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Folk Is Dead

by The Shabs

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Folk is Dead is the first full-length album by The Shabs
    Released in February 2016

    Includes unlimited streaming of Folk Is Dead via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Stop Me 02:48
I bought a case of paraffin so I could set fire to everything I love Sometimes the world is too unkind and a man must admit he’s had enough Oh the places we will go We stand inside a broken shadow But it still keeps us from the rain Stop me Stop me before I do something I will regret, don’t let it happen Don’t let me ruin the world I bought a case of paraffin so I could set fire to everything I love Sometimes the world is too unkind and a man must admit he’s had enough I bought a box of fireworks so I could cause the whole world to explode Sometimes a man gets angry and must demolish everything he’s ever owned Oh the places we will see We live inside a broken city But it still hides us from the rain Stop me Stop me before I do something I will regret, don’t let it happen Don’t let me ruin the world Stop me Stop me before I do something I will regret, don’t let it happen Don’t let me ruin the world But I wanna ruin the world, woah I wanna ruin the world, woah I wanna ruin the world, woah I wanna ruin the world, woah Don’t let me ruin the world, woah Don’t let me ruin the world, woah Don’t let me ruin the world, woah Don’t let me ruin the world, woah I bought a case of paraffin so I could set fire to everything I love
2.
Dear diary, I need an answer to a question Does putting pen on paper help me process all those thoughts in my head I heard a story of how you saved a million people By allowing them to write in you exposing all their wishes for death Even the biggest ships will never reach the horizon So why aim high when you know it’s going to hurt when you fall A glass half full always spills A glass half empty doesn’t lose as much when it hits the floor Forgive me for I have compromised the structure And structural integrity’s the only thing that matters when you’re building a foundation on the things that haven’t happened at all Stake your claim Before we knock down all of these walls Even the biggest ships will never reach the horizon So why aim high when you know it’s going to hurt when you fall A glass half full always spills A glass half empty doesn’t lose as much when it hits the floor Why do I do the same thing every time I always seem to worry loads about what I’ve left behind It’s a waste of time when I can turn my head 360 degrees Do you want to see me do that Regardless of what you’ve heard about the future We’re all in this together so make sure you keep me at your side I know secrets, I learned them from the ones before me And if the elders think it’s worth it then they’ll take us all along for the ride Even the brightest stars can never prove there’s a heaven So why aim high when you know it’s going to hurt when you fall A glass half full always spills A glass half empty doesn’t lose as much when it hits the floor Why do I do the same thing every time I always seem to worry loads about what I’ve left behind It’s a waste of time when I can turn my head 360 degrees Do you want to see me do that
3.
I’m breaking even if I’m lucky I work relentlessly I’m constantly at war with my own head and it’s winning Pride is not expensive (No it’s not) Dignity is cheap (Yes it is) I think it’s safe to say that if I walk away I’m not giving up the dream I’m going to quit my job And I suggest you quit your job Then go and find another job So you can quit that job Hand in those TPS reports (No I won’t) And throw away the thoughts (Yes I will) Of everything that you used to love And back away from that shotgun And prescription drugs I’m going to quit my job And I suggest you quit your job Then go and find another job So you can quit that job I’m a rat in a lab I’m an itch on your back I’m an ant under your magnifying glass Wipe that smile off your face Because the world is on your case The poor are poor and the rich are broke Life’s a joke and you’re in life I’m going to quit my job And I suggest you quit your job Then go and find another job My own economy Take everything for free I am not an anarchist But soon I’ll have to be I am not an anarchist But soon I’ll have to be
4.
Run Away 03:27
I never read, it’s just not me I stole a book from the library once and I really tried to read But I just kept on losing focus and I always lost my place It got frustrating When I was young, I chewed my tongue And I got regularly shouted at for always chewing gum The thing about smoke and mirrors is the only thing you see is a reflection We cannot do things we weren’t designed to do Time to accept that I am me and you are you Practice forgiveness If we could we’d run away for good I never cry, it’s not my style I find the whole process exhausting leaking water from my eyes If I could choose the things I feel then I would never let sadness become my first choice I never love, I find it’s hard to love The concept is quite alien and I’ve tried it for long enough But if the woman of my dreams appeared in distant memories then I’d still love her We cannot do things we weren’t designed to do Time to accept that I am me and you are you Practice forgiveness If we could we’d run away for good We cannot do things we weren’t designed to do Time to accept that I am me and you are you Practice forgiveness If we could we’d run away for good We cannot be the things we weren’t designed to be Time to accept that you are you and I am me Practice forgiveness If we could we’d run away
5.
The Maths 02:40
