Singles

EXITMUSIC
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Released August 23, 2019

Share The World is from the forthcoming video album Swingers Castle.
Out September 6, 2019.

 

Lyrics

SHARE THE WORLD

Sever the mind sever the mind
Ever in a backtrack era
Leave me behind to be kind
A world no better
In a world no better

Let it drop Sugar pop
Bend to the beat
Of the super cop
Fresco change-o
Bottled water Drano[1]
Edging with the ocean[2]
In disposable devotion

I’m gonna share the world[3]
For a selfish reason
I’m gonna share the world
To stop this treason

I’m gonna share the world
Despite all reason
I’m gonna share the world
In a broken season

I’m gonna share the world
Share the world
I’m gonna share the world
Share the world

Behave your instincts
In the heat sinks
Battle at the chat room level
Peak human flowing in bars
Microwave music[4]
And the home grown devil

The landscape of cars
And follow the leader
Obsessed weekly reader[5]
Bring the balance you bought
The blankness of thought

Balsamic character elegy
Fuck you foodies, eat me
And filter your meal pics hate
With dying breath click-bait
Embed the click bait

Let it drop Sugar pop
Bend to the beat
Of the super cop
Fresco change-o
Bottled water Drano
Edging with the ocean
In disposable devotion

Prove it once, just once
Or maybe twice
Stand your ground in mid-America
With the exit eyes
Fuckin’ fly high
Look me in the eye
Tell me that the kids matter more
Than a drive-by watch ‘em die[6]

Share the world
Share the world
Share the world
Share the world

I’m gonna share the world
For a selfish reason
I’m gonna share the world
To stop this treason

I’m gonna share the world
Despite all reason
I’m gonna share the world
In a broken season

I’m gonna share the world
Share the world
I’m gonna share the world
Share the world

Prove it once, just once
Or maybe twice
Stand your ground in mid-America
With the exit eyes
Fuckin’ fly high
Look me in the eye
Tell me that the kids matter more
Than a drive-by watch ‘em die

Share the world
Share the world
Share the world
Share the world

[1]In the United States alone, 24 percent of bottled water sold is either Pepsi’s Aquafina (13 percent of the market) or Coke’s Dasani (11 percent of the market). Both brands are bottled, purified municipal water. In the U.S., public water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which requires multiple daily tests for bacteria and makes results available to the public. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates bottled water, only requires weekly testing and does not share its findings with the EPA or the public.

[2]Orgasm control, also referred to as edging, peaking, or surfing, is a sexual technique which may be practiced either alone or with a partner and involves the maintenance of a high level of sexual arousal for an extended period of time without reaching climax, but with the ocean instead. You get my drift.

[3]If not now when?

[4]TM

[5]May refer to one who is obsessed with her news feed or the educational classroom magazine designed for children, which began in 1928 as My Weekly Reader. Editions covered curriculum themes in the younger grade levels and news-based, current events and curriculum themed-issues in older grade levels. Start ‘em young.

[6]Overall, nearly 1,300 children in the U.S. die in shootings each year and another 5,790 survive gunshot wounds — from handguns, rifles and shotguns — according to the study published today in the journal Pediatrics.

EXITMUSIC
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Released July 26, 2019

Hollywood & Sons is from the forthcoming video album Swingers Castle.
Out September 6, 2019.

 

Lyrics

HOLLYWOOD & SONS

Bells in love and falsies hidden
In the land of Glee[1]
Selfies claiming body shaming[2]
Where does that leave me?

Palm trees crying
Youth stays dying
What a world to see

Hollywood & Sons
Set their sights
On what to be

Swinging love and fast gourmets[3]
Ballast injury
Grown up smiles in useful lies
Where does that leave me?

Long ears crying
As I’m trying out
The world of men

Hollywood & Sons
Asking what
I could have been[4]
Patented again
Running out of grins
Silent to the end

Glory holes[5]of sinking life
Topless mystery
Neon tights of angel flights[6]
Where does that leave me?

Where I’m going
No one’s knowing
How to rescue me

Palm trees crying
As I’m dying
Let the battered be

Hollywood & Sons
Take this soul
And set it free
What I’ll never be[7]
Lonesome guarantee
Patent eulogy
What a world to see
Wonders that agree
Hollywood and me

[1]America as musical comedy-drama television series.

[2]‘Oh honey, don’t let me commence.’ Truman Capote, Hidden Gardens.

[3]See ‘Share The World’, Rouse, Mikel. Swingers Castle.

