Josh Martinez has burst onto the scene with humor, wit and an infectious delivery that has his songs stuck in your head for weeks. Martinez' first release, the DJ Moves produced Maximum Wellbeing EP, blew the collective conscious with the epic track "Deny". A five beat, ten minute opus about a soldier forced to revisit the Holocaust, "Deny" won 1998's Independent Song of the Year from CBC's Brave NewWaves.
His next release, Josh Martinez & the Hooded Fang, was awarded 5 mics by Source Online and showcased production and rhyme help from Halifax's finest. This self-released gem moved Vice Magazine to comment, "Josh takes on more subject matter in one song than most rappers do in their entire careers." As interest in his recordings grew, Josh decided to start his own record label, Low Pressure Records, a Vancouver based label co-owned by DJ Moves and Rhekone. In the spring of 2001, Low Pressure released the immensely popular Made in China, Josh's third album, which sold more than 5000 copies independently and spread Josh's words far and wide. In 2002, Low Pressure was dissolved and Josh reopened under the name Camobear Records. Following on the 2002 release of both the Rumble Pie EP and The Good Life EP, comes the release of the fourth full length album, Buck Up Princess, to a growing fanbase eager for new material. Buck Up Princess is serious business: next generation rap music, moving from banger to anthem and back again, leaving you with sweaty palms, a nervous tic, and the need to love and be loved. Its subject matter ranges from funny anecdotes to profound observations to heartfelt yearnings on love and life. Featuring Josh at his most polished yet, this album, released in North America through Revolver USA, will be supported by a twenty city US tour in the Fall of 2003. Recent shows at TransMusicales in France and a three week European tour in early 2003 have lead Josh to some considerable overseas acclaim. The Buck Up Princess album will be released throughout Europe on Bella Union (UK), and will be supported by a month long European Tour of the festival circuit throughout
the Summer.
Martinez has built a solid reputation around the world for his engaging wordplay, butter melodies and high-energy live performances. His live show has captivated audiences and spread his reputation as one of the best live performers out there. Over the last three years, Josh has performed in every major city in North America, several times over. Having twice headlined the huge music festival at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, showcasing at this year's NewMusicWest in Vancouver and dropping heat for thousands of screaming lunatics on the 2002 Vans Warped Tour, Josh has performed for them all, delivering the same high-energy lunacy each and every time he hits the stage.
http://www.joshmartinez.ca
Walk in the Park
Josh Martinez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Herbal earthen aftertaste of urban living
Rat racing in a tracksuit
Tracing, chasing shadows
Boxing facing my opponent on a box spring
An ode to the lock and loaded
'Cause the eyes look crazy off.
My words are the key but they might be locked.
The gate's been closed and the flows been turned off
When the water runs dry I take my clothes off
I'm searching for a savior in a flavored soda bottle
No I'm not a coca cola can collector.
I'm a relegated relic of the past
A fragile agile intellect inspector.
Go on look at my brain. it's bubbling again,
Carbonated water plus bleached sugar cane,
Sweet and tender on a bender to drain
To the last drop I can't stop no time to train
Mamma told me there'd be days like this
When the kiss of bliss was intertwined with this spitting vision divine.
The mind is a prison, and the blind have risen.
Always bumping in the night, much to the delight
Of those who prefer a spark in the dark to a hole in the light and they don't wanna fight
And I'm sort of supposing you've chosen to live life frozen
In time. but I sip wine with poison lined lips kissing time
When there's no one left to leave behind
With a theme unknown I dream alone,
When I feel the need I'm free to roam.
I walk in a park and when it gets dark, I take the long way home
When I grow up I want to die,
And I want death to be a thespian,
Roll the cameras and let's begin, action action action.
(My best friend's girl will be a lesbian,
Knock knock knock please let me in).
I make landfall, kiss the ground then stand tall
All this still life. still the distillery needs
The ripe fruit of the gods to feed the need for knowledge.
And I guess I never knew the ledge and let alone the border,
But I took one jump a leap of faith and it made me hate disorder.
I found myself sorta where I thought I'd be, but a part of me was sad,
I'd been had I thought I was doing something special now I'm faced with the fact
I'm just a fad.
I'm gonna fades away in 88 shades of grey
And maybe more the sore grows I'm sure those holes in my brain
Aren't hostile although I'm in a lot of pain.
On the rocks of reality dreams get splashed,
In the throes of oblivion throats get slashed
And goats get sacrificed to rid our backs of vice
When actually the monkey is not likely to suffice.
When pressed for luck I chuck the dice,
Fuck the mice and men what might have been advice to follow
Is now manifestos to swallow.
Washed down with asbestos, and what I've left those who drink instant coffee
And talk in impossible options is a word of caution,
I'll be watching your thoughts drift off when you get soft.
And I'm not afraid to go there, but I know where I'm not wanted
Undaunted I wander through haunted homes I stumble the stairs
Crumble unearthing bones in the rubble
And here comes trouble it's the walking dead
You read my thoughts and fed my thirst
And talked enough to let me finish this verse.
If its not best then it's the worst.
I'm a wise man arriving devising new ways to be enterprising.
And it's tough surviving the places where I've been waiting
Faces that leave me feeling frustrated
Hello to your face and good riddance to bitter cynics like you,
I hate the venom you spit sentiment I don't believe to be true.
It's this creeping culture, the feeding vulture eats decaying soul made flesh,
They hold less control than ever but put this patent on fresh
And now it's trademarked and parked in the executive space.
