MIGHT SEE YOURSELF A STAGGERING GENIUS BUT REALLY YOU'RE JUST HEARTBREAKING WORK FOR THOSE WITH THE COMPASSIONATE CURSE SO RAISE YOUR HANDS TO THE SKY 'TIL YOU RESEMBLE IN TIME THOSE OLD HEADLESS TREES MAULED TO CLEAR A PATH FOR THE POWERLINES YOU'LL FIND ME IN THE MIDST OF A NEW LIFE I'LL WISH YOU WELL BUT NOT REALLY STILL IT'S THE ILLUSION OF THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

TRAFFIC ISLAND WREATH

OUR LOVE READS LIKE A TRAFFIC ISLAND WREATH RUBBERNECKING MOTORISTS STRAIN THEIR EYES TO SEE A PLAQUE THEY'RE NEVER CLOSE ENOUGH TO READ COMMEMORATING ACCIDENTS THERE'S NO JOY IN REMEMBERING THAT MORNING TRAIN BACK HOME FROM CENTRAL PAGING THROUGH YOUR DOG-EARED BLACK SPRING VISIONS OF ME AND YOU SOME HENRY AND JUNE SMOULDERING PRODIGIES SHACKED UP ALONG THE HAWKESBURY THE CHORUS OF THOSE WIND-UP BIRDS THE CAR CRASH COSTUME PARTY THE TAXI QUEUES THAT LEFT THEIR BRUISE ON EVERY INCH OF YOU YOU SAW THAT BLACK CLOUD IN THE CORNER OF YOUR ROOM MEDICATED FOR YOUR WISDOM TOOTH AND YOU FOUND IT SO PATHETIC I COULD BE RENDERED CATATONIC BY THE PASSING TWO TWO FIVE SO I WHILED AWAY THE TIME LEARNING HOW TO CRUCIFY MYSELF AND UNLIKE SOME I DIDN'T STAND SO PROUD IN THAT GALLERY POOR ADMISSIONS HAD THEIR WAY WITH ME MY HANDS ARE ALWAYS CLEANER THAN MY CONSCIENCE DON'T YOU SEE? C'EST LA VIE OUR LOVE READS LIKE A TRAFFIC ISLAND WREATH THIS SORDID TALE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH ME STOP DEFENDING THOSE LOST LOVES STOP DEFAMING THOSE LOST LOVES THEIR STORY GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON YOUR STORY GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON

MY VERY OWN GREY GARDENS

YOU'VE HIT RESET ON EVERY ACHIEVEMENT YOUR PRIDE PUT YOU IN A PRIVATE TRENCH SO WHY CAN'T YOU TAKE SOME HOLLOW COMFORT IN THE YEARS THAT BURNED AWAY? IT'S A SOULLESS SOLACE IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A SINGLE DAY A QUARTER LIFE CRISIS ONGOING AN AXE GROUND DOWN TO NOTHING HEAD BETWEEN YOUR KNEES HANDS OVER YOUR EYES I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT HOME BUT FOR NOW IT WILL SUFFICE A COUGH THAT SHAKES THE HEAVENS SENDS YOU BACK WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG A MOULD IS CLAIMING TENANCY IN THE WALLS AND IN YOUR LUNGS STAY IN BED FOR ONE MORE SEASON LIKE YOU EVER NEED A REASON THERE NEVER WAS A REASON AN OVERBEARING LULLABY TRAVELS THROUGH THE HALLS CONFUSING DISTANT FIREWORKS FOR SCRATCHING IN THE WALLS I STILL LOSE TRACK OF WHERE I STAND OF HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LUMPED IN WITH DEATH AND TAXES THE ONLY OTHER CERTAINTY IS I'LL CONTINUE TO REPHRASE THESE SAME OLD TIRED SENTIMENTS OH LET ME COUNT THE WAYS NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE RENOVATE A GRAVE IS STILL A GRAVE

