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Improv for No One

Straight Lines Bright Colors

From the album Sandcastles

Improv for No One

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About this release

The first thing I heard of this song was the verse guitar, and I was so excited I sent back the verse drums the same day. I had my drums set up in the living room at that point—just a couple SM57s and nothing fancy. I think I recorded them into our Soundcraft mixer that could only record two channels without a DAW, just straight to an SD card. I sent that back to Tristan and he came back a couple weeks later with the rest of the song and all the lyrics fully structured. I wasn’t satisfied with my microphones and room, so I went over to my friend Jordan’s house where he was setting up a nice home studio and took a couple runs at the song. The chorus drums are a combination of Stewart Copeland of The Police on “Next To You,” which I had played over and over on Rock Band for XBOX, and Travis Barker with Blink-182’s “First Date,” which Tristan and I had played 100 times in our cover band, The Trash Pandas. The intro for this song was so creative and fun to play—I don’t know how Tristan came up with that. He’s a genius.

Lyrics

I’ve got figured out he said to me as his coffee spilled to the floor
if we just met at 10 each morning, we won’t feel anger anymore
yes that’s a thought. Sure, I guess why not
but I really just came over so you’d help me fix my car

“I’ve got it figured out,” she seemed to say with her Instagram workout routine
just spend three hours on your ads each day and you can also be an Internet queen
while we laugh all right judging her shallow life
yes she wears makeup while she’s lifting, but at least she’s at the gym.

We’re faking and making everything up as we go along
They’re faking and taking every chance they can to sell us on
groundbreaking breathtaking strategies to fix what’s all gone wrong
I’m trying But finding I can’t shake this feeling that we’re all
doing improv for no one
Yes and it’s true the points don’t matter at all

“I’ve got it figured out,” he said to me as we were heating up a frozen dinner.
This politician’s new platform means they’re sure to be the winner.
Well, it’s all said and done. I’ve guess we found the one,
but I really wish you’d wait until they say they’re going to run.

I’ve got it figured out she said to me as we’re pulling weeds out of the yard
just tell each person how you really feel it can’t be all that hard.
Well that’s a thought to try, but I’m wondering why
last time I asked about your life you told me not to fucking cry.

We’re faking and making everything up as we go along
They’re faking and taking every chance they can to sell us on
groundbreaking breathtaking strategies to fix what’s all gone wrong
I’m trying But finding I can’t shake this feeling that we’re all
doing improv for no one
Yes and it’s true the points don’t matter at all

Just be calm
Just be calm
Just calm and thoughtful and emotionally open
with mindfulness to practice so you don't drown in the ocean
a politician screaming
the kids oh they’re just dreaming
here take a sip of kava
it eases away all of the fog
and don't forget you should jog
and did you read on that blog
how CBD might cure the cancer we all get from the smog
and how the food we eat might something something everyone just wait
and listen

I've got it figured out he said through tears, though the phrase just felt like a crutch
Maybe we have to look for answers or else the world just hurts too much