Their forthcoming second album 'Tales From the Wasteland' is due for release in September 2011 on Bomber Records.
Upcoming gigs and links to the social networks can be found at www.smokeybastard.com.
Wasteland
Smokey Bastard Lyrics
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To the endless sprawling suburbs every turning looks the same
This commuter town so drained of any culture of it's own
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
Sweet fuckin' home
Oh what I would do for heritage, a homeland I could claim
As my daily inspiration and an ever burning flame
Back to this wasteland, this wasteland is our home.
Well everyone needs roots to give them succour, pride and strength
But mine cannot take hold here so I'm giving them away
To these fake romantic notions of cultures far away
God save my homeland, my homeland is a waste.
And the ghosts of this town will shadow us wherever we may roam
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
This wasteland, this wasteland is our home.
Oh the folk songs we grew up with, vivid pictures they would paint,
But this is the M4 corridor, all colour fades to grey
In the home of footloose industry, where apathy is laced
Into the fabric of our daily lives, you find yourself displaced
So go spend your life a roving wanderer by trade
May you find some place to call your own, or wander to the grave
But you'll never walk unburdened and you'll never walk alone
In this wasteland, this wasteland is your home
And the ghosts of this town will shadow us wherever we may roam
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
This wasteland, this wasteland is our home.
The lyrics of Smokey Bastard's "Wasteland" bleakly capture the feelings of alienation and displacement experienced by those living in a commuter town that's deprived of a rich cultural heritage. The song's opening lines where it mentions the "concrete ring-roads", "council estates", and suburbs that all look the same, highlights the lack of individuality and character in the town. The town is so drained of any unique identity that the only thing left for the residents to do is to accept it as their home, however bleak and uninspiring it may be. The singer longs for a homeland that he can claim as his inspiration and guide, but as he looks around at his surroundings he sees only a wasteland. He feels disconnected from his roots and as a result, he is forced to give them away.
The line that mentions "footloose industry" is particularly poignant as it shows that the town is now just a shadow of its former self where even the industry that once gave it life is now gone, all that is left being apathy and displacement. The singer's only hope seems to be a life spent as a roving wanderer and the possibility of finding someplace to call his own. However, he acknowledges that even though he may travel far, the ghosts of this town will always be with him, trailing him wherever he may roam.
Overall, the song leaves a lasting impression by painting a picture of a town where the lack of identity and roots make it feel like a wasteland, a place that is devoid of culture and life.
Line by Line Meaning
From the winding concrete ring-roads to the council estates
The city is full of repetitive, plain-looking neighborhoods with nothing interesting or beautiful to look at.
To the endless sprawling suburbs every turning looks the same
The suburbs are just as dull and monotonous as the inner city.
This commuter town so drained of any culture of it's own
The town lacks any unique identity or cultural heritage.
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
Despite the lack of character and vibrancy, this is where we live and belong.
Oh what I would do for heritage, a homeland I could claim
I long for a sense of cultural identity and belonging.
As my daily inspiration and an ever burning flame
Something to inspire me and keep me going every day.
That may guide me on my travels, never leading me astray
A sense of belonging and purpose that will keep me grounded and focused as I move through life.
Back to this wasteland, this wasteland is our home.
No matter where I go, this is where I come from and where I belong.
Well everyone needs roots to give them succour, pride and strength
We all need a sense of belonging and a place to call home to feel supported, proud, and empowered.
But mine cannot take hold here so I'm giving them away
I don't feel connected to my current home and am searching for a new place to establish roots.
To these fake romantic notions of cultures far away
I am idealizing other cultures that I know very little about.
God save my homeland, my homeland is a waste.
I want my homeland to be saved and improved, but it is currently a barren and uninviting place.
And the ghosts of this town will shadow us wherever we may roam
The town's memories and history will always be with us, no matter where we go.
Oh the folk songs we grew up with, vivid pictures they would paint,
The stories and songs of our youth depicted lively, colorful worlds beyond our bleak reality.
But this is the M4 corridor, all colour fades to grey
However, the reality is that the environment around us is dull and uninspiring.
In the home of footloose industry, where apathy is laced
The area is characterized by transient work and a lack of passion or drive.
Into the fabric of our daily lives, you find yourself displaced
Living here can make you feel unsettled and disconnected, as if you don't belong.
So go spend your life a roving wanderer by trade
It may be better to live a nomadic, itinerant lifestyle.
May you find some place to call your own, or wander to the grave
Whether you find a place to call home or continue to wander, may you find peace and fulfillment in your life.
But you'll never walk unburdened and you'll never walk alone
Regardless of where you go or what you do, you will always carry the weight of your past and the memory of this place.
In this wasteland, this wasteland is your home
Just like me, you are from this place and it will always be a part of who you are.
And the ghosts of this town will shadow us wherever we may roam
The memories of this place will always be with us, whether we stay or leave.
Oh this wasteland, this wasteland is our home
No matter how bleak and uninviting it may be, this is where we come from and where we belong.
This wasteland, this wasteland is our home.
Despite its shortcomings, we embrace this place as our home.
Writer(s): Ness, Wood
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.