A song about not knowing where to start.

@kajati plays fretless and adds voice

Lost In Space

For the winners

Thanks Kajati for the keys and harmonies

Lottery of Life

Silly pop song for FAWM 2023. 
Kajati plays bass

Frozen III

A song about buying Sudafed. Lots and lots of Sudafed

A FAWM 2021 demo

Sudafed

you haven't achieved very much

A scene plays out for me one hot evening as I was waiting for a bus. 

Kajati adds backing vocals, keyboards and effects.

a lonely smoker smokes on the subway steps
around him his clothes in a bundle of all that's left
he points to the sky and says to the cops
that's where i come from
but they just kicked his legs
and said hey mate we're calling time
move on

thinking about that time before you wrote me a letter
saying that if we split up our lives would be much better
but you had no option so we should just stay together
how many times have you walked out on me i can't remember

he makes his way half a block up the road
there's a coles open late
and redface shouts across the cars
do you want to have a crack at me mate?

he dumps his bags on a bench next to a girl with tired eyes
points down the street and said those bastards ate me alive

mate they're just pushing a broom around a dusty room
the room's still is a mess
but the dust gets moved

they're just pushing a broom around a dusty room
the room's still is a mess
but the dust gets moved

Pushing A Broom (around a dusty room)

Living in a hellscape

Kajati adds voice and arrangements. Ivan (who I have never met) adds angry guitar

Ugly City

@kajati writes the music
I play a bit of guitar and sing these words...

tasted blood in my my mouth
as I picked myself up from the dirt
remember you standing over me
saying get up you ain t hurt

i’ve got clean hands 
and  i’m  weak at  the knees
so I can’t really take a stand
and anyway i’ve got cold feet

these missing teeth are important to me 
something to remember you by
you taught me well
you taught me that
its useless to stand and fight

being bold is the safest road
something a brave  man would say
so when it’s time for me to finally leave
i hope i’ll have the guts to run away

i’ve got clean hands 
and  i’m  weak at  the knees
so I can’t really take a stand
and anyway i’ve got cold feet

take a hike in my boots
over the eggshells that you leave in your wake
cover your face protect your eyes
there’s more to baggage than weight 

I’m a creature from the deep
luminescent in the dark
but I’ll evolve
stand up tall 
grow a spine and shout 

i’ve got clean hands 
and  i’m  weak at  the knees
so I can’t really take a stand
and anyway i’ve got cold feet

Cold Feet

Rhythm of Life

This is a work in progress, and I'll circle back and write some lyrics for the chorus.


the real estate man
shook my hand
and motioned to the houses
on the dessert floor

you know my friend
i can call you friend?
one of them could be yours

though I’d choose the one
with the highest walls

yeah choose the one
with the highest walls

because you can never be certain
in uncertain times

yeah you can never be certain
in uncertain times

they found my name in a scammers' database
they'd been targeting those from the new estate
where all the meals are from the freezer section
and the street-signs point in confusing directions

yeah the street-signs point in confusing directions
in confusing directions

The Angel

Thanks to that fine member of the human race Kajati for the electric  guitar, bass, synths, voice and arrangement.

Lyrics...

here’s three cheers say us animals and trees
for it’s the end of the human race
we think it’s strange that they didn’t see it coming
with their world just inches from their face

so legs in the air all you plastic chairs
who’s going to sit down now?

i’m sorry to report all you lambs to the slaughter
you’re going to have to take one for the team
although human beings have left the scene
there’s no way to stop the machines

it’s the end of the human race…

in that big hotel rosters go unfilled
and those drinks won’t serve themselves
there’s grass on the floor and moss on the walls
the waldorf’s been thrown to the wolves
 
so float downstream polyethylene 
and find your place amongst the reeds

it’s ok to sing all you whales in the sea
no one’s going to hear your song
the ocean’s are yours filled with plastic straws
the humans have finally gone

it’s the end of the human race…

End Of The Human Race

About being caught between two extremes.