THE GREAT AFFAIR

THE CEMETERY AT WERRIS CREEK THOSE AFTERNOON DRIVES LINED UP CRACKS IN THE WINDSCREEN TO BISECT THE LANDSCAPE LAY IT ALL TO WASTE CUT THE EARTH IN TWAIN THE HOUSE THAT HE GREW UP IN FALLEN INTO SUCH DISGRACE IN THE HANDS OF THE GREAT UNWASHED THE LOOK ON MY FATHER'S FACE I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE THAT CORRUGATED BOUNDARY WHERE THE ROSES USED TO THRIVE WHERE AS KIDS WE ALL FELT ALIVE SO PICK THE GRAVEL FROM YOUR INJURY AND COUNT THE BLESSING ON YOUR ROSARY GO FISH IN THE MIDDAY SUN WE'RE ALL TRUMPED BY THE TIME OUR LAST DAY IS DONE THE MEMORIES STILL FADE AWAY SO WE MUST CREATE KEEP WONDER AT ALL COSTS TO EVEN OUT THE COST OF LOSS IF WE COULD ONLY STAY SMALL NEVER WORRY ABOUT THE SCOPE OF IT ALL WE'LL DROP OFF THE GRID PLANT OURSELVES IN THE HILLS TRADING MOTION FOR THE STILL THE WORDS FALL FROM THE FAMILY TREE THEY FLOAT UPON THE BREEZE IF YOU'LL ONLY GIVE THEM HEED I'M SORRY FOR THE DAYS TO COME SO HERE I STAND AT TIME'S INSISTENCE A FAMILY MAN AND THE LINES ARE BLURRING BETWEEN THE MESSES AND MASTER PLANS AND IF THE GREAT AFFAIR'S TO MOVE CONSIDER ME A MONOGAMOUS RECLUSE OR TOO LAZY FOR MY OWN GOOD I'VE SEEN WHAT THE WORLD CAN DO I JUST HOPE IT'S KIND FOR YOU WE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT AND BEAR OUR TEETH BUT WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH YOU'LL SEE TO FURNISH OUR OWN BUBBLE AND HOPE LIKE HELL IT WON'T BURST MY SON MY SON I'M SORRY FOR THE DAYS TO COME

SMALL FORTUNE

YOU KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW WE BITE OUR NAILS DOWN BECAUSE THE COAT TAILS ARE FIRMLY OUT OF REACH MY KINGDOM FOR A FAMOUS FRIEND TO SKIP US TO THE END WHERE WE COULD GET-THIS-DO-THAT WITH ALL THE BEST WE'VE A HISTORY OF STANDING UP THE SUNRISE BUT OUR EXCEPTIONS ARE COUNTLESS OVERNIGHT DRIVES BUT IN THE DAWN 'ROUND 6:04 I CATCH MY TEMPLES GREYING IN THE REAR VIEW I KNOW THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT DON'T CALL ME ELDER STATESMAN JUST BECAUSE THE REST WERE SMART ENOUGH TO QUIT CALL IT EXPRESSION OR CALL IT ESCAPE ROUTE THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ANVIL HIDING IN THIS PARACHUTE YOU KNOW THE DRILL YOU KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW DON'T BITE YOUR NAILS DOWN SHAKE ME FROM THIS REVERIE ASK ME WHY I'M STILL COMPELLED TO TRUDGE ON THIS SEEMINGLY ENDLESS SLOG WE ARE NOT THE REVOLUTION WE'RE BARELY COMPETITION A BULLET IN EACH FOOT AND IT'S THE END TO ALL MOMENTUM THE EPITAPH WAS CARVED FROM THE START SO WISE UP AND DIE OF SHAME THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO BLAME FIVE BODIES CLOGGED IN A PIPE DREAM A SMALL FORTUNE FOR SMALL FORTUNE IT'S ALL THAT WE DESERVE

PUSHED TO THE MOON

SO WHO ARE WE TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS? SO WHO ARE WE TO THUMB OUR NOSES AT TRADITION? WE SPIN THE WHEELS A RHYME IN SEARCH OF REASON WE SPIN THOSE WHEELS UPSIDE DOWN WATCH AS THEY'RE PUSHED TO THE MOON CONSOLE YOURSELF WITH THE FACT THEY'LL BE BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH SOMEDAY SOON TEAR MYSELF TO SHREDS WAS IT SOMETHING THAT I SAID OR FAILED TO SAY? WELL I DON'T WANT TO SING THESE SONGS IN SOMEONE ELSE'S ACCENT EVEN THOUGH IT'S CLEARLY TO OUR DETRIMENT SPIN THE WHEELS PRETEND WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE WE SPIN THOSE WHEELS UPSIDE DOWN YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AT THE COST OF ALL COMFORT AT THE COST OF ALL WEALTH SOME NERVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AT THE COST OF ALL COMFORT AND WEALTH HOLDING ALL YOU LOVE TO RANSOM THROW YOUR DOLLARS IN THE HOLE SET IT ALL ABLAZE WHILE SQUEEZING OUT THE SAD REFRAIN 'CAUSE IF WE CAN'T TEACH THE WORLD TO SING BEST TO GIVE THE GAME AWAY WE SHOULD'VE BEEN DOCTORS LAWYERS SOMETHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT BORN WITH MORE BETWEEN OUR EARS IN THE SHADOWS OF TALL POPPIES WE'LL BE PUSHING UP THE DAISIES WHAT A WASTE WE SET IT ALL ABLAZE WHAT A WASTE

