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Keep Time

from Tantrum by dilettante

supported by
Jack Eaton
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liltevs
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Graham Mole
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monosee
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about

Keep Time is a track that I really instinctively knew would be a single right off the bat. It’s another one I wrote with the loop pedal and it’s definitely a bit early Tune-Yards. I wanted something that was quite chant-able lyric wise.

It’s all about trying to stop comparing yourself to other people but finding it really hard to ignore the ceaseless passing of time. It’s all a learning process I suppose but it’s something I really struggle with - I’m constantly googling my heroes and stressing about all the stuff that they had done by my age. I recently turned 28 and that was a big moment of ‘ohhh I’ll never be in the 27 club, I’ll never be a real rockstar..’ which is obviously ridiculous. There’s this drumstick clack that runs almost all constantly through the track which is actually at 120bpm - so it actually is in time with the ticking of a clock which I thought was pretty neat. (Fun Fact: it’s also an appropriate tempo to perform CPR effectively, should you ever wind up in such a situation).

I think the feeling I’m writing about all comes from there being a point in my life when I wasted a lot of time on drugs and sex (and not enough rock n roll) which has made me a bit obsessive about never wasting any time at all, to an unhealthy degree really. I think I want everything to happen as soon as possible and when it doesn’t I get really stressed. That’s why the song ends with me singing the word ‘wait’ over and over again. I suppose that’s me talking to myself, trying to calm down and let things happen in good time.

The song ends with a big major section that’s meant to represent my coming to terms with getting older, realising it’s not the end of the world and also knowing that I couldn’t have gotten to a place where I’d have accepted all these things if it weren’t for the passing of time itself. Time was literally the only remedy for being able to understand that things do take time.

I liked ‘Keep Time’ as a mantra because it represents the stress of trying not to run out of time but also this comforting part of my life where I know I can keep myself in check and literally keep time. I think the only way I’ve found to be even remotely happy is in trying to keep going and staying focused on whatever is immediately coming at me. So this whole song is basically about the conflicting sides of being a hyper-stressy person when it comes to running out of time but also it being the only way I know how to be happy.

Watch the lyric video now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNb3rEY9O8w

lyrics

Keep time keep time
Keep time keep time
Keep time keep time
Keep time keep

I turn the tide and learn to bless the weather
I like to think that we can change together
With open arms and mouths as soft as butter
I like to think that we can change each other

I’m learning how to wait
I’m learning how to keep time keep time
I’m early til I’m late
Please show me how to keep time keep time
Oh why am I awake
I’m learning how to keep time keep time
Keep time keep time oh

Sometimes I’m jealous of your carburettor
But moving fast doesn't mean moving better
A bowling ball falls faster than a feather
But I’d rather float than end up in the gutter

I’m learning how to wait
I’m learning how to keep time keep time
And I don’t have all day
Please show me how to keep time keep time
I’m know I’m not a saint
But I’m learning how to keep time keep time
Keep time keep time oh
Got too much on my plate
I’m learning how to keep time keep time
Keep time keep time oh

I would bite right through my tongue before admitting I was wrong
I would bite right through my tongue before admitting I was wrong
I would bite right through my tongue
I would bite right through my tongue
I would bite, bite right through my tongue before admitting I was wrong
I would bite, bite right through my tongue before admitting I was

I turn the tide and learn to bless the weather
I like to think that we can change together
With open arms and mouths as soft as butter
I like to think that we can change each other

I turn the tide and learn to bless the weather
I like to think that we can change together
With all my lessons learned I’ll find another
With winter drawing close enjoy the summer

I turn the tide and learn to bless the weather
I like to think that we can change for better

Wait wait wait

credits

from Tantrum, track released October 5, 2022
Vocals, Guitar, Sax, Percussion, Synths + Piano: Francesca Pidgeon
Bass, Guitar, Guitar FX + Additional Vocals: Adam Pardey
Drums: Jack Mee
Production: Francesca Pidgeon + Adam Pardey
Mixing: Adam Pardey + Richard Formby

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dilettante Manchester, UK

'Dilettante' is an art-rock collective led by multi-instrumentalist Francesca Pidgeon and is based in Northern England. The group was born out of Francesca's fear of committing to a single line up, and is her rebound project after a long-term relationship with indie-jazz four piece ‘Kumiko’.

FFO St Vincent, Fiona Apple, tUnE-yArDs, Billie Holiday, Andy Shauf, Grizzly Bear and Radiohead. ... more

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