A demo for FAWM 2023

Bone Saw

Name is Mud

why don't you come on to me creep
instead of sitting in the corner fingering your drink
i saw it in your face
there was a flicker in your eyes
though the light in here ain't great
it don't lie
though it tries

if i seem unsteady on my feet
don't kid yourself darling
it's only the drink
and if you want me down on my knees
all you gotta do is ask me please

i've been waiting for someone like you
to climb those stairs
and slide into the room
if i come across as kinda desperate
it's 'cause you flicked my switch
i love it when the carrot
is also the stick
that's a neat trick

if i seem unsteady on my feet
don't kid yourself darling
it's only the drink
and if you want me down on my knees
all you gotta do is ask me please

chemical waste is my safe space
...

if i was any kind of man
i'd make you understand
i'd shave my head
i'd cut my nails
and show you with my hands
i'm the great unknown
i pour my own
you don't know what i am
but when you stand up tall
i climb the wall
you're the best thing i never had

Chemical Waste

One for the Monday morning school bus driver. Play it loud and drown out the screams

Kajati backing vocals and Ivan shreds

you stare at the road like an easter island statue
life drives past but no one salutes you
white knuckle hands grip tight the wheel
don't know what you think
don't know if you feel

can you quit it in the back
can you quit it in the back

you're the solution looking for a problem
you're the solution looking for a problem
you're the solution

you feel that tick
digging in your brain
ever since the accident
things haven't been the same
now you've got purpose
now you've got drive
no one's getting outa here
getting out alive

can you quit it in the back
can you quit it in the back

Quit it in the Back

This started life as a demo for FAWM 2020, and the inspiration came from a line I read in a local paper about a homeless person going door to door begging

Lyrics:
a man described as a homeless santa
seen knocking on doors in the area
he's an opportunist
oh yeah
'cause for him it ain't christmas
it ain't even close

local paper....
what's news today?

a man described as a hopeless romantic
caught taking photos in the quiet carriage
he's an opportunist
oh yeah
oh yeah

local paper....
what's news today?
vocal stanger
what are your views today?

Local Paper

A not in love song

if they named
if they named
if they named a lake after you
they’d probably call it superior

and if they did name a lake after you
you'd have to think that was eerie

but if i named a lake after you
i wouldn’t call it placid

i had a dream
that i was living the dream
we had the perfect union
a fantastic house and
wonderful children
and we never fought
no we never had a fight
‘cause you were always right

they should name a mountain after you something unmovable

if they named a mountain after you then that would be unusual

or better still a volcano
an unpredictable volcano
i would name a volcano
and call you krakatoa

i had a dream
that i was living on the streets
i wasn’t doing so well
i saw our car pull up at the lights
i screamed and yelled
trying to be seen
but the lights went green

yeah the lights were green

and i had a dream
that the lights were green

and i had a dream
that the lights were green

The Great Lakes

Thanks to @Kajati for the bass, guitar licks, keys, and backing vocals

i walked around the corner and bumped into myself
it was a really really awkward moment
i was wearing blue jeans and a baseball cap
not something i would have chosen

i won't leave me alone...

we stood there talking on that crowded street
i told me that i looked much older
i lied and said I have to get to work
but i said OK can you lend me ten dollars

i won't leave me alone...

no when i go out for a drive
i'm in the back seat 
telling me how to drive
you're going too fast 
turn left turn right
i'd stop and kick me out but I'm far too polite

i won't leave me alone...

I Wont Leave Me Alone

For FAWM 2024

sent a picture of himself to the girl on the second floor
you couldn't see his face but that's not what the picture was for
hey girl swipe right if you want to hookup he said
but the girl just laughed and called to make a formal complaint

baby get over it...
baby baby baby it's not really me
oh baby baby baby it's muscle memory
so baby get over it

later at the gym shes working on the fitness machine
he's jogging close behind thinking something sweaty and obscene
hey girl do you mind if i let my smoky eyes linger?
but she kicked him in the nuts and flipped him the middle finger

baby get over it...

