Get all 7 TheBandFormerlyKnownAsFuel releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Fuel / Phleg Camp Split Single, Fuel / Angry Son Split Single, s/t, Live at Gilman St - Aug 8, 1990, Take Effect, If You Can See Through It... It ain't Coffee compilation, and Original Demo from 1989.
1. |
Disengaged
02:26
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I'd like to help but I've got to worry about myself
Taking the easy way out again!
It's not my fault. The problem belongs to someone else
Taking the easy way out again!
I've played my part. It's someone else's turn
Taking the easy way out again!
Don't show me the truth. It only makes my eyes burn
Taking the easy way out again!
When conflict is avoided, principles fall void
We only serve to justify ourselves
As isolated islands we continue abstinence from action
In attempt to justify ourselves
I've got to fight. Macho stance I must defend
Taking the easy way out again!
Can't let them know I'm scared. I've got to pretend
Taking the easy way out again!
Can't speak out. My ignorance will show
Taking the easy way out again!
I can't be hurt by what you don't know
Taking the easy way out again!
When conflict is avoided, principles fall void
We only serve to justify ourselves
When we accept others pain, to uncontrolled reason we throw our blame
We only serve to justify ourselves
Disengaged with a cynical pride the way that we were taught
Quite satisfied, fully denied, we sit back and watch
And I don't want to live my life like that
I don't want to life a life like that
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2. |
2:52 [Instrumental]
02:55
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3. |
Some Gods
03:43
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Some gods tell me to bow down before them
And some gods ask me to love thy neighbor
Which one are you going to choose?
And is there room for reason?
Is there room for reason?
I don't need an excuse
I don't need a reason
You provide the proof
I call it spiritual treason
I just don't know how to show
That there's you and me
Redemption, forgiveness, turn the other cheek
Theology means nothing; actions which speak to me
My respect, you will have gained, just simply
Abandon the institutions, which you helped create
What about you, smiling self-righteously?
Do you concede, spirituality?
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4. |
Remains To Be Seen
03:19
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We may fail. We just might succeed
We could sink like lead or fuck up at best
Don't realize our power. Can't conceive otherwise
Consuming the lies which keep us sitting idly by
We may crumble. We may never thrive
It remains to be seen whether we can survive
But giving up on tomorrow before you give a chance to today
Self-determined destination, all options thrown away
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (That's what you got. It's a fuck of a lot)
Because of maybe - I've got to try
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (Uncertainty in your attack)
Your prophecy I will defy
You say you're scared, so what you gonna do?
You say you're scared, you know, I feel that way too
But it's time we act upon all we've said
Fear is just paralysis of the head
We may fall down. We may get hurt.
But at least we'll life our lives for what their worth
Hard cynical mask. Convenient hole to hide.
We're gonna break down that wall
Find what's inside
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (That's what you got. It's a fuck of a lot)
Because of maybe - I've got to try
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (Uncertainty in your attack)
Your prophecy I will defy
I may be a fool. I may be young.
I may fight a battle that can't be won.
I may be simplistic. I may be unrealistic.
All I know is something must be done!
Think age has brought you wisdom? will, I dare to disagree
Seems that all you've done is betrayed all you believe
Well, I'm not going to give up, trying to help you
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (That's what you got. It's a fuck of a lot)
Because of maybe - I've got to try
Because of maybe - I've got a chance (Uncertainty in your attack)
Your prophecy I will defy
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5. |
Cue To You
05:03
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A simple realization into the reason why
Beyond the strict limitation of judgment's blind pride
Still I put myself apart from my foe
But it's the institution, not the person, I oppose
To put perspective in its place
We're all part of the same human race
I cue to you
Something I must do
I cue to you
And all those times I wanted to burn them to the ground
Kick in their fucking heads, but I recalled what Mahatma said
Your spirit keeps me alive, though it may hide deep inside
A simple lesson for life - never dehumanize
Never betray. Do all I can
Action not delayed. From my head right down to my hand
I cue to you
I cue to you
I cue to you
In your existence was left a clue
Threat by example. Action serving as tool
And my trust is true. I'm pulling for you
Gonna make the world a better place
And you know, that may take some faith
Though it may be had to break the urge .When I'm feeling down
I'm not chained to reaction. Tolerance can be found
I cue to you
Something I must do
I cue to you
I cue to you
I cue to you
I cue to you
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6. |
The Name Is...
02:32
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Thanks for sharing that remark with me. I've got a name for that
Thanks for sharing that joke with me. I've got a name for that
Where do you find the humor in that? I'd really like to know
I won't get mad at ignorance. Won't let my anger show
The name is... Hatred, for what you don't even understand
The name is... Fear, for what you can't even comprehend
The urge to put you in your place grows strong from time to time
But to shit on you would be a crime
I'd love to bring you down 'cause you think you're fucking cool
But I don't want to be like you
I want to... Cut you down
Cut you down
I want to... Cut you down
But I won't... put you in your place.
