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Upbeat Songs for the End of the World

by When The Walls Fell

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    We have a very limited number of digipak CDs available, ready from October 14. Featuring the artwork on the front, lyrics inside, and 12 tracks of punk-rock mayhem on the disc. We had these made up when we were drinking, so consider rescuing us from our silly mistake and picking one up.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Upbeat Songs for the End of the World via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    edition of 50 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD

     

1.
The songs you are about to hear are not exaggerated and are based wholly within the sick reality in which we all live. Your discretion is not advised. In fact, we advise you to get angry. This record is best listened to as you march. Join us and rise.
2.
Tommy was a wild one. Stayed out late, got in fights for fun. Shaved his head to the bone, combat boots and a Harrington. No one ever asked him why, if they had he’d have said: “I don’t know, it’s just my life.” But then the time went marching on, and Tommy had to grow up, he had his days in the sun. There must be more to life than the nine to five, the white shirt, black tie. Looking through dead eyes. Tom was in a punk band, played every night, held the world in his hands. Didn’t make too many pounds, just petrol cash and a couple of rounds. Once I tried to ask him why, he said: “I dunno it’s what I want from life.” Success is in the beholder’s eye, but it’s a life lived loud, proud and live.

3.
Other Side 03:33
It’s not a call to action, it’s not another protest song, it’s a reach across the void to see why you’re right when we think that’s so wrong. And it’s a gulf, not an aisle, and it divides us all. We’re stuck on Checkpoint Charlie, what will it take to tear down this wall? Because, honestly, I literally have no idea how your brain works. Like, at all. I want to see the other side, I want a challenge I can’t fight. Not hyperbole or pointless screaming, open up my mind. I know you don’t own corporations, I’m sure you’re not all millionaires. You stamp so hard on self-interest, there must be something that I missed. Need to retire to use your pension, and do you really hate health care? Woke and based, if I’m a snowflake, then you’re the fucking melt, my friend. Look, I get that you never thought leopards would eat your face, but come on, are you out of your goddamn mind? This can work both ways and all you know. Like, liberal, social, these aren’t bad words. Freedom, unity, that’s literally it. I mean, when you’re watching Star Wars, you’re not cheering for the Empire, right? Right? Ever try to see the other side? A problem shared enough is fine, and this really isn’t black and white, open up your mind.
4.
An eye for an eye leaves the whole damn world blind, how prophetic. 7 billion heads and 14 billion eyes now can't see how we can break or what it might take to prevent it. Why not keep to the fold if the fold is where you want to be? And there is no escape while there's money to make, as those prophets must be seen to rise, these are difficult times, don't you see? It's no spring or crusade and it's no choice you made if you live it. It's just where you were born times by how many lies you believe. So give thanks that you live in a place where this song can be written. And if we're ungrateful, won’t you show us how great we can be? If you're born into sin then I'm telling you now you're forgiven, and if you're living to die then please do not do so around me. Lie to me, tell me my free will is bound to prophecy. I feel exhausted hearing the stupidity, and moral writs from men with no morality, or sense of irony. Your made-up deity won’t get a thing from me.
5.
Burn 02:40
We’re all everyday psychos, machine-gunning lifeboats. I want to buy myself out but I don’t know my own market code. Post-modern cynics can’t make it past the critics, and we’re all our own worst, that’s how we’re doomed to live it. Pulling on trench coats, show-and-telling devotes to the automatic free and easy promissory notes. Late-stage living and end-game beginning, like Nostradamus said, can you hear the Titan clicking? And do not be surprised if you’re cut from the play; there are 1,300 actors but 7 billion on the stage. That’s what they’re giving, take it or leave it. But there’s such a gulf between being alive and living. So, we’re heads down and comatose. All we know is no one knows what the hell we’re doing, or what happens when the pressure blows. There’s a clear line between what is good and what’s obscene, and you want to see it burn, so pass the gasoline. One too many insults, won’t be any revolts. No care for the cause and you can’t provoke a misanthrope. Can’t believe the presumption that the depths that are sunken will ever be enough to support your consumption. It’s a production without budget, without compassion or release. And nothing will trickle down until there’s blood on the guillotine.
6.
Roanoke 03:09
When the walls come down, they’ll barely make any sound. Not a bang, not a whisper, the sound of nothing’s all around because we always thought they’d be here to stay. We never thought that silence was the sound of their strain. There are no battle lines, no black sails, and no red sky. Just an awful fucking feeling that the end is nigh. They’ll come for you, they’ll come for me, I can feel it haunting me. We’re going down, going 50 below. Where the static relents and my only regrets are the ones I’ve decided to own. We’re going down, you can hold your applause. Because under 40 degrees, there is no law. You can’t say we didn’t say that things were heading this way. But we heard “fake news,” and “what do you know?” Now I’ll tell you, my friends, you’ll reap what you sow. And will you finally admit that Reddit’s lauded seers didn’t get it right, as you carve “Croatoan” in a tree? They’ll come for you like they’ve come for me, I can hear them calling me. We’re going down, going 50 below. Where the static relents and my only regrets are the ones I’ve decided to own. We’re going down, you can hold your applause. Because under 40 degrees, there is no law. And under 50, there is no God. There is no God.
7.