Muscle Memory

A demo for FAWM 2024. @kajati plays bass and keys

Lyrics:
I hear you came out to play 
Pulled on jeans and painted your face
And you were waiting 
At my place At my place At my place At my place At my place 

You hear voices but you don't hear words 
You hear voices but you don't hear words 
…

You claim you came from the sky 
And we know that's a lie 
But you yes you 
Come on too strong On too strong On too strong On too strong 

You hear voices but you don't hear words 
You hear voices but you don't hear words
…

…

On Too Strong

A collaboration with @kajati and a demo for FAWM 2024

now there's lots of ways 
to take a drink these days 
if there's no water in the well

there's lots of ways
to go pray these days
but you're still going to hell

the reason why you went to work today
'cause you've only got yourself to sell

they're coming for you
gotta do what you do (deep)

it's three a.m
there's banging on the door
you scramble around
for your wallet and keys
torchlight in your face as 
you're dragged to your knees 

they're coming for you
gotta do what you do

Coming For You

A demo for FAWM 2024

Colab with @kajati who plays bass

inch by inch
drop by drop
they reeled us in
til they’re on top

but you and me
wow, we’re so free
to be whatever
we want to be

the world burns
as the world turns
chickens come home to roast

last gasp
of a dying lung
served with
dreams on toast

and you and me are finally free
to be whatever
we wanna be

oh yeah.... oh yeah

the fat cop spoke
nothing to see here folks
this man he died alone

sitting on the couch
watching fox news
screaming along with host

an ar15 and a bucket of wings
he truly died young and free

Freedumb!

A song for FAWM 2024 @kajati plays bass

what do i do about these crazy dreams
of car crashes and fleeing the scene

i find myself
lyin’ by the side of the road
caked in mud
with blood all over my clothes
voices in my head
laughin’ haha i told you so

my spirit hovers above
spirit hovers above
with no nowhere to go

what do i do about this strange disease
these pills you give me aint doin’ anything

i find myself
lyin’ in a hospital bed
doctors looking down at me
shaking their heads
these damn voices
just won’t let me rest

while my spirit hovers above
my spirit hovers above

A Car Crash

A demo for FAWM 2024. Colab @kajati

you know we’re the exception neither thrown nor caught
i know my same old joke isn’t funny anymore
can’t be bothered giving up
too tired to call for help
so baby give me up and find someone else

I’m a shadow
I’m a shadow
I’m a shadow
a shadow of my former self

I read a book by you
about a better place
in it I lay beside you
studying your face

we are brittle
crack or crumble
in that looming battle
with thrown and caught

i'm always throwing
you're always catching
we are only doing what we were taught

I read a book by you
about a better place
in it I lay inside you
stroking your face

A Book by You

we're going to rebuild you from the ground up 
you won’t be so impressive you won’t be so tough
we're going to rebuild you from the ground up  
you won’t be so aggressive you won’t be so rough

first comes the ladder then comes the fall
we’ll keep banging our heads on the wall 

the way you treat your mother
the way you treat your father
the way you treat your sister 
the way you treat your brother
the way you treat your lovers
the way you treat your neighbour
is getting me down 

we're going to rebuild you from the ground up 
you won’t be so impressive you won’t be so tough
were going to rebuild you from the ground up  
you won’t be so aggressive you won’t be so rough

the way you treat your mother
the way you treat your father
the way you treat your sister 
the way you treat your brother
the way you treat your lovers
the way you treat your neighbour
is getting me down 

were going to rebuild you from the ground up  
you won’t be so aggressive you won’t be so rough

first comes the ladder then comes the fall
we’ll keep banging our heads on the wall 

after we rebuild you will you come back improved?
will you treat your lovers like they treat you?

or will you lead you life to hurt and offend?
will you show contempt for your family and friends?

will you bite the hand that reaches to help 
you know you need rebuilding can you do it yourself

will you keep climbing to the top of that heap?
a whole new you just out of your reach

Total Rebuild

The Failed States is a creative project based in an aged care facility in the leafy suburb of Wantirna, Melbourne Australia. 

Initially a recreational outlet, allowing residents to express themselves through music, poetry and sitting still, The Failed States has since taken on a life of it own. 

Anguished songs about other residents' grandchildren being too loud at the table tennis table, or jeremiads of lukewarm, semi-set puddings were gradually replaced by powerful pieces about climate change, urban decay, relationship breakdown and missing dentures.

There are no permanent members of The Failed States, we live on, as age, petty rivalries, and forgetfulness takes us all.

The Failed States tries to perform in the common room on the second Tuesday of every month, after lunch.

the failed states

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