We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Hard Art of Living

by Goldstein

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
Tiger: Everyone has their own trouble. Everyone has the right to struggle. All of us are sinking in the same ship. Just one paddle in a sea of deep shit. When the crumbling wall finally falls, Don't let the dust settle, it's you who makes the call. If the wind picks up, who gives a fuck? Don't get stuck, make your own luck. Whatever you're going through, Here's your guide. You're going through. You'll come out the other side. James #2: You've been dealt a bad hand, There's nothing in the cards. The flop feels fixed, The dealer didn't deliver. Even pocket kings have gotta watch their guard. Don't quit before the river. Karma may not be being kind, But her moods never last. The planets may have misaligned. But don't forget that this will pass. Whatever you're going through, Here's your guide. You're going through. You'll come out the other side. Woah oah oh You'll come out the other side.
2.
James #2: Why do you fight when you should be free? You fight for peace and then blame it on me. If your faith of what's right is so strong, Then why aggravate when they tell you you're wrong? Tiger: In the World's eyes, you're nothing more than a bunch of flies, Buzzing and babbling, blasphemous battling, You raise your hands up to touch the sky. Now we all want purpose in life, Choosing right and wrong isn't worth all the strife. A true miracle is a life without scars, Yet 84% live with divine guard. Omnipotent, omniscient, all too convenient. Prevent dissent and the deadly seven. Your ascent may be prevented by the fact there's no heaven. Who am I to say, you're still down on your knees to pray? I'm not entirely sure, but was your life so bad before, You blindly followed rules, they no longer teach in schools? Or are you happy unaware, that God has never answered your prayers? Islam's popularity has recently decreased, 'Cause when Muhammad spoke of peace, Prophets forgot bits and instead of bliss ended up terrorists. This is only a tiny minority, You'd have to be stupid to blame the actions of a few on a whole society. Unfamiliarity and tyranny start conspiracy and verify military security. Best way to reduce threat, Kill all dissidents! Who am I to say, that you fight your fights that way? I'm not entirely sure, but did that drone kill someone more than you intended to? You don't have a clue do you? Bomb, bomb it to the ground, It won't make a sound in the homeland. Kill, kill, until there's no one left to die. 200 words in the news explaining why. It's time to end this ancient trend, That claims your life is not in your hands! *Guitar solo*
3.
I've got a problem with reality. So much to do and no one really needs me. Why I'm here is kinda hard to say. Existential ruts never seem to go away. Sometimes I don't know where I am. If life is a river, there's too many rocks to stand on, yeah. I've got a problem with reality. So much to do and no one really needs me. I don't know when the journey will end. But please wait 'til I make amends. When I live, I'm not gonna keep the receipt. The more on my plate, the less I need to eat. Potential I see as imaginary trees, (Swaying in the breeze) Picking through the orchard, seeking physicality. I've got a problem with reality. So much to do and no one really needs me. I don't know where the journey will end. But please wait 'til I transcend. Searching seams for meaning is time squandered, When attention is stolen from mountains conquered. *Guitar solo* I've got a problem with reality. I've got a problem with reality. I've got a problem with reality. I've got a problem with reality. I've got a problem with reality. So much to do and no one fucking needs me. Either way the journey must end. So don't worry about time misspent.
4.
All will become dust. Not a speck is left of us. Of what worth were our lives? Of what worth was your life? Everything you know is buried deep. Atop our world, the rubble's steep. What once was Now is now long past. The ripples of our lives will not last. No footprints trodden in the sands of time. No bell to sound a slow and reverent chime. Sand will cover you and all your race. Our legacy replaced with barren wastes. All will become dust. Not a speck is left of us. Of what worth were our lives? Of what worth was your life? *Bass solo* Our bones will one day be excavated. Unceremoniously dug up and carbon dated. Reduced to just our matter, not what matters, And not a semblance will be found of the latter. No echoes remain of your proudest times. No record of your triumphs or your crimes. No consequence to your boldest brawl. Of what worth was your strife after it all?
5.
Once again I've got a target lined up in my sights, As indeed has been the case on countless other nights. From the amount of people who've a chance to catch my eye, You'd think that I'd been pitching it into the sky. But there's some apprehension here keeping me on my seat, 'Cause I don't understand this urge to compete For a free female's attention and affection And I know it's not the time or place to sit in introspection, But my eyes tell my mouth that it should say “Hi” And I agree with the plan without ever asking why. My mind's a mad conductor. “All aboard! Leaving Solitude Station to alight next to that broad!” That's what I'm expected to do, But it seems a lot more foggy when I've thought it through. So now I wanna call it out, yeah I want to denounce The instinct that's got me ready to pounce. Am I doomed to live a perpetual hunt? Am I just automated? Looking for a soulmate like the program dictates. Excuse me if this gets me