BORN IN THE LAST SHOWER

IF THIS CITY HAD A SECOND CHANCE TO DO SO SHE'D FILL HER POCKETS UP WITH STONES AND GLADLY DROWN IN THE AFTERMATH OF AFTERSHOCKS OF OLD JUST HOPE THE SKIES WILL CLOSE BEFORE THEY CLOSE THE ROADS I HEARD THAT MIGHTY SHIP HAD RUN AGROUND EXPELLED FROM THE SEA SOME WARNING A CAPTAIN REFUSED TO HEED AND THAT WAS THAT ANOTHER TOURIST TRAP SO TAPE UP THE WINDOWS BAR THE DOORS THE TOLL IS CLIMBING UP TO TEN SHE'S TRYING TO BRING US TO THE DEPTHS WE'VE GOT NEW URBAN LAKES TO DRAIN WE SUFFOCATED IN STORM WATER THE CHOICES THAT WERE MADE WE BUILT OURSELVES INTO THE SANDBAGS HOLDING FAST AGAINST THE TORRENT 'TIL THE CLOUDS PART ONCE AGAIN IT'S CANDLE AFTER CANDLE FOR WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER THE FACT WE HEARD HER SING "THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE THAN STEEL AND COAL THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE THAN THIS" LONELY AS THE WATERMARK ON KING STREET LEAVE US LONELY

THE PINCH

I'M FROM A LONG LINE OF FURIOUS MEN I HATE TO SAY I COUNT MYSELF AMONG THEM A MALADY WE SEEK TO DESTROY WITH EROS' KISS FLUSH BETWEEN OUR EYES SO THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY ME FORGIVE MY WEEKENDER ARBOREAL TRAIPSING THE SHAME IS STILL A MILLSTONE DRAGGING DOWN IT SEEMS THE BEST THAT I CAN MANAGE IT SEEMS THE BEST THAT I CAN DO IS TO TRY NOT TO EMBARRASS MYSELF AT THE WEDDINGS OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS THIS IS THE BEST THAT I CAN MANAGE THIS IS THE BEST THAT I CAN DO AND I WILL GLADLY LIVE THE DREAM WHEN I DON'T CONSTANTLY FEEL THE PINCH GOOD PEOPLE DESERVE GOOD PEOPLE THE GODSENDS AREN'T GOING TO MY HEAD I SEND THEM DOWN WITH THE PORTERS AND THE REDS

'TIL ALL THE BIRDS FELL OFF THE ROOF

YOU WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR A LONGING TO BECOME SOMEONE ELSE A DECADE ON BREAD AND WATER AND POLITE APPLAUSE AT BEST WHO ARE YOU WITHOUT THE SCRIPTS? WHERE ARE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS FLICKER OUT? YOU TELL YOUR WIFE NOT TO PUT YOU IN THE GROUND AT SANDGATE 'CAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY LOST THE PLOT SHE SAYS "TODAY YOUR EYES ARE THE BRIGHTEST SHADE OF BLUE AND DARLING GREEN IS THE UGLIEST OF COLOURS ON YOU" YOU WANT AN END TO TRIAL AND TRIBULATION BUT REALISE THAT YOU CAN'T WASH AWAY THE NEWLY MINTED SCARS AT BATHROOM BASINS YOU SHOULD LEARN TO LEAVE THEM BE THEY SAY ALL YOU NEED TO SAY YOU NEVER GOT TO SHAKE THE HAND OF TORPY YOU NEVER GOT TO TELL HIM HOW HIS VOICE HAD BROUGHT YOU TO YOUR KNEES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS STILL HAUNTED BY THAT ONETIME FRIEND WHO DESERVES TO BE LOCKED UP OR DEAD YOUR HEART'S STILL WEEPING FOR THAT HELPLESS KID NOW YOU'RE A MAN WHO CAN'T PROVIDE WHO THOUGHT HE COULD SUBSIDE ON A STEADY DIET OF CROW AND HUMBLE PIE ANOTHER NEVER-WAS CAP IN HAND OH "I USED TO BE IN A BAND" OH DO YOU THINK THEY'RE LISTENING? DO YOU THINK THEY EVER DID? WHERE ARE YOU? "DARLING YOU'VE ALREADY LOST THE PLOT"

WAGTAILS