It's not alright that you're alt-right, in fact, it's really not okay. And you embody everything wrong with the entire world today. It might be bad to punch a Nazi, but it's worse to let them speak. Don't want the path of least resistance, because they prey upon the weak. I get that people are allowed different points of view. But yours is too abhorrent, so, we're coming after you. Coming to you live from a post-normal, so-called post-truth world (we’re coming after you), where it seems fascism is no longer opposed, but indeed, actively encouraged (we’re coming after you). Nazis are marching openly on the streets of America (we’re coming after you). But according to the President, there are “very fine people on both sides,” which some have disputed (we’re coming after you). It seems that instead of fighting them in the streets, the public would rather celebrate this ideological shift by idolising the very people who would bring about the end of society as we know it. As if, by ignoring the admittedly thin pillars of common decency, the actions of a few extreme fucking lunatics are free license to do the same, consequences be damned. Not with hatred, not with violence, but with peace and hope and love. And if you don't fucking like it, then we'll kick your face clean off. Because two wrongs don't make a right, but there are economies of scale—nick a Mars Bar, get told “naughty,” but commit hate crimes, get told “no bail.” Coming to you live from London, New York, Washington, Portland, Charlottesville. The modern-day Battles of Cable Street, where the heroes of anti-fascist action are vilified. There is, of course, no post-truth, only one truth. And that is: The only good fascist is a dead fascist.
8.
Miles Around 02:47
I hear it speak, and consciousness bleeds from sleepless nights to waking dreams. Of only wearing laurels pyrrhically, never dealt with any devil that was any worse than me. And did you ever feel like it was all a lie? You’re born, you’re raised, you gild your cage, stay in it till you die. That’s more than alright if you never wonder why, if there’s an answer to be found? Well, I’ll search for miles around. Our route steady, pre-destiny so preconceived. I don’t believe there’s a thread in the weave that can make life complete, so we take our ambitions and bury them deep. We tell ourselves that it will all be fine, must be a method in the madness, some kind of guiding light. And so we search, we search for miles around. We’re not alone, and we’re not lost. But we’re not found.
9.
Not like I ever want to hurt you, but I'm working through some issues. It's not alright, I can't deny a life well lived for you is a life lived well without me. And it's fine, alright, excuse me as I choke on rage. You know we've got these bills to pay and I'm planning our next holiday, and all I need is you to say “it’s fine.” Alright, instead you just walk away and I, and I run out of words to say, so I’m chasing you down the hallway. You lock that door, I'll kick it in and then I'll fucking… and it's not fine. Because I'm a monster in human skin. My Dad, I turned out just like him, I wish I could just wish it away. I'm scum. I'm fucked and you never even said “It's fine.” Alright, even as a lie, you looked me square in the eye. The phone still ringing out to 999, and I could not be any more resigned.
10.
Red Flag 02:37
So you’re a proud, upstanding nationalist? Don’t want no trouble, but you do not take shit. Stand by your mates, but you’re not racist? Oh, just a coincidence you all have the same faces. You want your rights, what the country owes you, and to close the gates on all those who oppose you? Do you ever think? No, that’s a suggestion, I wouldn’t start off with such a hard question. Because you’ve got that red flag with the white circle. Crooked black lines that cross in the middle. You say there are two sides to every story, but sometimes, I don’t think that there are. You look so strong, your sights are zeroed. Loadout strapped down like you’re the Last Action Hero. Judge Dredd meets Zod, Punisher logo. It’s just a game, in a way, and now it’s your go. So light your way with Tiki Torches, maybe light some crosses too for the right porches. It’s all about rights, or maybe succession. You gotta fight the anti-fascists? Well, what does that make you?
11.
Now, we're all losing our minds, this time we really got it wrong. We took an early exit when we just didn’t need one. And we couldn't see the signs, we were all blinded by the fog made of intolerance and lies. Bigotry, self-serving fluff. So, we took a turn hard right, looked at the cliff and jumped straight off. So, this here's your country back, and guess what? It's fucked. Used to be the odd occurrence, now it's all we seem to hear—another hate-filled bastard spewing poisonous ideas about who is and isn't welcome. It's like we let Mosley win, and now we're facing down the blackshirts, Enoch’s marching them again. So, I'll stand here with the Dagoes, the Frogs, Jerries and Polskis. You want to fuck with them, well, you fuck with me. Is it leftist despondency to say this economic slump is just the first circle of hell? And the ticket that we bought will take us straight to places Dante never even dreamed of? What happened to the country I’m supposed to love. This is a call to action, this is a call to arms. It’s a love letter to reason, it’s a love letter to France. It’s time to stand and be counted, time to tear down these walls. If you didn’t think, then it’s all your fault. It’s all your fault.
12.
Alright, this is When The Walls Fell, and this is how it goddamn happened. For the last time, here we go. I woke to American dreams, prophecy filled with guns and screams of complex fed and honoured dead. Want to kill the wolf? Cut off its head. And by proxy and sycophancy, the old world too fell to its knees. Imperial now is just a measure of a swan dive Into the nether. Values had some value, right? But now it’s spent it can’t be revived. I really don’t think we ever tried. Wake up and hear the sirens, I’m afraid that it won’t be alright. You’d better run for your life. Now, where does that leave us? All stuck in an idealogue’s quicksand. No rope will be forthcoming, given us enough now as it stands. By the light of napalm fireflies. there’s no last hope and no last chance. We didn’t want to make this party, but now we kowtow and dance. Run for your life.

