Fresh Out The Growlery
(2022)(Transcript)
*barber shop arabic*
*crescendo of voices*
*cork pop*
“Fresh Out the Growlery”
“That’s very sad,
Its just Pats… it’s nothing to do…
People go oh its the way we …
It isn’t, it’s choices people make”
“And for you, it’s two pints a night until you build up a tolerance
And no spirits whatsoever… cos it’s not gonna suit you
Your body is already telling you
I told ya, life is a marathon not a sprint
And you’re… I mean you’re 23 years of age, you’re a fully grown man
You should be strong enough when you’re out with people… to go”
I should probably go now
I’ve overstayed a welcome
I shoulda known how shit is run round here
Near the heart of Peckham
Gentry trading
I’ve been learning new words whilst
Traipsing up the A406
On the overpasses
Don’t slip
Into my pocket for reminders of him
Is it time yet for a cig?
I’m feeling 10 Foot tall
Soon be Ofske
Breathing all these Fums
Way too Comfy?
Man it’s Artik out ere
Getting Paper
Throat Raspy
Firstly then it’s lastly all done in a Flash
*tube and bashment*
I'm on the marshes now
Hearing laughter
And dealing with the aftermath
Freedom
Yeh im after that
Looking for a car to crash
So ballardian
A true Ed Hardyian
Belt loose on my hips
I slept through the eclipse
I’m a son of the moon
It’s a sign of the times that all my people confused
Ima loosen my grip
Ima do it for drip
Never dealt with the jakes
Pretty lucky I guess
Get me out of this mess
My true colours betrayed
I knew something would change
Clean cut in the flesh
Bent over a desk
I wasn’t ready for tests
Entertaining my guests
Overstraining my legs
Man this feeling is next
I got love on the brain
As Rihanna would say
*Raised voices outside*
“… would get shot in my face yeh
N i would die for my family
I was up in fucking… Whitechapel
I got an apartment
I got a cab here bro
Oi Pendejo, why’d you come here?
What the fuck.. What the fuck you gonna do?
What the fuck you gonna do?”
OI!
Everyones got bigger fish to fry
We’re getting by
Not getting triggered by the violence of this living nightmare
Britain little love for you
A different kinda buzz from all these writtens
Bit a little more than I can chew
But I assure you that the journey’s worth the effort
Less we give the less we getting
So I’m penning letters
Anything that comes with getting betters just a bonus
Yet the onus is on youth
The show is just beginning
Let me settle in to living next to you
A bag of skittles and my bike I’m rolling through
A bag of skittlez and a light I’m rolling too
Undercover of this night
It’s falling sooner now
The leaves are falling too
And I’m coming to conclude that I can choose
To do the things I wanna do
In summary I’m summoning the strength
Not hurrying or worrying I’m burying the scent
Couple birdies on a bench
Up and early on events
Hopping fence
On the lands destructed by the rent
Price tagging all the trees left standing in the ends
Pen shaking in my hand
Band playing in my head
A bad day again I fret
Then I’m
Unpicking the scrambling wires
Kicking up dirt in the wild
I haven’t been church in a while
It’s happening
Slapping on soundtracks
Tryna bounce back
Rapping in circles and lurking in outbacks
How’s that loud pack
Good G how’s Jack?
About that
I found cracks in the foundation
I found powers in the power station
Took em home in my rucksack
On second thoughts fuck that
At second glance I’m quite the cuppa tea
Her diction wasn’t ordinary but quite buttery
My belly full and fluttery
This flow so stuttery
Story time I’m in a cupboard dreaming
Caught on the wrong side of the summer season
One eyed when too fucked to rhyme or reason
One time I spilt Guinness on a bridesmaids sleeve and
There was no teeheeheeing
It’s free free freeing to hear this from you
*Radio Gaga*
“-this is… has always been…y’know… it’s, it’s poverty here
Right? Y’know, and you’re tryna like… I remember them doing the same in Peckham
Y’know you’re tryna upmarket it for the fuckin yuppie,yeh yeh yeh y’know……
And you’re not thinking of the people that live here that can’t afford to do that
Y’know you’re building places, like ‘affordable rent-to-buy’ bullshit y’know
We haven’t got that…”
*Town centre*
“We understand about the power of God
But I want you to understand that there are satanic strongholds that come against what God is tryna do…
Daniel Chapter 10…”
It’s got a strong hold on me
I dunno what it’s supposed to be
Or where to put this rage
Other than to
Let it out on stage vocally
Idk who to turn to locally
How to act socially
When to turn the page on the past
Im in the process of a change another mask
I hope you can see my mouth move
I understand the task at hand
