Rock Hard Times

Shootenanny, Track 7

Media Downloads



Lyrics

They told me that I couldn't come back here again
Took me for some kind of fool
Said I was doing things that never should be done
But I don't care about their rules

As if I cared 'bout the little minds
In the little heads of the herd
There's nothing you could dream
Would be more absurd

And everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times

I don't know what it is they're trying to do to me
Make me into some sick joke
But no one's laughing
And least of all not me
It's hard to laugh as you choke

Hollywood lies piled up to the sky
Floating your way soon
Hope you like the rotten stench of doom

And everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times

I don't know what it is they think I'm gonna try
They don't know what they need to fear
The surest sign that the end is coming soon
Is right there in the bathroom mirror

Everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times
These are rock hard times

Related Interview Extracts

Q: You appear to be wrestling with agony again in "Rock Hard Times."

E: It was inspired by the experiences I've had around the music and movie business, here in the murder capital of the USA. Hearing all these Hollywood assholes say that they want something hip and irreverent and "edgy" and all that stuff, and then looking at the state of everything. It's really bad times. Good luck trying to do anything halfway decent. Of course it's easy for me to criticize everyone else. But don't worry. I hate myself even more.

Q: At least you haven't sold your songs for commercials.

E: I can afford to throw stones. I don't have any kids in college. And everyone seems to be doing it now. But that doesn't make it right. I will let a song be in a movie sometimes, because at least that's SOMEBODY'S idea of art. And I don't mind advertising myself. A video is basically a commercial for a song. But I don't want to be singing for some product. It doesn't seem right. Every big company you can name wants to use my songs. It's funny. In the music business I can't get arrested. But in advertising I'm a hot, but unwilling, commodity.

My least favorite word is "edgy." That's what these advertising people want. "Edgy." And it means...nothing. It means, "we want the form of rebellion stripped of all content." That's what the world has come to. "Edginess." But nobody is rebelling against anything. It's all for sale.

(http://souljacker.digitalrice.com/real/sho otenannyarticle1.php)

Trivia

Was written on the same say as Numbered Days.