Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1

Lyrics

Do every stupid thing that makes you feel alive
Do every stupid thing to try to drive the dark away
Let people call you crazy for the choices that you make
Find limits past the limits
Jump in front of trains all day
And stay alive
Just stay alive

Play with matches if you think you need to play with matches
Seek out the hidden places where the fire burns hot and bright
Find where the heat's unbearable and stay there[1] if you have to
Don't hurt[4] anybody on your way up to the light
And stay alive
Just stay alive

People might laugh at your tattoos
When they do get new ones in completely garish hues
I hide down in my corner because I like my corner
I am happy where the vermin play

Make up magic spells
We wear them like protective shells
Landmines on the battlefield[2]
Find[3] the one safe way
And stay alive
Just stay alive

Banter

[audience: John you're a legend!] No, I stand in the company of legends: Mr. Peter Hughes on bass [cheering]. From the right profile [?] Jon Wurster on drums. [drumming, woos] I'm John, and I [hose down Dawes?] Consolidated Cardboard. This is a song about doing the things that you have to do, that other people sometimes can't understand. And, like, we presently live in a world where people are a little too given to jump the gun on saying 'fuck 'em,' right? They say 'fuck 'em' about having a Snickers, you know? Well maybe not fuck 'em, maybe they have a point, maybe I don't need a second Snickers, right? Maybe instead of fuck 'em, maybe they have a point, you know, maybe listen to them, not fuck 'em. On the other hand, there are certain core principles about which we must say: fuck 'em. (2015-04-09 - Webster Hall, NYC)
I love this town. There's a possibility I was conceived here. [woos and instrument noises] I was very small at the time. I would like to dedicate this one to the down front mosh pit who just made my whole night. (2015-04-16 - Bogart's, Cincinnati)
This is a song about doing what you must do. It's about doing what you must do. (2015-04-22 - The Wexner Center, Columbus)
This is a song about finding the shining thing at your bedrock and embracing it until the light courses through you. It's called Amy, also known as Spent Gladiator 1. (2015-04-23 - Mr. Smalls, Millvale )
This is a song about - it's funny, I feel it speaks for itself. I try to say something about it and I don't know what to say. It's about - I don't think I've ever introduced this song. I usually just do the [guitar noises] and then we start. This is a song how if you feel defeated and trodden upon you and wasted – not in the good sense of wasted – you find some small glimmering that manages to carry you through the next sixty seconds and then you do that enough times to make an hour, and then you do it enough times to make a day... and then you keep right on doing it. (2015-06-01 The Fillmore)
This is a song about survival at all costs. (2015-06-03 - The Mayan, Los Angeles)
Thank you, Portland, for saving my life when I wasn’t worth it. (2023 approx)

Live Performances

Footnotes

1. "you stay down there if you have to" (2021-08-06), "stay down there" (2015-04-12, 2015-06-02, 2021-08-08), "you stay there" (2015-04-11)
2. "go out and find landmines on the battlefield" (2021-08-08), "you can find landmines on the battlefield" (2015-04-16, 2015-06-01)
3. "find you" (2013-07-26, 2015-04-09, 2015-04-12, 2015-04-13, 2015-04-22, 2015-04-23, 2015-06-01, 2015-06-02, 2021-08-08)
4. "burn" (2013-07-26)