credits

released October 1, 2021

LEAD VOCALS, LYRICS: Ross Sutcliffe
GUITAR, BASS, LYRICS: Jim Rundle
DRUMS: Brendan Kuntz
ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTS: Nathan Cripps, James Hodson, Djordje Milanovic & Rita Torrens
VOICEOVERS: Harry Rundle
ADDITIONAL VOCALS: Matt Stokoe, Sophie Rundle, Rebecca Natale, Joanna Wright & Alasdair Morton
VOCALS RECORDED BY: Gareth Matthews at Absolute Music, Bournemouth, U.K.
GUITARS & DRUMS RECORDED IN: New York City, U.S.A.
MIXED & MASTERED BY: Marvin at Tide Studio London
ARTWORK: Ashleigh Joseph & Jim Rundle
THANKS TO: Veronica Rundle & Rachel Sutcliffe, The Mistakes, NBQ Records, Tommy Quirke and the staff of The White Horse Tavern (not the one on Hudson St.), President Joseph R. Biden and the 117th United States Congress for the funding, Anthony Malakian, Maria Palermo.

DEDICATED TO NOAH STOKOE AND MILES SUTCLIFFE, OUR LIGHTS IN A DARK YEAR.

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When The Walls Fell New York, New York

The best trans-Atlantic punk band you'll never see live. Probably.

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