A NEW NOTHING (2023) - LYRICS
All guitars, bass, drums, synths, and vocals performed by Mad Marshall.
STRANGER
Will you give me a break?
And I don’t mean my concentration
Lower your expectations
Until there’s nothing left
Gonna have me a smoke
And I don’t mean a screen to hide in
Say, who are you these days?
Cause you sure aren’t yourself
But I’ve seen stranger dangers
Are you making a mess?
You know, I was doing fine without you
Blowing in like a tempest
Now it’s my job to think about you
And everything is just a game
That’s what I tell my brain
There’s only so much soma
I can take in a day
Before I’m just another stranger
What’s left under there?
Are you still living?
Won’t you give me a break?
(And I don’t mean my concentration)
Won’t you give me a break?
(I don’t need a heart to hide in)
Cause I’m a stranger
FAVOR
Do you ever get this funny little feeling
Like the world has gone to shit
And no matter how hard you try
You’re always gonna be at the bottom of the pit
Say I will offer you some words of encouragement
Don’t die yet so you can do it later
And maybe if you hold out long enough
The apocalypse will stop and all the oligarchs will drop damn dead just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Every now and then I kinda get to thinking
What we’re willing to give up on just to make a buck
But no matter how far you get
You won’t get rich unless you’re born in luck
Stop worshiping red stop worshiping blue
The rich people on your screen they ain’t like you
Using human life like spare change
They can all drop dead, do I give a fuck
It’s the rich against the humans
It’s the rich against the humans
They want to kill us first
But I won’t do them the favor
​
Dead just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
Just for the favor
Dead just for the favor
(x2)
SIGNS
Cancer, cancer, she said, Don’t you get too close for my comfort
Have to say I’m scratching my head, aren’t you just a day from the cutoff?
Oh, was that the problem before?
Seems a little retroactive
But if that’s your takeaway
Guess I got nothing to say
Come on, smart girl, cut the bullshit, isn’t it just so convenient
We both know things like that can be read into however you read them
Then why do I waste my time?
Not like I can prove it
Sometimes people just do
Whatever they’re doing
Water moon man
Don’t you know that fire burns you?
Excuse my bad behavior
I was just born under the wrong sign
I burn too deep to give off heat
I’m a freezer burn looking for a fight
So cold and contemplative
Allow me to absorb your toxic energy
Shut off and resistant to change
And I hold every grudge for a thousand years
But now
Today
I let it go
I let it go
Well, can't you read the signs?
Well, can't you read the signs?
Why can't you read the signs?
ENEMY
See the doorway, see the spires
Spinning darkness, spark like fires
See the lightning running wild
The librarian’s such a liar
It might take me a lifetime
To find out what I am
If I had half the voices
I might be twice the man
Do you mind, if I stay?
Do you mind, if I stay?
Do you mind if I stay?
You can’t pry me away
Tornado spins in place
Everything’s so, high stakes
Against myself I race
There’s an enemy inside the gates
It might take me a lifetime
To find out where I’ve been
If I’d been half awakened
I might be twice the man
Do you mind if I stay? (I don’t mind if you lay low)
You can’t die if I don’t say (You can’t die less I say so)
You can’t push me away (Send me away, I will find you)
You’re mine, I’m me
WAY BACK WHEN
I used to think I was something special
I used to think I was so damn smart
But that was back when I was in my bubble
Thought I’d won a race I didn’t start
I used to think that everything was simple
So confident I had it figured out
But that was back when I knew less than nothing
Had no idea what it was all about
At least I know what I don’t know now
I used to think everything was easy
The thought of hard never crossed my mind
But that was back when my world was 2D
I didn’t look past the shadowline
I used to talk like a mindless parrot
So damn full of all the things I heard
You could speak but I would never hear it
Years without a single stone unturned
Years that later on would be unlearned
The closest to the stars
You get is when you die
Don’t let it go too far
Don’t let it cross the line
WANTED
This isn’t what I wanted, wanted, wanted for myself (x4)
There’s a traffic light shining on the asphalt black as night
Shouldn’t be reflecting but it’s something there that’s not right
Metal, burnt rubber, who is at fault for that sight
Uh oh, somebody went and spilled their life
Who let this happen, he should not have been behind the wheel
Every time he’s driving he’s got time to steal
Cause he can’t afford to borrow time that isn’t real
And live it with the feelings that he didn’t feel
Feel, didn’t feel, live it with the feelings that he didn’t feel
Feel, didn’t feel, living with the feelings that he doesn’t feel, but does he want it
This isn’t what I wanted, wanted, wanted for myself (x4)
Ambulance, sirens sound, cops that come and search the ground
For what’s missing of what they found
Only one in the car, keep on looking, he can’t be far
No one else was around
How did I get there?
Is that really me?
I’m telling you I barely remember
A night like so many others, it was just a blur
Can I please go back? (Can I please go back, that doesn't even look like me)
How’d it get so late (How'd it get so late? Give me my keys, then I'll leave)
Like a bad dream in slow motion (Just a bad dream, I don't wanna be stuck here)
If I can just wake up I’ll do everything over (If I could just wake up)
This isn’t what I wanted, wanted, wanted for myself (x4)
How did it come to this? (x2)
This isn’t what I wanted, wanted, wanted for myself (not what I wanted for myself) (x4)
ONE MORE HOUR
I’m the man who’s trying to see in the dark
Who’s drying off in the rain
I’m the fool who slowly learns to forget
How to live
I’m the man who’s pushing a rock up a hill
Who puts out the fire with oil
I’m the cat who’s getting chased by its tail
Oh well
I would be a different martyr
If I’d just had one more hour
I’m the man who ties himself to a chair
And says he’s running away
I’m the fake who doesn’t believe what he says
Not yet
I’m the man who’s willing to bet with his life
Can’t fail if I don’t try
I’m the ghost who waited for time to come
And then some
I would be a different martyr
If I’d just had one more hour
Maybe it’s not too late to change
But lately it’s not my choice to make
I would be a different martyr
If I’d just had one more hour
GOOD OLD DAYS (DON'T EXIST)
The good old days
Don’t exist
How could it get better
Than a wistful wish?