I remember finding out that Santa Clause was fake And since that day I’ve nursed a broken heart It’s not the fact that we’re all raised on lies that makes me angry It’s the lies we’re told that set us all apart It’s the lies we’re told that set us all apart We’re often putting too much faith into the sky When it rains we’ll only end up wet I watched the weather, there’s a good chance there will be lightning We should probably go inside before we’re dead I’ve always known that one and one make two The thing I’ve never figured out is how to lie to you I sacrificed my childhood for the sake of being smart Now I only speak in metaphor Summer is the time we need to pick shapes out of clouds Because in winter there’s just way too many more We’re often putting too much faith into the sky When it rains we’ll only end up wet I watched the weather, there’s a good chance there will be lightning We should probably go inside before we’re dead I’ve always know that two and two make four The thing I’ve never figured out is how to ask for more I’ve always known that three and three make six The thing I’ve never figured out is how to get my fix of you And I’ve always know that four and four make eight But by the time I figure that one out it’s always way too late
6.
There’s 7 billion people on this god forsaken planet And I’m 29 years old and not in love I’ve got a fairly vast collection of romantic comedies And I’d like to share them all with somebody We could watch them all at once We could enjoy each other’s company while we fiddle with our phones Discuss how work is going in the comfort of our homes We could argue over politics while only one of us are stoned Oh how I really cannot wait to fall in love While the world’s still turning I’ll be the one who’s learning I’m keeping miles ahead of the game While the world’s still spinning I’ll be the one who’s winning I’m keeping miles ahead of the game There’s trillions of dollars on this god forsaken planet And I’m standing up on stage begging for a beer I wish I’d stuck it out and maybe finished studying economics Because when you have a lot of money You can buy a lot of beer We could enjoy each other’s company while we fiddle with our phones At the restaurant where we always go to eat across the road I guess I could admit that I should not have quit my job In the mean time could you please buy the beer While the world’s still turning I’ll be the one who’s learning I’m keeping miles ahead of the game While the world’s still spinning I’ll be the one who’s winning I’m keeping miles ahead of the game
7.
I say we hit the road Drive north for seven days Take everything we know And start a family We need a father figure Someone to be in charge He’ll teach us magic tricks And how to read the stars Oh where do we go We’re in control And I hope you know that I kinda trust you I say we hit the road And make a mission east We’ll search for fossilled bones And learn an ancient speech I’ll let you navigate Yes you can be in charge Remember what our father said There’s magic in the stars Oh where do we go We’re in control And I hope you know that I kinda trust you But you still need to prove yourself Oh where do we go We’re in control And I hope you know that I kinda trust you But you still need to prove yourself I say we hit the road And maybe travel west We’ll leave it all behind We need to get some rest Spend some time alone Never let them see you Take the things you own And disappear Oh where do we go We’re in control And I hope you know that I kinda trust you But you still need to prove yourself Oh where do we go We’re in control And I hope you know that I kinda trust you
8.
Don’t get me wrong I have no problem with tequila But you’re a dirty habit that I really gotta kick I know that sleeping on the sidewalk’s not ideal I often suffer pins and needles from sleeping on my wrist Don’t get me wrong I’d never blame that on tequila I blame your empty wallet and the fact you hate your life I’m the one that takes advantage of insecurities So grab another round and we can celebrate tonight We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend Don’t get me wrong I’ve got no problem with the party But the hangover is brutal, I think I may be sick I need a break from this wave of self-destruction So please get off my back, I need to lie low for a week Don’t get me wrong I’d never blame that on the party I blame my lack of discipline and endless sense of shame I’m the one that needs to deal with my insecurities I need to spend a week in bed before we do this all again We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend We’ll stick together for the sunrise We’ll stick together in a fist fight We’ll stick together for the good times We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend We’ll stick together We’ll stick together We’ll stick together if it’s only for the weekend
9.
Footsteps 04:16
You should always try to take your steps inside Footsteps that you find and see if you can make them bigger You’ll often find you can’t The ones before you walked In shoes so God damn big it is impossible to fill them And why, why do we always give up Why, why do we always give up My parents know this guy Who is blind in both his eyes The only thing he’s ever seen are glimpses of his future The people stand in line To see what’s on his mind They’re finding new ideas and then new ways to prostitute them And why, why do we always give up Why, why do we always give up So put your fingers deep inside your pockets See how much money you can find Spend it all on cigarettes and cheap alcohol And watch yourself go bloody on the inside And watch yourself go bloody on the inside Just because you’re right doesn’t mean that I am wrong When I made that mistake I landed in the arms of God He made me dig a grave which is way too small for me Now I question his existence every time I fall asleep And that, that’s why I always give up That, that’s why I always give up So put your fingers deep inside your pockets See how much money you can find Spend it all on cigarettes and cheap alcohol And watch yourself go bloody on the inside And watch yourself go bloody on the inside
10.
Swords 04:14
