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lyrics

EVERYBODY IS SO OUTSPOKEN THESE DAYS
WITH SO MUCH OF NOTHING TO SAY
IT DOESN'T MATTER YOU CAN TALK ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH
BUT THEY'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR DAY
THE SECOND YOU PAUSE FOR BREATH

YOU'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE, IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME
EVERY LITTLE COMPLAINT AND EVERY DETAIL MUNDANE
BUT THE TELEVISION'S ON NOW AND IT ALL GOES QUIET
REALITY HITS, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT AND
THE STAGE IS SET, THE LIGHTS ARE DIMMED
AS THE CROWD GOES WILD FOR THE KARAOKE KING
A PRETTY POSE AND A MUSCLE FLEX
WITH THAT SO-CALLED FACTOR OF 'X'

SO IT COMES DOWN TO THIS - WE ALL WANT TO BE HEARD
WE'LL PLAY THE GAME, EVERYTHING WE'VE LEARNED
WE'LL PLAY IT SAFE, WE'LL KEEP IT TAME
FOR OUR 15 MINUTES OF FAME

AND IN A DARK CORNER, HIDDEN OUT OF REACH
IS THE DREAM OF EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN
BUT THERE'S NO POINT NOW WAITING FOR SOME IDEALISTIC REBIRTH
AS THE TALENTLESS HAVE INHERITED THE EARTH

IT'S REFLECTED IN EVERY PERSONALISED NUMBERPLATE
AND EVERY FACEBOOK PAGE
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING
'COS BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (OR SO THEY SAY)
BUT THERE'S NO NOTORIETY HERE
JUST THE MASSAGING OF FRAGILE EGOS
IN THIS WATERED-DOWN VERSION OF FAME

AND EVERY TOWN AND CITY KEEPS UP THIS CHARADE
WITH THE ENDLESS LOCAL BAND POP-PUNK IDENTIKIT PARADE
WHO INSIST ON SINGING "INDIVIDUALITY IS FUCKING GONE"*
BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM THAT I WROTE THIS FUCKING SONG

*copyright Escape To Victory (Aberdeen band, now disbanded)

credits

from Big City Dreams​/​Small Town Failings, released September 16, 2016

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Mark Ayling UK

A lifelong drummer, Mark Ayling has branched out into the world of acoustic music. Discarding the usual folk/acoustic influences such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, Mark takes his inspiration from artists as diverse as The Jam, New Model Army, The Specials, Motorhead and Joy Division, creating a sound that has the energy of punk whilst retaining the melodic elements of the acoustic guitar. ... more

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