Honey, you’re just dreaming
Bout those worn old words
Maybe when you’re ready
You’ll come back to earth
The crushing silence
The stifling air
I’m just trying to meet you halfway
But you don’t play fair
Maybe I’m just dreaming
Guess you’re not alone after all
Why do I keep thinking
That you’re coming home?
The good old days (x8)
They don't exist
THE DESERT
We drove out into the desert
North up 14
Took a stop out by the river gorge
Somehow it didn’t look real
Cause even though I saw the distance
My eyes couldn’t believe
We stood there and took some pictures, full of
Impossibilities
There was a wedding in the desert
On such a beautiful day
Sometimes I hardly even think I was there
Under the shadow of that mountain range
​
We got set up out in the Thelma
‘63 Avion
I turned around and you were changing your clothes
Told me, why don’t you go get lost
Then a friend of a friend of a friend
Came down and offered a smoke
We were looking at the prairie dogs, while they’d
Run and hide in their holes
There was a wedding in the desert
On such a beautiful day
Sometimes I hardly even think I was there
Under the shadow of that mountain range
And later everyone was dancing
When the sun got low
But I was sitting at the table talking
Acting like I didn’t know
You should go and dance with her
Said the girl who I met the day before
I said there’s no right place for me to be
But I appreciate it anyway
Back then the world wasn’t that big
It sure seemed that way then, but no
I was just lost in it
Oh, what even happened
In this lovely place
Will I remember?
Another nothing fades
Oh, what even happened
In this lonely place
Will I remember this?
Another nothing fades
We drove back down through the mountains
I was hungover as fuck
I remember vaguely thinking, Funny,
They got the same highway as us
TAKE IT BACK
Take me in your hands, I wanna be your sacrifice
I feel it in my bones, I know it’s true
Trash my other plans, I’m sure this is exactly right
What else in the world is there to do?
Must be some kind of conspiracy
Killing all the fear in me
So close your eyes and hope for the best
Never was an optimist
Oh no no please wait, is it too late to change my mind
I think I spoke too soon, gave myself some bad advice
But here comes the blade, I guess I’m gonna lose my life
Never all at once, ain’t that just the price
Must be some kind of conspiracy
Killing all the fear in me
Destiny is one hell of a drug
But it ain’t got nothing on love
(And I don’t mean that in a good way)
Why do I wanna take it back
Why do I
Why do I wanna take it back
Why do I
Why do I wanna take it back
Why do I
Why do I wanna take it back
Or do I?
THE BEST
Oh no
Can’t seem to satisfy the demons
Blood sacrifice can’t break me even
Not talkin bout a chance of leaving
They said
Is that the best you could have made?
Is that the best you could have played the game
Is that the best you could have made?
Is that the best you could have played the game
Oh no
The voice is giving me a reason
Though I see no reason for agreement
You see, I don’t find that voice too pleasing
When it says
Is that the best you could have made?
Is that the best you could have played the game
Is that the best you could have made?
Is that the best you could have played the game
Is that the best you could have
Said, I’m really over your shit
So I’ve got an answer for this
Is that the best you could have made?
Yes, it is
Is that the best you could have played the game
Well yes it is
PATIENCE
I want it cause I want it cause I don’t but I want everything
Moving, keep it rolling, keep em guessing, I don’t wanna be slow no
I don’t wanna face up, no I don’t wanna let it show
Following the feeling with the blindness of a younger man
Seek gratification in the present, no regard for what’s been
And not enough for what is
And not a care for what’s not yet so
Guess that’s all, I’ll be on my way
Didn’t have the patience to wait
Not to get too elusive, but I think I’m propelled
By some kind of specter
I say this so I can explain, or begin to, that I’m not
Without some sense of awareness in the world
Maybe if follow the line
Everything will end up fine
Twenty twenty in hindsight
Hope I figure it out before I lose my mind
Guess that’s all, I’m on my way
To dig up all the answers that are hiding in my face
I don’t know who I am, but I know who I’ll be
Someone who lived his whole life without living a day
OUTSIDE
Been in here too long
Gotta get out of this place
Want to see the world
Get lost in open space
Spent so long
Waiting for a change
To come rolling along
And hit me in the face
Ah, what a waste
Won’t you look at that
Been going round and round
Sometimes the truth is
Just as simple as it sounds
CLEAN
Lately I been thinking about you and the fucked up things I said
It was never my intention to doubt you, it’s an automatic thing
If I could choose, I could write the words, it wouldn’t be in here at all
No bad, no good, just me and my thoughts, a sense of calm
Lately I been tripping around on all the shit inside my house
Maybe if I just clean it out I won’t have to burn it down
But that sounds like so much work, it’d be easier to burn
No house, no walls, just me and myself out in the dirt
I want to start again
A NEW NOTHING
This is the year of nothing
The year that I let go
I have one resolution
Try to stay afloat
Not everything is a prophecy
Don’t look too hard for signs
Sometimes you just spill your coffee
It’s not the end of your life
It’s a new nothing
It’s a new nothing
And I know it’s high time I did something right
To stop falling in line with those who just pass you by
This is the year of clearing
To till bare ground to grow
Some things I used to fear
I no longer even know
Not everyone is in disguise
Angels or otherwise
Sometimes you just fall on somebody
In time you can’t recognize
It’s a new nothing
It’s a new nothing
And I know it’s high time I did something right
To stop falling in line with those who just pass you by