feeling less than nonchalant, But what do I want? Now try not to be surprised. I've got the prize. I've achieved some sense of gratification. So I'll play to my strengths and I will go to lengths To assure I get a repeat subscription. But why must I obsess over making slow progress? I'm not trying to get an award. The question comes back though still answers I lack. What end am I striving towards? Am I doomed to live a perpetual hunt? Am I just an animal? Forgetting all that's rational, after satisfaction tangible. Excuse me if this gets me feeling less than nonchalant, But what do I want? You might think that you can claim that I should place the blame On a certain wild instinct that I haven't learned to tame. My desire should be the same as the others in the game And you might think that it's a shame but getting laid is not my aim. If you're not a friend of mine, you won't have heard my logic. The point is that my motivation isn't biologic. No I haven't undergone chemical castration But trust me when I say my motive isn't procreation. Evolution's volition hasn't sent me on this mission So why do I cast my reel in this strange kinda fishing? I'm always on the lookout for girls with whom I'm alike, Sometimes dropping the threshold lower than I'd like. I'm a kleptomaniac when it comes to stealing glances Trying to get noticed like so many peacock dances. Romances have come and gone, still the pursuits go on and on. Why would I want anyone? Maybe I'm about the journey not the endzone. (Maybe I only do it for the dopamine.) Maybe it's for company or physical intimacy or knowing someone's into me. (Maybe I'm conditioned to crave confirmation) I wish my neurons understood that it's fine to be alone. (Maybe I'm addicted to this self-affirmation.)
6.
Tiger: Nobody knows, Exact age of the human race. Nobody knows. Nobody knows when we first took Step on the planet, started chopping it down, Running all the animals into the ground. The start of the end is a mystery to us, We're fixated with knowing just because. But there's one thing upon which we can all agree. Human beings are not part of Earth's family. Mother Earth is disappointed at a naughty child. It's time to/we stop living in denial. *Guitar solo* We're taking apart the planet, We're selling for what it's got. We don't need to know our age To know we're going wrong. The air is polluted, the sea is a mess. Our chances of survival are less and less. But there's one thing upon which we can all agree. Human beings are not part of Earth's family. Mother Earth is disappointed at a naughty child. It's time to/we stop living in denial. James #2: Breakout! Breakout! Breakout of the vacuum! Dictated by political disaster. This ship is sinking! This ship is sinking! Do not let them wreck this planet. They're not listening! They're not listening! We have to make our voices heard Above the noise of ignorance and crime. Nobody knows how old we are But I can guarantee, we should know better now.
7.
Tiger: The invisible hand holds a gun to our heads, screaming "Work!" The only thing that trickles down is the pain. Pain and fear of life, no place to go, no team behind, no end in sight. Divide and rule is the tactic of choice. Separate the young from the old from one nation to one nation. We're taught to hate, to fear our fellow brothers. While we sell our selves to them they exploit and degradate our rights, imprison the innocent, pollute the Earth and wage war. Exploitation! Degradation! Exploitation! Degradation! Time to fight back. Agitation! Working all our fucking lives to afford this life of comparable poverty. You see our labour as your own damn property. Alienated from our selves, from our families, from our likes, all for you. As your stocks rise, pushed up by the hard work of us slaves. Indentured servitude's the name of the game. Your litter rests upon our shoulders, you need our hands and minds and souls on which to stand. Exploitation! Degradation! Exploitation! Degradation! Time to fight back. Agitation! James #2: To you I'm just a piece of meat. My hands are here to serve you. I feel like a commodity, To be exploited and drained right through. Tiger: Work, work and waste away And wait and wait 'til you get paid. Work, work and waste away And they're the ones who get to play. Work, work and waste away And wait and wait 'til you get paid. Work, work and waste away And they're the ones who get to play. Work, work and waste away And wait and wait 'til you get paid. Work, work and waste away And they're the ones who get to play! Exploitation! Degradation! Exploitation! Agitation! Oh what a waste. Work, wait, waste.

about

Another bunch of songs get their long overdue release. We can proudly say that these songs show a marked improvement from our last EP, and we hope that you hear it too.

credits

released March 18, 2016

Tom "Tiger" Hickingbottom - Guitar and vocals
James "#2" Hickingbottom - Bass and vocals
James "The Rocket" Spencer - Drums

Produced, mixed and mastered by Ian at Booland Studio.

Cover art by James Hickingbottom.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Goldstein Leicester, UK

Goldstein were brought together by a unifying love of modern punk music. From their covers to their originals, you'll find the power-chords and speed endemic to old school punk, mixed with more melodic vocals and skilful playing present in modern punk. Of course, variety is the spice of life, and Goldstein aren't afraid to mix some ska, rap or Muse into their set to keep things interesting. ... more

contact / help

Contact Goldstein

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

Goldstein recommends:

If you like Goldstein, you may also like: