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Emotional Labour

by Greg McLeod

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1.
Shooters 03:24
Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? I saw a shooter on the TV And he looked just like me White like me, blue eyes like me A guy like me It almost always is Guess I’d be the type To kill women and kids If I had a worse family life And psychosis Autism, narcissism Another diagnosis Access to weapons And the training to use them If I hadn’t clicked stop On the autoplay YouTube links Even still I think I understand entitlement Everything is organized To benefit me And if it never did I’d feel violent Probably start rioting Like, just to remind you I exist Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? I am no lone wolf I am a sheep Put me in the pen and I’ll bleat Shoot me in the head and I’ll bleed Everybody’s got a Need to be seen A need to be accommodated And welcomed in, as if We could stop a killer By just being their friend If we spell their name right On their Starbucks blend If we empathize and try hard To comprehend or provide All the incels with girlfriends Cause then they’d be happy, right? That was sarcastic, the kind Of solution that ends With your friends in the casket Each small kindness Like a flower on the grave Emotional labour, alone Will not save you Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? Duck down, nobody moving What can we do to keep the shooters From shooting, what’s happening? We have tried To be nice so long Isn’t it time to talk About what’s really wrong? We have tried To be nice so long Isn’t it time to talk About what’s really wrong? We have tried To be nice so long Isn’t it time to talk About what’s really wrong? We have tried To be nice so long Isn’t it time to talk About what’s really wrong? What’s really wrong
2.
I'm A Man 03:13
My apartment’s not too messy And my beard, I keep it trimmed Hair’s cut when my girlfriend lets me And I pay her parents rent I got a lot of time to think About my privilege and stuff I worry that no matter What I do it’s not enough I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh If I had some way to find them I would get more diverse friends But in Vancouver I haven’t Made a new one since like 2010 I’ve got a job, it’s with the city Where the bosses are so white But yo, like, tell me where the protest’s at I’ll try and find the time I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I spend all day online deciding Which posts I should like Hoping that that will send a signal There are worse people alive It makes me sad when you Assume I’ve never had to try, oh dang I’m centering myself aren’t I? I should just step aside I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me I’m a man, yes I am You should never fully trust me, uh huh I’m a man, yes I am
3.
High T 03:32
I’ve got a parasite Living in my brain Promising me pleasure But it only brings pain You do you do You don't know what it’s like To have such a Dirty mind I'm sorry, I hate it, but I pictured you naked I’ve got no religion To help with these cravings Some days feel like faking I'm acting like your friend While secretly imagining Myself inside your bed It’s hard to keep it in my head With all these whispers I feel like I deserve a prize Every time I resist them This isn't personal But yes it is explicit I'm hoping and I'm praying That you'll understand the difference It's not about you, no It's more like a reflex And my major defect Is picturing cheap sex Got no lack of respect Except in my mind, where "I think about the girl All the time," there Blame it on high T Blame it on high stress Blame it on that dress Blame it on that chest Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Blame it on high T Blame it on high stress Blame it on that dress Blame it on that chest Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Notching a bedpost Who’s getting head most? Trying to keep up With my friends’ boasts Trying to get close Just to improve my stats Friends are joking ‘Cause they think she’s fat “Go forth my son” Where’d this come from And who drove it? It’s culture, just cloaked in hormones Telling you a whore moans Cause she enjoys it Perpetuating rape myths Pumping the poison Turning the normal expression Of sex into sexism Damsel in distress Is a misogynistic mess The volcano that we made And blessed, it needs victims Who are we to question That they’re women? Blame it on high T Blame it on high stress Blame it on that dress Blame it on that chest Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Blame it on high T Blame it on high stress Blame it on that dress Blame it on that chest Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Blame it on high T I heard that you liked me Why would you act cold? Your fingers are icy Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Blame it on high T I heard that you liked me Why would you act cold? Your fingers are icy Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me Don’t blame it on me
4.
Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me babe Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me babe Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me West Jettitude I'm never rude I won't crack til I'm Back in a better mood You’d never know it Cause I never show it But I bring it home Poison all the People that I love the most Pass it on like a Game of telephone Pay it forward Like a bad penny Teeth, eyes friendly Just don't point out that it's fake Don't make them check the tape You know they've Got a camera trained Upon my face Training up the A.I. That's gonna replace me Already making minimum But they don't wanna pay me Wouldn't you be happier With 9 to 5 vacant? Smiles are free When income's basic Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me babe Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me Call me unprofessional Try and upset me In the past I might have Found that threatening But I finally figured out The part that you’re not getting This is not my profession This is not a Professional job, either Working from a script Like I’m playing June Cleaver High pressure No commission on sales Hope we make our targets ‘Fore the system fails, ha! If there is a problem I know I’ll be first to go The hidden blessing is I’ll also be the first to know Already smelling gas And making for the door In the dark I’ve got a ton of practice Plus my teeth are sharp Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me babe Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me babe Smiles are free, smiles are free Smiles are free, ay! Why don't you have another on me This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job This is a job, this is a job This is not your life This is a job, this is a job
5.
Bloodbath 04:07
Bloodbath It’s a bloodbath It’s a bloodbath It’s a bloodbath Cultural appropriation prize winner Cut you open feast on your insides, sinner Cultural appropriation prize winner Cut you open feast on your insides, sinner I am the translator I don’t need credit I’m making sure a broader Audience will get your message I don’t claim to be authentic All I do is edit And if I water down your missive It’s for your protection Oh yeah, and you: You can ignore it You already support it You know these issues, you live 'em And I'm just a cub reporter I'm just the messenger Taking a picture, yeah Stealing your essence, huh? Adapting your lesson plan For fans of the man 'Cause they'd dismiss you out of hand That's the dirty truth Their prejudice assumes That you have got some too I can sneak it in like Vitamins in baby food They won't know what they're eating If it's soft enough to chew What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? I am the translator Become oppressor My family built the gate And I control the entrance I can tell that this will sell But that is too heavy Too raw, or too blah Or just not ready I appreciate you I want you to make it And I think it’s all in How we situate it What if it felt safe But just seemed dangerous? You’ve gotta succeed first Then push for changes Well have you thought about Representation? You just being you Could inspire the nation I could tell your story I know how they would take it In the majority We gotta relate to it What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? What colour is the water? No one ever asked me what the Colour was, colour was Every day it passes Through my lungs, through my lungs, hey No one ever asked me what the Colour was, colour was Every day it passes Through my lungs, through my lungs No one ever asked me what the Colour was, colour was Every day it passes Through my lungs, through my lungs, and No one ever asked me what the Colour was, colour was Every day it passes Through my lungs, through my lungs Cultural appropriation prize winner Cut you open feast on your insides, sinner
6.
Clout Chase 03:30
He’s on a clout chase Posting up hot takes Arguing in bad faith Spamming emoji snakes Playing the blame game Heaping the shame on And when the facts came in He’s already gone Onto the next case And he can’t take a joke He’s on a clout chase And you know that he’s woke Either the red pill Or social justice Both sides know The other can’t be trusted Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time Disagreeing in my head With things that I read That were written by Idiots online Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time But I get stuck on it I get stuck on it I skip to the comments I guess that I get What I wanted I get stuck on it I skip to the comments Get what I wanted Not just celebrities, no Not that kinda clout chase I mean the measure of standing, Influence, power or sway This is a person feeds On tension that they can inflame Taking a victory lap For those who feel the same way He’s white but you know He’ll make it ‘bout race So afraid of seeming silent Always has something to say Devouring deepfakes He’s on a clout chase Easily outraged but The photo was staged Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time Disagreeing in my head With things that I read That were written by Idiots online Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time But I get stuck on it I get stuck on it I skip to the comments I guess that I get What I wanted I get stuck on it I skip to the comments Get what I wanted Acting no nonsense while Ignoring the context Making a weird flex but Not being honest He’s on a clout chase, yeah Like it’s a contest You better hope you don’t End up as content Whatever he hates There is no proportion Don’t discriminate Between a man and corporation SWATting and doxxing All kinds of toxic When he’s on a clout chase There is no stopping Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time Disagreeing in my head With things that I read That were written by Idiots online Never thought I’d end up Spending so much time But I get stuck on it I get stuck on it I skip to the comments I guess that I get What I wanted I get stuck on it I skip to the comments Get what I wanted
7.
Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who’s the jerk, who needs work Who hurts worse Who can speak to this Whose experience And feelings are we listening to I’m cis, I’m white I’m straight, I’m thin I’m male I didn’t choose to be But I benefit immensely And if you’ve convinced yourself That someone else Is the real problem Then it’s probably because You talk to them They give you the time of day And you disagree while I stay away The real enemy, me Gets away with things You never see And at family dinner People preserve the peace Rather than step to me Cause I can get belligerent And make you want to leave And it doesn’t affect me It’s all academic to me Like hmmm, let’s see I play devil’s advocate Like it’s the theme of a pinball machine That you’re trying to play on tilt I get to play with your guilt Who’s going to march in front Not Who’re we gonna confront Like T versus LGB Or L versus GBT It all takes the heat off me Like how lucky Can a guy be? Who’s the jerk, who needs work Who hurts worse Who can speak to this Whose ideas and theories Have merit I’m for more carrot and less stick But I’m cis, I’m white I’m straight, I’m thin I’m male Should anyone trust What I want to change at all? When I stand to inherit the world Whose priorities