Dark laws don't apply in the darkside. buy my record and I'll give you a free water
So how's about a toast getting close to where most go over.
My glass is half full but I ain't close to being sober.
With a theme unknown I dream alone,
When I feel the need I'm free to roam.
I walk in a park and when it gets dark, I take the long way home
When I grow up I want to die,
And I want death to be a thespian,
Roll the cameras and let's begin, action action action.
(My best friend's girl will be a lesbian,
Knock knock knock please let me in).
The lyrics of Josh Martinez's "Walk in the Park" present a contemplative and introspective look at the artist's life. The first few lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer revealing that they were "born bitter." They feel the aftertaste of urban living and are caught up in the rat race. The image of "boxing facing my opponent on a box spring" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped in a cycle, where one is always fighting but never making any progress. The line, "My words are the key but they might be locked," hints that the artist feels like they have something important to say but doesn't know if anyone will hear it.
The second half of the song takes a surreal turn, with the artist talking about "searching for a savior in a flavored soda bottle" and dreaming about dying in a dramatic fashion. The theme of feeling lost and alone is repeated throughout the lyrics, with lines like "When there's no one left to leave behind" and "I found myself sorta where I thought I'd be, but a part of me was sad." The song ends with the line "My glass is half full but I ain't close to being sober," a bittersweet note that hints at the ongoing struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born bitter.
I have always had a sour outlook on life.
Herbal earthen aftertaste of urban living
Living in the city has left me with an unpleasant aftertaste.
Rat racing in a tracksuit
I feel like I'm constantly competing in a never-ending race to nowhere.
Tracing, chasing shadows
I'm stuck in a cycle of pursuing unattainable goals and unfulfilled dreams.
Boxing facing my opponent on a box spring
I feel like I'm constantly fighting and struggling to make progress in my life.
An ode to the lock and loaded
I'm celebrating those who are fully prepared for any situation or challenge.
'Cause the eyes look crazy off.
I can tell that something isn't quite right or normal.
Something's not right head slightly cocked
I have a feeling that things are not as they seem, and I'm suspicious of what's truly going on.
My words are the key but they might be locked.
I have the power to communicate and express myself, but sometimes it feels like my message is not getting through or being understood.
The gate's been closed and the flows been turned off
My opportunities to be expressive have been limited or shut down altogether.
When the water runs dry I take my clothes off
When things aren't going well, I'm willing to shed layers and show vulnerability.
I'm searching for a savior in a flavored soda bottle
I'm trying to find something or someone to save me or bring me relief, even if it's just a temporary solution.
No I'm not a coca cola can collector.
I am not someone who collects useless or meaningless objects.
I'm a relegated relic of the past
I feel like I'm no longer relevant or useful, and that I'm stuck in a bygone era.
A fragile agile intellect inspector.
I am constantly examining and questioning my own intelligence, and I worry that I am not up to par.
Go on look at my brain. it's bubbling again,
I am constantly thinking and analyzing in my head, and my thoughts are always swirling around.
Carbonated water plus bleached sugar cane,
I am trying to find pleasure and happiness, but often resort to artificial or unhealthy means of achieving it.
Sweet and tender on a bender to drain
I enjoy indulging in pleasurable activities, even if they are not good for me in the long-term.
To the last drop I can't stop no time to train
I am always pushing myself to the limit and don't feel like I have time to rest or take care of myself properly.
Mamma told me there'd be days like this
My mother warned me that life would be difficult and that there would be challenges to overcome.
When the kiss of bliss was intertwined with this spitting vision divine.
Sometimes, there are moments of happiness or joy that are mixed in with pain or sadness.
The mind is a prison, and the blind have risen.
Our own thoughts and beliefs can hold us back and prevent us from accomplishing our goals.
Always bumping in the night, much to the delight
Living in the darkness or unknown can be exciting for some people.
Of those who prefer a spark in the dark to a hole in the light and they don't wanna fight
Some people would rather live in uncertainty and chaos than face the challenge of striving towards success or enlightenment.
And I'm sort of supposing you've chosen to live life frozen
I am assuming that some people prefer to remain stagnant and unchanging in their lives.
In time. but I sip wine with poison lined lips kissing time
I am moving forward with my life, even if it means embracing things that are dangerous or harmful.
When there's no one left to leave behind
When there is no one else to care about or to care for, what is left?
With a theme unknown I dream alone,
I am oftentimes alone with my thoughts and feelings, and I am unsure about what my purpose or direction in life is.
When I feel the need I'm free to roam.
When I need to escape or explore, I am free to do so.
I walk in a park and when it gets dark, I take the long way home
I enjoy taking my time and savoring the moments in life, even if it means delaying my arrival at my destination.
When I grow up I want to die,
I am unsure about what kind of future I want for myself, and I am afraid of growing old and dying.
And I want death to be a thespian,
I envision death as a dramatic and theatrical figure, rather than a natural or ordinary phenomenon.
Roll the cameras and let's begin, action action action.
I see life as a performance, and I am ready to play my part and make the most of it.
(My best friend's girl will be a lesbian,
I am making a random and humorous observation about the people and relationships in my life, even if they are not relevant or meaningful to the song itself.
Knock knock knock please let me in).
I am ending the song with a playful nod to the idea of knocking on death's door and asking to be allowed in.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
skopered
this is always gonna be my shit
AmongstTheMasses
Searching for a savior in a coca cola bottle. Josh always has and always will be sick. Him and anyone connected to anticon was the truely best hip hop of that decade