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For the Sake of the Story

by The New Middle Class

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1.
I'm an Arsehole (Stuck Inside a Nice Guy's Body) 04:49
lyrics
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So the air-con’s wasting fuel, it’s silent in the car and sticky I blast the stereo so loud, you call me a selfish prick now You call me a selfish prick like CHORUS I’m an arsehole but I don’t know how I got here I’m an arsehole, I’m stuck inside a nice guy’s body Never lose the argument, I left the beach and all your friends there You took it as a compliment, not the insult I intended Not the insult I intended CHORUS Bridge 1 Same argument over and over Same argument over and over Same argument over and over You know I couldn’t care It’s not all about me It’s not all about me It’s not all about me But all we share You will make your own way home, used your towel then laid on mine You want me to watch the space, I’ve forgotten how to fight I’ve forgotten how to fight like CHORUS Bridge 1 Bridge 2 Not the insult I intended Not the insult I intended CHORUS
2.
Too Much Was Said Too Late 05:57
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In the dining room the guests all take their place You set the table so best to recreate Stronger memories, standing not to measure - musical chairs Your lips and your teeth stained in red wine No excuse brings you any closer to why Guests are all too brief, subtle you don’t sense them, shifting their beliefs Bridge And all to recreate the mood you keep trying The unspoken hangs heavier than all else Friends are tired not of you but of themselves A mirror once Feng Shui, shows no reflection, floorward at angles Bridge And all to recreate the mood you keep trying Just try mistaking the truth for disguises You cannot see through dim light the scent and the stakes of the night And all to recreate the mood you keep trying No one could ever love anyone as much As much as you deserve to be loved my love Filling up my plate, never short of sharing, too much was said too late In the dining room the guests all take their place You set the table so best to recreate Though an ashtrays placed, in bottles butts collected, your efforts all to waste Your efforts all to waste Too much was said too late Subtle you don’t sense your efforts all to waste Subtle you don’t sense too much too late Your efforts all to waste Too much was said too late Too much was said too late
3.
Shifting Shadow 03:08
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Follow the shifting shadow that God cast Where is the shape that blocks the light I made you believe in an image of me I see only through your eyes Teasing you for needing me Pleading you to let me be I guide you right back to the door At a distance for now you won’t find me out Fooling myself slowly I calculate it to the nearest truth Wrack my brain to get it right I say the words like now I have proved that There’s a shape that blocks the light Fix it up, get it right Cast it out into the night I fooled you before and again The tricks from my box and the spell that wears off And I miss the mark again Follow the shifting shadow that God cast Where is the shape that blocks the light I say the words like now I have proved that There’s a shape that blocks the light Teasing you for needing me Pleading you to let me be I fooled you before and again The tricks from my box and the spell that wears off And I miss the mark again Follow the shifting shadow that God cast Where is the shape that blocks the light
4.
I Lost My Name 04:16
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When I was Christened they called me beautiful I liked it and I played the part In the mirror I see no innocence Like my soul drained out with the bath When I was accepted they called me clever I learn not to listen to the doubt My cup was kept full now I can’t fix the leak I ‘ll never let you find me out CHORUS No one knows what to call me The words leave me cold (I lost my name) No one knows what to call me I’m waiting to be told (I lost my name) When I came of age they called me witty I liked it and I played the part A person like me always has an answer But I can never speak from the heart When I was married they said I had passion I learn not to listen to the doubt My cup was kept full now I can’t fix the leak I ‘ll never let you find me out CHORUS Bridge I call myself one clear moment a day If I’m lucky I lost my name I catch myself trying to be what I’m not And I laugh I lost my name When I had respect they called me leader I stood out in front of the crowd My cup was kept full now I can’t fix the leak I know they’re gonna find me out Now they come to judge me, my case is prepared I’m waiting out in the hall If they call me a fraud at least I’d have a name But nobody called me at all
5.
How Much Do We Give? 05:54
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I left home and I left you behind With your mind 17 and looking for somewhere new Never looking at you I never thought about what could change That your mind could rearrange That the phantoms of your past could rise And dominate the lonesome dark, of your life Now you rarely feel the outside air The freezers broken, part of the roofs no longer there And you say you are always afraid There’s bugs in the phone, people trying to lay you away CHORUS How much do we give to, those who need us How much do we keep for ourselves What should I sacrifice to, try and free you From the hell your mind has made You live all alone in our family home Your sons deserted you, left you with the cats and crows There was nothing to mitigate the taint of your mind From seeping into every part of your surrounds When we try to help you, you just turn us away You have to fight to defend your right, to decay Now there’s nothing that I can say You can’t see through the dreams that you had to create
6.
Safe Inside a Song 03:55
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Home-made biscuit, back verandah The squeak of a swing, in rhythmic pattern In the kitchen, never not consistent Somewhere always, at a distance Tucked up, finished with, put to bed A window behind me loomed above my head I stare 5 years straight at the light If my eyes are wet, she might come and dry them CHORUS Come with me and make the world new safe inside a song No words can give the feeling truth, but you’re safe inside a song You don’t have to say you’re sorry, going over the same old story Come with me and make the world new safe inside a song Press rewind, locate, repeat Hold tight, pause by the TV screen Antenna balanced on a finger Long enough the tune will linger You’re standing outside tapping on the glass You grant no silence or let it pass Through the window went my fist ten years of anger The silk curtains washed but the blood will stain I claimed your room, in one heart beat All your albums, I read the sleeves I willed you to leave, I stole your ground There is no guilt, I play them loud Out of school uniform into casual dress Straight past the window, look in on the lesson 15 years no one could teach me When she’s gone forever and you can’t be reached
7.
I'm in Control 04:51
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High on the mountain, see the city lights Straight road stretches out below I laugh as cockatoos flock from danger I synchronise them in stereo CHORUS I’m in control, control of nature, I’m in control Weather forecast warned of danger Tune in tonight to the Evening News Regular as your medication I don’t live here I’m just passing through (stop) High winds predicted, levee’s broken See the storm drains’ rapid rise Switch it on and off, natural disaster 24 hour News reprised CHORUS I know the power of destruction Like the freeways cut right through Cars get swept up and away by rivers Pick and choose your latest truth
8.
Love is for the Birds 03:35
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You’d come over early afternoon I was still asleep, you open up the curtains Sit on my bed, for the sake of the story Flick through my albums, indulge my knowledge Make a plan as the evening unfolded The banter began, for the sake of the story We love our audience more than each other It’s better than sex We don’t care as long as someone bears witness And we make each other laugh again We slept tip to toe, you’d check my farts for the smell From my beard you ate the crumbs that fell I miss the after party clean up for the sake of the story Your sister was sick of you defending me Putting me up on a pedestal She’d poke fun at you too for the sake of the story You love your audience more than yourself It’s better than sex You don’t care as long as someone bears witness And you can make us laugh again Bridge Love is for the birds, a cop-out and a curse Put your friends first, love is for the birds Love is for the birds, love is for the birds Sheep are in a herd, the darlings never learn Love is for the birds, freedom is the word I’m happy just to flirt, love is for the birds Love is for the birds, love is for the birds The darlings never learn, love is for the birds No one came to open up my curtains Ask me ‘bout my latest album purchase How do you think that felt for the sake of the story You found a new crowd and I approved of your lover Of course you love me like a brother I could speak fondly of you for the sake of the story I love my audience more than you It’s better than sex I don’t care as long as someone bears witness And I can make you laugh again
9.
An Emptiness You Make Real 03:47
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You’d come over early afternoon I was still asleep, you open up the curtains Sit on my bed, for the sake of the story Flick through my albums, indulge my knowledge Make a plan as the evening unfolded The banter began, for the sake of the story We love our audience more than each other It’s better than sex We don’t care as long as someone bears witness And we make each other laugh again We slept tip to toe, you’d check my farts for the smell From my beard you ate the crumbs that fell I miss the after party clean up for the sake of the story Your sister was sick of you defending me Putting me up on a pedestal She’d poke fun at you too for the sake of the story You love your audience more than yourself It’s better than sex You don’t care as long as someone bears witness And you can make us laugh again Bridge Love is for the birds, a cop-out and a curse Put your friends first, love is for the birds Love is for the birds, love is for the birds Sheep are in a herd, the darlings never learn Love is for the birds, freedom is the word I’m happy just to flirt, love is for the birds Love is for the birds, love is for the birds The darlings never learn, love is for the birds No one came to open up my curtains Ask me ‘bout my latest album purchase How do you think that felt for the sake of the story You found a new crowd and I approved of your lover Of course you love me like a brother I could speak fondly of you for the sake of the story I love my audience more than you It’s better than sex I don’t care as long as someone bears witness And I can make you laugh again
10.
If I Love No One, No One Can Hurt me 04:02
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Mother was I taking too much, u pulled me from your breast A baby bottle in hot water floats, I clutch it close to my chest My heart bobbed over the waves out on St. Vincents Gulf Put it out of my mind I said, it’s time you learnt to be strong CHORUS (It’s time you learnt to be) strong, sit with me a little longer (It’s time you learnt to be) strong, If I love no one, no one can hurt me It’s time you learnt to be (strong) We came together at first, I had to know I was safe If I love no one, no one can hurt me, my heart still bobs on the waves A child won’t grow in a womb cos the desert is not its home You kept saying there’s someone missing, we’re out here on our own CHORUS Mother when you walked up the hill, now I’m the father I’m told Just a little old lady lost, it was dark and getting cold Like you always used to say, you know you’ll never go wrong If every footstep is retraced, it’s time you learnt to be strong Every footstep’s retraced, I understood your struggle When I found you at the corner store with milk for the baby’s bottle A bottle in hot water floats, I clutch it close to my chest I let my heart float away, if I could bring it home to rest

