Despite their cu… Read Full Bio ↴Rock and Roll Rediscovered… Low Vs. Diamond Arrives
Despite their current city of residence, Low Vs. Diamond is not only a Los Angeles band. They are, in every sense of the word, an American band - with all of the members hailing from backgrounds as diverse as their hometown cities themselves… Seattle (vocalist/guitarist-Lucas Field), Chicago (drummer-Howie Diamond), San Francisco (keyboardist-Tad Moore) and the “Jersey Guys” (lead guitarist-Anthony Polcino and bassist-Jon Pancoast). This melting pot of musicians was established a few short years ago when they formed Low Vs. Diamond.
While never concealing their nods to current bands ranging from U2, in scope, to the Strokes, in grit… Low Vs. Diamond are clearly possessed by those that passed before them. It’s these roots that define the essence of what separates this band from the rest. Low Vs. Diamond achieve something uniquely intimate with their attention paid to songwriting. Real songwriting. You hear the complex song styling of Serge Gainsbourg, Burt Bacharach, and even Broadway. Real songs with real stories. Lyrically, Lucas weaves in themes dealing with family (such as “Actions Are Actions” and “Don’t Forget Sister”,) and stories about saying farewell to love (“Heart Attack” and “Wasted).” Each track on their self titled debut album is as lucid and cinematic in scope.
Kevin Bronson from the Los Angeles Times explains it best writing that the band “stands precipitously between overwrought melancholy and chimey hopefulness, avoiding both excesses… the band’s music plays to an optimism that stops short of outright glee.”
Low Vs. Diamond’s self-titled debut album will be available this summer.
Wasted
Low vs. Diamond Lyrics
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(Bring that come, you mek it nice up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Bring that come, you mek it nice up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
Don't worry who I'm seeing tonight, it's none of your business
Too bad I weren't enough
'Cause ready or not, I'm better on my own
Too many times you turned a blind eye to the way I feel
Oh, you're the reason why I'm numb
And when I try to give you my time it's never ever ideal
Had to learn it the hard way
Oh, yeah
Wasted energy, yeah
Wasted energy
Wasted energy, yeah
Why did you, why did you fuck up the chemistry?
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Bring that come, you mek it nice up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
Broken promises along the way
Lost count of how many you made my love, my love, my love
Tied up in your plans, still on center stage, no great escape
Wouldn't keep you in my line up, line up, line up
Too many times you turned a blind eye to the way I feel
Oh, you're the reason why I'm numb, yeah
And when I try to give you my time it's never ever ideal
Had to learn it the hard way
Yeah
Wasted energy, yeah
Wasted energy
Wasted energy (yeah)
Why did you, why did you fuck up the chemistry?
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Bring that come, you mek it nice up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
(Bring that come, you mek it nice up)
(Ay you gyal you're looking tight up)
Kwa nini penzi umelikata miguu
Unalibidua mara chini mara juu?
Why?
Why?
Moyo unaumia, Moyo unaumia
Moyo unaumia kwa nini unaugeuza nguo karaha?
Eti karaha, oh-ohh
The opening lines of Low vs. Diamond's song Wasted presents a hypothetical scenario to the listener - if you possessed eyes as precious as golden crowns and diamonds in your fingertips, you would waste them. The same applies if you had shining wisdom that travelled to the ears of God. The singer laments that even though the subject of the song has so much potential, they are overrated and celebrated, ultimately leading to their waste of talent. The dismissive use of the term "good" to describe getting a call "now and then just to say hello" hints at a relationship that may have soured. The singer hates to see the subject go and has even more contempt for their inability to make something out of their obvious talent.
The second verse continues the overarching theme of wasted potential, this time from the perspective of missed opportunities. Every time a door closes and nothing opens in its place, it is considered a waste. The subject is also considered a waste whenever they speak words of obvious wisdom to others who already know the same words. The singer views the subject as a "classic waste of cool", someone so afraid to break the rules but does so in all the wrong places. The reference to breaking the rules could mean that the subject is not challenging themselves enough, remaining within their comfort zone.
The chorus repeats the sentiment of hating to see the subject leave, possibly indicating that they're not leaving on their own terms. The song overall has a somber, melancholic tone to it, with the underlying message being that the subject should have achieved more with their talents if not for their refusal to take chances and break out of their mold.
Line by Line Meaning
If you had eyes like golden crowns and
If you possessed beauty and wealth, you would not truly appreciate it
Diamonds in your fingertips you'd waste it
Even if you had precious jewels literally at your fingertips, you would not know how to appreciate them
If shining wisdom passed your lips and
If you possessed great knowledge and understanding,
Traveled to the ears of God you'd waste it
You would not make good use of it, even if it was acknowledged by a higher power
And so I hate that you're overrated most
I dislike that you are praised and valued so highly,
Revered and celebrated because you'll waste it
Because you will not make the most of your talents and abilities
Then again it's good to get a call
However, it is still nice to receive communication from people you know,
Now and then just to say hello
Even if it is just a simple greeting,
Have I said I hate to see you go
I do not enjoy it when you depart
But ever time you close a door and nothing
However, every time you end something and do not seem to have any other plan or direction,
Opens in its place you've wasted
You have squandered an opportunity to move forward or grow
And when you speak the words you know
Furthermore, when you share your knowledge and insights,
To those who know the words themselves
With individuals who already have familiarity with the subject matter,
You're wasted
Your knowledge goes unappreciated because it is not valued or utilized
You're such a classic waste of cool, so afraid to
You are a stereotypical example of not making the most of the valuable things you have and operate from a place of fear in avoiding change or challenge,
Break the rules in all the wrong places
You choose to follow norms strictly and rigidly, even when deviation could lead to positive outcomes
Then again it's good to get a call
However, I still appreciate receiving communication from you,
Now and then just to say hello
Even if it is simply a small greeting,
Have I said I hate to see you go
I genuinely do not want you to leave
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alicia J. Augello-Cook, Ariowa Ogheneochuko Kennedy Irosogie, Kali Claire McLoughlin, Nathaniel James Warner, Richard Isong Olowaranti Mbuk Isong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind