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about

I've recently had the odd sensation of having this song stuck in my head. I say odd because it's not usual to have one of my own songs stuck in my head. Feels mildly narcissistic, but I figure if I find it this catchy then perhaps others will too.

It's a scrappy li'l electro-punk rock number. It doesn't require much of an explanation I don't reckon, it's really just about making the best of what you have and doing what makes you happy. It also borrows from the title of the album, lyrically.

The video for 'Ten Cent Life' is here: youtu.be/VFhvnVnDTiE?si=D0X9o8kSm1Ags4nw

And the full audio liner notes are here: blamesmarty.substack.com/p/not-even-a-cup-of-tea-liner-notes

lyrics

LYRICS

1.

Ten cent life
and I regret nothing

optimism
isn’t impossible

can’t play guitar
but I can do other things

/

this is never gonna
be
great poetry

//

some days punk days
yelling to the vortex

she taught me
all I ever need to know

never ever stop never rest
until you need to go

leave with a smile
with a scream, with a meat axe

practise your kicks
‘til one connects

this is not the rebellion of youth
now we’re older and still not wise

I’ve been drinking since long before the sunrise
trying to find a chorus that will justify this song

2.

some say every poet wants to start a band
maybe it’s the lack of demand

for what we do, that we assume
there has to be a better way of being consumed

(oh, consume me!)

but what if we can’t play an instrument
and we aren’t musical it’s not our bent

we’re not-used to writing chorus-es
believe me I’ve tried it’s a fucking mess

I have a thousand names for bands
yet here I sit typing with these two hands

/

and this is never gonna be
great poetry

3.

start a solo project jam
learn to half-arse Garage-band

burn three CDs but not a lot of de-mand
can’t aff-ord the vinyl press
hipsters give me panic sweats

who has the time to record on tape
I went out and bought a cape

figured I’d be vis-ual
tried to be orig-inal
or just less hyper self-critical

this may not be your cup of tea
or even a cup of tea
the first rule of art is does it please Me?

/

this was never meant to be
great poetry

credits

from Not even a cup of tea (or Smarty sings weird songs), released November 17, 2023

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all rights reserved

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Steve Smart Poetry & Music Melbourne, Australia

Steve Smart is practically indestructible. Hard headed and stubborn, he may not be the most famous poet in the world but no one can say it's from lack of trying. All of his poetry and music albums are right here at Bandcamp.

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