Hold onto the things you believe in as tight as you can It’s just a matter of time until somebody lies and you start doubting yourself again There’s a factory processing bullshit inside of your brain A sweatshop in mind where a woman and child Are worked to the bone every hour to survive We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side And the fact of the matter is that I cannot do this without you It’s starting to seem like I’m destined to fail But I can’t afford to tell myself that every day As I said, I can’t do this without you I don’t understand how you are not world famous yet The way you break hearts is a well refined art And it’s one that I’d rather forget I’m starting to feel like I’m destined to spend life along But good friendships have died to keep others alive And those are the friends that I hold at my side We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side And the fact of the matter is that I cannot do this without you It’s starting to seem like I’m destined to fail But I can’t afford to tell myself that every day As I said, I can’t do this without you Surely the best way to let loved ones go is to just suck it up and say I’m letting you go There are reasons for doing this that only I know and I don’t want to explain them because you don’t wanna know You take a step backwards Give loved ones time Make sure you stay out of sight Out of mind We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side And the fact of the matter is that I cannot do this without you It’s starting to seem like I’m destined to fail But I can’t afford to tell myself that every day As I said, I can’t do this without you We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side We all stand together with our swords in the sky It’s always worth fighting with friends at our side
11.
I was born with blood on my hands to a home built on another man’s land Tucked into bed at night by foreign hands I was too young to know my place I was born in an amusement park which was built to be efficient but the queues were long The people stood in line all just to be a part Of something that would not take place You can ask for forgiveness And you can say that it won’t happen again But my forgiveness is useless And your guilt is a waste of everyone’s time If I’m not to blame and you’re not to blame Who’s the one who’ll be responsible Who’ll be accountable We died for our father’s sins today I’m willing to accept what fate decides Having proven to myself that I have qualified To deal with the good To deal with the bad And make the most of living in a foreign man’s land You can ask for forgiveness And you can say that it won’t happen again But my forgiveness is useless And your guilt is a waste of everyone’s time If I’m not to blame and you’re not to blame Who’s the one who’ll be responsible Who’ll be accountable It’s not ok just to say it’s ok When it’s clearly dysfunctional It’s irrational We died for our father’s sins today Our country Needs us Don’t give up You can ask for forgiveness And you can say that it won’t happen again But my forgiveness is useless And your guilt is a waste of everyone’s time If I’m not to blame and you’re not to blame Who’s the one who’ll be responsible Who’ll be accountable It’s not ok just to say it’s ok When it’s clearly dysfunctional It’s irrational We died for our father’s sins We died for our father’s sins We died for our father’s sins today
12.
All we’ve ever had to do is swallow all the stories of a man who put a curse upon the world A heathen in our eyes A prophet in disguise A savior to the weak An inspiration to us all No one can give you good advice if you don’t listen You can never change the world if you don’t listen So gather round my friends, we’re on a mission And we’re the ones in charge Throw my soul into the sea Watch as it dissolves Strength aint what it seems Watch it duck beneath the waves While some of us protect some of us are saved Some of us are saved ‘ Confidence is lying at an all time record low because the faith that we had left all went to waste You trust them cos they tell you things that you already know But no one bothered ever telling you that you decide your fate You can never change the world if you don’t listen We’re searching for the things we know are missing So gather round my friends, we’re on a mission And we’re the ones in charge Throw my soul into the sea Watch as it dissolves Strength ain’t what it seems Watch it duck beneath the waves While some of us protect some of us are saved Some of us are saved You can never change the world if you don’t listen No one can give you good advice if you don’t listen So gather round my friends, we’re on a mission And we’re the ones in charge Throw my soul into the sea Watch as it dissolves Strength ain’t what it seems Watch it duck beneath the waves While some of us protect some of us are saved Some of us are saved Throw my soul into the sea Watch as it dissolves Strength ain’t what it seems Watch it duck beneath the waves While some of us protect some of us are saved Some of us are saved

about

We're very proud to present our debut album. Enjoy!

credits

released February 27, 2016

Recorded at Vanguard Studios, Hillcrest, Durban
Recorded and Engineered by Thomas Glendinning, Jon Shaban and Ryan McArthur
Mixed by Adam Hawkins at Right Heel Music, Denver, Colorado, USA
All songs written and produced by The Shabs except track 3 which was co-written by Brett Newski

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The Shabs Cape Town, South Africa

The Shabs is a Folk Punk duo out of Cape Town South Africa.
They deliver a tight, captivating set that blends sincere, melodic sing-a-long folk with the raw energy and DIY ethos of punk rock.
The band never ceases to get a crowd to throw their fists in the air and sing along to their anthemic tunes which have
been described as honest and raw and easy
to relate to.
... more

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