To make the crowd fuse
For about two minutes
You could hear us breathe together
Leave the scene with me
I’ve been taking notice of the scenery
Let’s leave the party early
They didn’t leave my parking space free
I know, I’m barking mad
Quit whining she said
And rightly so
I’ve got a sober solemn feeling feeling foreign in my birthplace
I shoulda done this in the first place
I really should have rehearsed this
The patterns in your stories
And the acid of bad memories
Down with the oligarchy
(they sing bad melodies)
Olive branch passing
Apologies demanded
It don’t work that way these days
The sweet release so rare I dare to dream
You and me we share a stream
Now I’m back down by the River Lea
Down by the river Lea…
I was stuck in loops, jumping hoops, drinking hooch
By the river Lea
It’s been going swimmingly
Now things are looking up
*thunder rumbles*
*rain and whispers*
*sound swells*
CODE SWITCHING ANOTHER VICTIM BLAMING VILLAIN ANOTHER ISSUE CAUSING FRICTION OVER MY DEAD BODY SOLD A DREAM OF FREEDOM NO PERMISSION GIVEN GOLDEN LIGHT IM SORRY MISS FORGOT TO BRUSH MY TEETH ADMITTED GUILTY PLEASURES TWISTED ENDEAVOURS KISS MY SWEATY ARSE YOU DICKHEAD PASS ME BY AND MAKE A FILTHY COMMENT RACISTS COME AND GO AND I CANT SHAKE EM OFF MY SHOULDERS COULDNT TELL YOU HOW IT FEELS OLDER NOW BUT STILL THE LOOKS THEY KILL IM PAYING BILLS AND MAKING WAYS THE PAIN WE KNOW CAN MAKE A MAN YOUR BIRTH DID DEMONSTRATE I COULDNT FOCUS ON EXAMS I ALWAYS HESITATE TO CALL ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT WE ARE COOL I GO TO LENGTHS FOR PRESENTATION EYE TO EYE WITH YOU GOT MY HEART RACING I REALLY LOVE THE RUSH HOURS TICKING ON THE BUS TRAIN SITTING ON THEM PLUSH SEATS FEELING CRUSHED ONE WEEK THE NEXT IM ON TOP G FRESH TRIM CUT JEANS FEARING THAT YOU’LL MOCK ME FEARING THAT THE COPS SEE WE’RE NEARING LINES THAT FINISH THIS BUSINESSES V CITIZENS SHIT CONDITIONS STICK IT TO THE WALL AND KICK IN DOORS BEHIND WHICH PEOPLE TALK AND TALK AND NEVER LISTEN IN WALK THE WALK AND FEEL THE HEAT IM CLOSE TO MAYBE FINISHING BUT WAIT GOTTA DO THIS EVERYDAY LOTTA STUPID SHIT TO SAY AND IM ASSUMING YOU WONT STAY FOR COFFEE... INTENSITY IS MY MAIN HOBBY VEINS ARE POPPING HEADS ARE KNOCKING WHAT IS GOING ON PLEASE DONT ASK ME WHERE IM FROM STILL AS PROUD OF YOU AS MUM STARING AT THE CLOUDS SO HIGH THE PLANES POLLUTE MY LUCID SIGHT SUCH A SHAME THAT WE’RE ON TRACK TO LOSE THE RIGHT TO FUTURES TELL ME HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE TO MAKE A LIVING OUT ON MARS SCIENCE FICTION TEACHING COUPLES CLASSES FUCK YOUR PAPERS WIPE MY FACE WITH THEM PLAYING EXPECTATIONS I’VE BEEN GAMBLING WITH RAMBLINGS UNFINISHED STILL I HAND IT IN BE CAREFUL HOW YOU HANDLE HIM DANGEROUS WHEN IM JADED AND IM FADED NOW CAN SOMEONE PLEASE COME STAND IN FOR ME ACTIVATE THE LANDING GEAR ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU RAN INTO ME HEAD FIRST ONE MAN AND HIS HISTORY BAGGAGE CARRIED LITERALLY GET ONBOARD WITH CURRENTS I DONT SKATE AND I DONT SURF SO DONT WAR ME OVER TURF WARN ME OF THE RISKS OR ASK ME WHAT I THINK ITS WORTH
“But I was a hardy little fucker
N when they used to pick at me in school
They used to get battered man
I was always a street figh-, a street fighter
I used to batter them
The boys stopped because I could beat them all up and it was embarrassing
Y’know?
And the older boys, if they made a mistake…
Seven brothers mate
You’re getting fucking laid out here”
A bit singy singy now
*improvises*
‘I see New colours
I see new shapes
New corners
to the edge of my plain
Something something
N my mouth is wide
I discover
A whole new light
Open space
Wide open space’
When the shivering stops
N your quivering lips
Uncover your cons
Tried
Too clever with the quips
Better come back
When I’m better equipped
Cried
Spilt milk in the sink so it’s aite
Stuck with a guilt
Like
Whats best for me?
Caught short
Sword thrust to the hilt
I got back pains
Better run for the hills
Chasing the sun on saturdays
The cream leaks n tea spills
Its been weeks
I pull my sleeves n socks up…
It’s been weeks
I pulled my sleeves n socks up…
Clouds forming inside
Got Gale force protection
Loud at bar
Males seeking affection
Attention attention listen up you dickheads it’s closing time my eyes are open
So See you sagging like a clothing line
I swear I swear
This is the last time
I know yo don’t care
I know it’s not fair
Forgive me for my anger for my anger is for you
Forgive me all my grudges
I need a nudge
Is this in budget or too out there?
I know it’s wild out here
My inner child is chiding me
My inner selves are chafing
Sends me round the bend
I’m on the mend…
But things are looking up