about

The New Middle Class emerged in Brisbane, on Jagera and Turrbal country, in 2018.

Another of Tom Smith’s projects, The Whoopee Do Crew, had captured the imaginations of Rachel and David for its joy spreading and community reweaving possibilities. The Whoopee Do Crew listened to people’s stories and turned them into songs.

In this confessional, narrative vein The New Middle Class continues to develop. For this recording David (Cello, Banjo, Vocals) Tom (Guitar, Vocals) and Rachel (Vocals, Glockenspiel) were joined by Jaden Gallagher (Drums) and Marc Cheesman (Bass).

The current band features: Elise Clark (Drums), Rohan Whiteley (Keys), Tom Smith (Guitar), Josa Rubbra (Bass), Rachel Walker (Vocals) and David Laczko (Banjo, Guitar). All members sing.

credits

released March 22, 2019

Tracks 1,2,4,8,9 recorded at SAE South Brisbane by JJ Bishop and mixed by Cameron Smith at Incremental.
Tracks 3,5,6,7,10 recorded by Marc Cheesman amd Jaden Gallagher and mixed by Jaden.
Album mastered by Cameron Smith at Incremental Studio, Coorparoo.

Cover art by Rachel Walker, type setting by Frida Nielsen and David Laczko.

Songs written by Tom Smith, except track 5 by David Laczko.

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The New Middle Class Brisbane, Australia

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