Pronounced as it reads - as in one syllable. Like ‘luh-wad’ without the ‘uh’. An abbreviation for the first vocal line of the song: ‘Let’s waste another day’.
As with most of my songs, this one's quite cathartic, but maybe more so than the others. An open and honest background to this song is that I've struggled with various forms of escapism for years - mostly weed, as well as hard drugs and alcohol, with a bit of overeating thrown in - anything to block your energy and give you an excuse not to do what you actually want. (Disclaimer: I don't have anything against anyone who does anything - this is just something I’ve personally struggled with.)
The first verse was borne of a feeling of melancholy as a result of temporarily slipping back into old habits - this time in particular, sweet Mary-Jane. From there it settled into the feelings of comfort, yet honest introspection, which often go hand-in-hand with rendering yourself useless through various escapist devices. Naturally, there's subsequent descent into a defeated sense of hopelessness in the middle, and towards the end, an angry and explosive 'fuck it' attitude (often my way of dealing with my frustration), before ending on a weird, distorted vibe.
The last verse, although apparently quite nihilistic, is intended to be left hanging in the balance for the listener to make up their own mind about it. The line, 'Let's kill another dream,' first came out as a childish, throwaway response to my situation. Like giving up on any hope of getting better or reaching my intended goals in life. But by the time I'd finished writing and arranging the song, it began to mean something completely different - that I would quit my dreaming and actually put in work and practical effort towards getting better. By this time I'd come to the conclusion that, at the end of the day, life is simply 'one long swim upstream', and that it’s never been anything else. And what you gonna do? You can't change it. We all have different starting points and situations, and some definitely have it easier than others; but ultimately there's only two choices - positivity or negativity. You can either deal with it and take on the challenge, or float back to the bottom.
I'm in a much better place now and am constantly improving, despite the odd setback. But I feel that, as an artist, and as someone who wants to give something back to the world I’m lucky enough to experience, I have a responsibility to share my struggles and the lessons that come as a result. I don't like to be self-indulgent, and writing songs like this can make me feel a strange combination of vulnerable and narcissistic. But at the end of the day, it is what it is, and I think being completely open and honest is not only better for me, but also for those listening. I'm not the only one who feels this way, and through my attempt to exorcise some demons, maybe others can release theirs as well, or at the very least, have a soundtrack for their own weird journey.
Either way - please do enjoy some interesting, progressive music. 🙂
Bless. x
Mango Thomas
lyrics
Let's waste another day,
Watching all my problems drift away.
Come what troubles may,
I'm just a step away from being in the shit.
Let's dig another hole,
A wholesome shovel dumped across the road
To block my paths again
And remind me that I'm not so innocent.
Let's assume another guise,
A velvet blanket wrapped around my eyes
To give me time to think
And approach you with a feeling indistinct.
Let's raise an ugly head
And picture all my shortcomings instead.
I'm still unprepared,
But yet confused that I'm not getting anywhere.
Let's sleep another hour
'Cause waking every day is turning sour,
Waiting at the door
When I've concluded I'm not welcome anymore.
Let's burn another cell,
Another drop to take me back to hell.
Emptying the can,
I'm in heaven if I don't know where I am.
Let's kill another dream,
'Cause happiness is rarely what it seems.
One long swim upstream,
It's the only way that life has ever been.
credits
released May 29, 2020
Written, arranged and produced by Mango Thomas
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