count? Who demands to see the accounts And who decides To make them public? Who hurts worse In this republic? Whose judgment Deems things too Dangerous to publish? If the effect is division Is it a bad decision? Or is that spoken like Someone who Benefits too much from the system? Should I shut up and listen While you fight about symbolism Or bring the conversation Back to the conditions That people are living in? The discourse is more about Exceptions and anecdotes Than where the evidence Collected, points to The asymptote Who runs the numbers? Who Makes the assumptions? I’ve got a growing Appetite for deconstruction Who’s the jerk, who needs work Who hurts worse Who can speak to this I have something to say and I Might get flamed but I’ll take the risk I’m cis, I’m white I’m straight, I’m thin, I’m male If reincarnation was real Then I’d belong in Some kind of karmic jail If there was a hell Enough people Have been killed For my comfort To land me there as well Intersectionality Is complex Not a contest If you’re looking For a ranked list Of most to least oppressed That depends What your model is People are not groups And groups are not monoliths Experience is subjective We don’t all Know the context That can make it hard To find and fight common causes I don't want to minimize Anybody’s losses The best advice I’ve heard to make This process work in practice Is to ask this very very simple Question to yourself And that is: “Who hurts worse And how can I help?” As in, find Someone in pain And help them hurt less Fight oppression in a way You can sustain Until its death Find a way to make a difference That fits your abilities Care for victims Share your wisdom Engage in hostilities Ask “Who hurts worse And how can I help?” Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help? Who hurts worse? And how can I help?
8.
Growth can be pain Teenage aching legs Things I’ve done and That were done to me Were not ok This is what it takes Gawkiness and aches Getting to a place Where it is possible To change and What is driving me crazy is The thought that I don’t Remember everything That I did And what is driving me crazy is If my intentions were fine But not the consequence I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, baby, I’m not running I felt unbearable pressure And less than confident As a man you’re expected To lead, be dominant There’s a line and I tried Hard to never cross it Remember this is the era Prior to Robin Thicke And what is driving me crazy is Probably something you Never thought about again And what is driving me crazy is I don’t know if, or how To make amends I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, baby, I’m not running I am from the #MeToo generation The you were drunk But me too generation I am from the #MeToo generation The do not as I have done Generation I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, baby, I’m not running Not a Kavanaugh, not Bill Cosby Hope I’ve never ever been Aziz Ansari Not a Kavanaugh, not Bill Cosby Hope I’ve never been Aziz Ansari Not a Kavanaugh, not Bill Cosby If I’ve ever been Aziz, I am sorry Not running, not running, not running Not running, not running, not running I’m not running, not running, not running I’m not running, baby, I’m not running
9.
Friendzone 03:27
When I grew up Having male friendships Was less “who’d you kiss?” And more stiff upper lip Less feelings and shhhh Wrestling was in But after the bell rang You kept your distance I learned those lessons too well Trying to be friends with a girl Could be awkward as hell You kept a lot less to yourself Intimacy turned to interest All in your head Like, here’s a bunch of things I felt but never said before I’ve been using semaphore Wish I had an editor It takes practice to share Without catching a vibe that’s not there All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend? All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend? Friends don’t keep things From friends Friendships have rules A bunch of things I never knew Male friendships are comparatively simple Let’s play hockey, let’s play ping pong Let’s not be friends anymore And never talk about it Or let’s physically fight and get over it Neither works well in relationships I know it’s obvious But I’ve gotta say it I blame this miseducation For personal failings That I have displayed in them And yeah, I’m not bad at ping pong But I wish I wasn’t such a ding dong All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend? All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend? Help me feel better now, ‘cause I am sad Wanted to reach out to you so bad But I know it’s not what you need It would just be for me Help me feel better now ‘cause I was wrong Wanted to talk to you so long But I know it’s not what you need It would just be for me All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend? All this time that I was thinking I was stuck up in the friendzone But, honest question, was I just a Really really bad friend?
10.
Pink Dollars 02:39
I've studied the genetics When they cut up the pie There’s no little bit of DNA Determines your life But if you’re talking about money I know something that might, and it’s Whether your chromosomes Are XX or XY Whether you’re a girl or a guy There’s no effect of that size It compounds with The other things keeping you down Whether you’re a girl or a guy There’s no effect of that size It compounds with The other things keeping you down Pink collar jobs have steps Psychologically they trick you Into thinking you've progressed When the fact is that It's like a ladder on the floor that Stretches to the ceiling You move up, you make more Promoted? Down a rung If you want out the door? Well yeah, that's a problem You're gonna get kicked Back down to the bottom Pink collar, pink dollars Pour one out for the real pink ballers Our pink wallets, they’re slightly smaller Pour one out for the real pink ballers Pink collar jobs are Fair and equal ‘Cause very different people Will make the same amount Unless you count all the care That isn't paid for Or compare with industries That have more men around And I'm a man, the Double standard is my