Citylife
from Invasive EP by James Paddock
-
Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
£1 GBP or more
-
Buy the Full Digital Album
-
Full Digital Discography
Get all 40 James Paddock releases available on Bandcamp.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of SIGIL II - The MIDI Soundtrack, Abyss of Time, Abyss of Time (Instrumentals), Swallow [ft. The Final Event & Keagan Dunn] - SINGLE, Impossible - SINGLE, The Penalty [ft. Marian Paddock] - SINGLE, Destroyer of Worlds - SINGLE, Invasive EP, and 32 more.
Purchasable with gift card£48.95 GBP or more
about
A story told from the perspective of a corrupt and aged politician, whose constituency is uprising against him. Witnessing destruction far outside the scope of his ability to contain, he stays obstinately confined in his ivory tower in a vain attempt to ignore the danger he is in.
Cities can be a haven for deep-seated corruption. High-rise structures provide a sense of self-righteousness for the wealthy and powerful. Palaces, churches, and military headquarters are built to house the elite and self-righteous, and potentially protect them from outside harm. Monuments are constructed as effigies of man's hubris – we flaunt our own sense of self-importance with the construction of enormous structures that often-underpaid workers spend huge amounts of energy and time erecting, with some even dying in the process.
However, recent times, along with the destruction of the Twin Towers, have shaken people's faith in these structures. Skyscrapers are now generally perceived as easy targets for domestic attacks, and government buildings are among to first to be stormed and razed by a disenchanted populace.
It’s unclear whether this character's intentions have been earnest all this time. Does he actually care about protecting and sustaining his people, or is he concerned only with the safety of himself? Either way, he seems unwilling to put forth a shred of effort in the right places, and this ultimately leads to his downfall.
=====
Cities can be a haven for deep-seated corruption. High-rise structures provide a sense of self-righteousness for the wealthy and powerful. Palaces, churches, and military headquarters are built to house the elite and self-righteous, and potentially protect them from outside harm. Monuments are constructed as effigies of man's hubris – we flaunt our own sense of self-importance with the construction of enormous structures that often-underpaid workers spend huge amounts of energy and time erecting, with some even dying in the process.
However, recent times, along with the destruction of the Twin Towers, have shaken people's faith in these structures. Skyscrapers are now generally perceived as easy targets for domestic attacks, and government buildings are among to first to be stormed and razed by a disenchanted populace.
It’s unclear whether this character's intentions have been earnest all this time. Does he actually care about protecting and sustaining his people, or is he concerned only with the safety of himself? Either way, he seems unwilling to put forth a shred of effort in the right places, and this ultimately leads to his downfall.
=====
lyrics
Open the window and breathe the ozone
In my tower of glass in a concrete jungle
Took all I had to rise up from my throne
I prefer to keep safe from the outside rabble
Just ignore the thunder
Coming from below
'Cos the earth will rumble
With cries of a world in limbo
We are here
Living a high and mighty life
Floating inches from the sky
Shut your ears
And quickly close the blinds, yeah
What does the man in the street know about life?
I was fine, resting these old bones
What can I do in these times of peril?
All I can do to get myself involved
Is proselytise to the restless cattle
But I do my best to stay out of trouble
I guess that's the way the city crumbles
We are here
Living a high and mighty life
Floating inches from the sky
Shut your ears
And quickly close the blinds, yeah
What does the man in the street know about life?
(Close the blinds)
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire!
(All I do is spit on the fire)
(All I do is spit on the fire)
I lived here
Flying high, safe as a kite
I was scraping 'gainst the sky
Saw the tears
And I tried to close my eyes, yeah
And now no-one hears my cries
All around me lies my life
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire!
In my tower of glass in a concrete jungle
Took all I had to rise up from my throne
I prefer to keep safe from the outside rabble
Just ignore the thunder
Coming from below
'Cos the earth will rumble
With cries of a world in limbo
We are here
Living a high and mighty life
Floating inches from the sky
Shut your ears
And quickly close the blinds, yeah
What does the man in the street know about life?
I was fine, resting these old bones
What can I do in these times of peril?
All I can do to get myself involved
Is proselytise to the restless cattle
But I do my best to stay out of trouble
I guess that's the way the city crumbles
We are here
Living a high and mighty life
Floating inches from the sky
Shut your ears
And quickly close the blinds, yeah
What does the man in the street know about life?
(Close the blinds)
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire
Spit on the fire!
(All I do is spit on the fire)
(All I do is spit on the fire)
I lived here
Flying high, safe as a kite
I was scraping 'gainst the sky
Saw the tears
And I tried to close my eyes, yeah
And now no-one hears my cries
All around me lies my life
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire
From this high-rise sky-pyre
All I can do is spit on the fire!
credits
from Invasive EP,
released May 27, 2023
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
James Paddock England, UK
Composer, singer, artist, and video game developer.
discography
-
Nov 2023 -
Dec 2023 -
Aug 2023 -
Nov 2023
contact / help
If you like James Paddock, you may also like:
-
DOOM: Ancient Aliens OST
by Stuart Rynnsupported by 9 fans who also own “Citylife”
It is a different tone from other WAD soundtracks.
go to album -
supported by 8 fans who also own “Citylife”
this is rock & roll. this is metal. this is an album by esselfortium, an extremely exciting artist in exciting times for indie music. if this is what she's doing now, what the hell is she gonna do next? wallets out, everyone, and join me (& this album) in looking forward. listen front to back: it's a movie in your head.
go to album -
BTSX OST Vol. 1
by Esselfortiumsupported by 8 fans who also own “Citylife”
Absolutely sublime, an essential to any MIDI enthusiast. Vanilla compatible as well. Of course if you don't know, you should play BTSX using a source port of your choice: You can use ZDL to load up source ports and cleanly select multiple pk3s and WADs to run. The interface of ZDL is a bit clunky but, to play BTSX all you would really need to do is drag and drop the WAD to a sourceport exe to launch it. I recommend GZDoom for utility, Woof for authenticity, and DSDA if you're speedy boi.
go to album -
More far-flung techno from a Spanish artist who combines whiplash-inducing tempos and rave synths to achieve maximum danceability.
go to album -
Tone Science Module No.8 Tone Science Live (DiN:TS08)
by VariousFive musicians, all on modular synths, come together on this hypnotic and gorgeous live performance.
go to album -
A Song We Destroy to Spin Again
by Kim MooreA stunning, minimalist contemporary classical piece by the Glasgow-based composer, performed by the chamber music duo GAIA.
go to album -