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7. |
Why Can't You See?
03:39
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I, from a personal point of view, is what all songs are about, unless they're written by you!
So get off your ass and take a stand.
Stop telling me the world has done all it can!
Economic apartheid, strikes in the streets
The helpless victims of the profits of greed
Freedom. Equality. Words people like to say
Yet they close their eyes, thinking hunger just goes away!
So why can't you see?
It's up to you and me
Will we ever be free
Of such misery?
IBM, McDonald's, Exxon - one and the same
Monuments of excess playing self-serving games
In the land of inequality, it's not hard to see
So many turn a blink eye to the pain and poverty
When you look into their eyes try not to deny
When you look into their eyes try to sympathize
Why can't you see?
It's up to you and me
Will we ever be free
Of such misery?
There's no black, there's no white
There's no day, there's no night
There's no wrong, there's no right
But there is you
You tend to say from a personal way that the world's all gray
and that there's nothing that we can do
Make a self-fulfilling prophecy come true
Consumed by the world outside, lose touch with sincerity inside
Consumed by the world within, lose touch with the whole reason why
I feel I have the right (obligation)
To express in words this sight
Distinguish strong (specify)
Vision clarified of what's wrong and right
I ran 'cause I was scared, denied all out of fear
Innocence can never be rectified by closed eye that abstains
That abstains from existence
That abstains from being a participant!
Why can't you see?
It's up to you and me
Will we ever be free
Of such misery?
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8. |
Actualized
02:39
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This ain't a simple message, with a catchy refrain
Not here for your amusement or just to entertain
Don't feel the need to create something entirely new
Don't want to expound on the Universal Truth
Just a moment, actualized, where we know
We truly know that we're not strangers
When I walk away from you
After we've exchanged more than a word or two
I realize there's been no understanding
We're still strangers, just strangers
Don't hesitate, articulate, any thoughts you have
Promise to comply, to try and do the same
To realize that moment, where we both know
We truly know that we're not strangers
And every time...
And every time...
I want to kick myself for shutting down. I shut down
We play it safe, we mouth the lines.
We play it safe, we mouth the lines
Quite satisfied, we serve our time
I resented you when you could not hear
My silent disapproval or my silent pleas
But I realize there's been no understanding
We're still strangers, just strangers
Don't feel the need to create something entirely new
Don't want to expound on the Universal Truth
Just a moment, actualized, where we know
We truly know that we're not strangers
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9. |
Habit
02:52
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She said she had a habit
I turned and took it in again
She said "I've had a habit"
Now do you understand?
She said "I had to stop"
I searched for some wisdom to share
She said "I hope I stopped"
I wondered what heaven was like
Read the whole story
I am more than skin - look where I've been
I am more than skin - look where I've been
Read the whole story
I am more than skin - look where I've been
I am more than skin
Only look through dark eyes
And you'll judge to your own standards
Try to look through light eyes
Look inside, be surprised
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10. |
Not Up For Sale
04:19
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I want to break like I've never broken
I want to tear like I've never torn
I want to speak like I've never spoken
I want to breathe like the day I was born
If you stand on the backs of others
If you drink from the sweat of others
If you stand on the backs of others
You are warned. You are warned!
And it's not something you can put a price on
Though you've been planning it all along
Deeper than items ever go
It's your weakness, we well know
Not something that you can forget
Nor buy, steal, or market
Deeper than monetary greed
Your exploitation plants my seeds
But it's not up for sale
Not up for sale
Not up for sale
Not up for sale
...are you?
I'm looking for something I have not found
Consistency, foundations sound
I'm looking for something I have not found
Will I find it? Will I find it?
If you stand on the backs of others
If you drink from the sweat of others
If you stand on the backs of others
You are warned. You are warned!
And it's more than your urge to complete
We're dealing with emotions here
More than marketing strategies
Uncompromising! Something you fear
Not something you can utilize
Buy, steal, or compromise
Your greed plants my seeds
Your greed is killing me!
But it's not up for sale
Not up for sale
Not up for sale
Not up for sale
...are you?
Did you put a price?
A spirit that can not be measured
By the might of the dollar bill
A raw emotion true and whole
The foundation for my will
And you don't put a price
On what you value in life
And another one goes up for sale
Another one goes up for sale
Another one goes up for sale
Another one goes up for sale
Are you up for sale?
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TheBandFormerlyKnownAsFuel Berkeley, California
Fuel was:
Jim Allison
Aaron Arroyo
Sarah Kirsch
Jeff
Stofan
We met up in the Bay area in 1989. We found our community at Gilman St and the MRR house. We were supported by Very Small Records, Lookout, Rough Trade, Ebullition, Allied Recordings and Broken Rekids. As a footnote, we opened once for Fugazi.
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