friend, I Get applause for wading in You clean the dish, I’ll be the dead fish That is floating to the top Pink collar, pink dollars Pour one out for the real pink ballers Our pink wallets, they’re slightly smaller Pour one out for the real pink ballers Pink collar, pink dollars Pour one out for the real pink ballers Our pink wallets, they’re slightly smaller Pour one out for the real pink ballers I've studied the genetics When they cut up the pie There’s no little bit of DNA Determines your life But if you’re talking about money I know something that might, and it’s Whether your chromosomes Are XX or XY Whether you’re a girl or a guy There’s no effect of that size It compounds with The other things keeping you down XX or XY, it’s not a binary, right? But it compounds with The other things keeping you down Whether you’re a girl or a guy There’s no effect of that size It compounds with The other things keeping you down Pink collar, pink dollars Pour one out for the real pink ballers Our pink wallets, they’re slightly smaller Pour one out for the real pink ballers Pink collar, pink dollars Pour one out for the real pink ballers Our pink wallets, they’re slightly smaller Pour one out for the real pink ballers
11.
Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” Hurt his foot when he kicked a can Walk-in freezer in the back Just off the central kitchen, damn Hate it that I stayed silent Stunned by the sudden violence Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” I just do the dishes, man Would he even listen, man I never knew Cursing out a group Is not in my worldview Guy came from a country Where it’s something they do (Hey, this is still a country Where it’s something we do) Chef called me the bitches’ man All those women were my friends They hated all his arrogance The way he put the blame on them And he was incompetent Still the boss didn’t care Acted like I wasn’t there Acted like I didn’t stare Acted like I owed him solidarity For being a man Wound up and he kicked a can Cocked his foot back, dented tin Wounded now, a dented shin Hopping in a circle, man Least he took it out on himself And not the bitches, man In this kitchen No one made bank Still I see these guys And they really really think That they’re just like They identify with millionaires When their solidarity should be With women they’re near What’s the difference, man Thirty cents an hour? Six hundred bucks a year? Man, they make that in the shower They don’t care about you Your gender doesn’t matter Ambition won’t make you the master So don’t fall for division, man Chef wanted riches, man Wanted to turn all that Money to women and Chef wanted discipline Wanted restriction But treated me well Grateful but guilty I wasn’t in hell I thought: “I’ll be next If I try to push back” Then I witnessed the attack On the can in the back Of the freezer, it was funny Seeing him hopping around That’s why I will never back down I just do the dishes, man I never knew Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” It’s something we do I just do the dishes, man I never knew Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” It’s something we do I just do the dishes, man I never knew Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” It’s something we do Cursing out a group Is not in my worldview Chef he told me “Bitches, man!” It’s something we do
12.
Have you ever been Reading an article Points make sense and The logic’s inarguable But there’s a Catch-22 If what it says is true Then the mob should Be coming for you, and that’s not The outcome that you want And so you pick it apart Folding crossed arms Over your heart, choosing the spot Where you’ll declare That it went too far Right there, like “I’m objective And I don’t think you are” Like “what you want is too harsh Our goal should be harmony How does making me feel bad Accomplish that, exactly?” Thinking the agenda is Actually to turn the tables Minor inconveniences to you Should tip the scales In this state of Fear and suspicion You even start appreciating Trolls in the comments section What they say is Horrible, right? But you’ll defend to the death Their right to fight on mostly your side Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know how lucky We are that they’re stopping here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know how lucky We are that they’re stopping here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know how lucky We are that they’re stopping here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know how lucky We are that they’re stopping here? You imagine that you could be Treated that ruthlessly ‘Cause you never felt the rubber Boot heel of history Oppressed people don’t forget They get empathy And wouldn’t wish their treatment On an enemy, vengefully, now I am talking generally I’m sure you’ll find examples But the vast majority Of people don’t like to cancel Or guillotine, they want The ability to be free But the more that you resist It gets harder to believe So the next time you read A piece that excoriates your group Try not to take it personal Don’t make it about you Check your impulse to nit-pick To line-draw, your critic It is just the default defensive position When your privilege gets questioned Please do me a favour Uncross your arms Like a white boy macarena I want the ending where we’re all Shaking our hips to the music I don’t wanna have to Sell them the nooses, yeah Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know What a good deal we're getting here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know What a good deal we're getting here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know What a good deal we're getting here? Fair is fair Thousands of years living in fear Do you know What a good deal we're getting here?

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released October 1, 2021

All songs written, performed, and produced by Greg McLeod.

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Greg McLeod Vancouver, British Columbia

Greg McLeod is a musician from Vancouver, BC. He made some albums. He may make more.

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