[4]See footnote 2.

[5]No judgment.

[6]Dan Tana’s, West Hollywood.

[7]See footnote 2.

EXITMUSIC
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Released July 5, 2019

The Edges Of Entertainment is from the forthcoming video album Swingers Castle.
Out September 6, 2019.

 

Lyrics

THE EDGES OF ENTERTAINMENT

Basic freedom basic income[1]
Basically your frozen sitcom
Nothing left to reason with
So settle for new season myth
Recycling the garbage bin
Billboards in the bullpen
Hollywood Reporter
Psycho image sorter
Welcome to the status quo
As far as entertainments go
Vice Vox chicken pox
Thanks for the reminder
Justin Goldilocks

Trendsetting megachurch
White as white and mega-merch
Walk in daddy’s footsteps
Make that money
So proud of you
Saving souls and romcom honey
Hillsong Zoe Vous[2]
Humanistic fuck you
Falwell et al. Robertson
Welcome to Adult Swim
On the edge of entertainment
And derangement
Freedom elected me a president

That’s entertainment
That’s entertainment
No one can blame it
No one can tame it

Sitting on the edge of darkness
Salt rooms of the Internet
‘Friends’ of ‘Carrie’ breaking bads
Reboot the baby boomer’s fads[3]
Golden Age of nothing new
Of altos and sopranos too
Imagine past, the times of you
Inflicting damage for the few
Awake asunder and bury wonder
Another season’s adverts funder
Kinda glad the planet dies
Not the planet but the lies

Never followed golf or sitcoms
Strap on entertainment long bomb
See enough and death’s a blessing
No celebrity confessing
OITNB and chump change[4]
This ain’t lifers this re- arrange
So Grohl vacant hole
Andy Williams whatcha know?[5]
Conglomerates a force of good?
A corporate funded Robbin Hood?
A world you can’t believe
Dream that world just once and leave

Words that you can’t say[6]
Put those fucking words away
Everybody benefits from
The PC condiments
To feel good about yourself
Maybe dream of Uber wealth
Home team
That’s a home team[7]

That’s entertainment
That’s entertainment
No one can blame it
No one can tame it[8]

[1]A basic income, also called basic income guarantee, universal basic income, basic living stipend, or universal demogrant, is a type of program in which citizens of a country may receive a regular sum of money from a source such as the government. This is USA USA so your mileage may vary.

[2]Referring to charismatic Christian megachurches designed to inspire while fleecing the flock. Meet the new boss, same as…

[3]The stranglehold of the so called baby boomer generation is felt as a constant reboot of general entertainment concerns from sit-coms to rock n roll ‘revolt’ to the commodification of political discourse. Enough already.

[4]Orange is the New Black as must see TV.

[5]“I’m pleased that the Grammys have tried to catch up with what’s important, but when we were comin’ it was Andy Williams’ time – nothing important or lasting going on,” said Doors drummer John Densmore. See also: Foo Fighters; U2.

[6]George Carlin is probably rolling over in his grave right now.

[7]Tribes and sports and nationalistic tendencies in general.

[8]By its very nature.

EXITMUSIC
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Released June 14, 2019

The Pop Machine is from the forthcoming video album Swingers Castle.
Out September 6, 2019.

 

Lyrics

THE POP MACHINE

Omg[1]….
Everybody working on stuff
That doesn’t matter
And all lives scatter
In the dust

And didn’t that leave a mark?
And maybe make a spark
Marvel Universe[2]after dark
And Pavlov’s dogs[3]get in line
And make a point to bark

The pop machine
Ask what more do you need to see?
Bombs to believe

Omg…
So make a mistake
And head where you didn’t wanna be
And then try to connect
What you didn’t wanna see
To what you believe
The DACA referee
All the rappers lovin’ Santa Claus[4]
Brisket in the bathroom stalls
Here’s the tooth fairy
Earth overshoot
Thank you Mars
A Brooklyn canner[5]
Makes a dent
In the redemption stars

The pop machine
The pop machine

Omg…
The bitter pill
Of a thousand stars
Burning in the sky
The twilight fires
And the after hours
Breathe in breathe out
The iron lung of lust
And color bars
Take your wasted vote
And please and thank you
Please and thank you Mars[6]
Thank you all

The pop machine
Ask what more do you need
To see?
Bombs to believe

The pop machine
The pop machine
Ask what more do you need
To see?

[1]Oh my God (also Oh my Goodness or Oh my Gosh) is a common abbreviation, often used in SMS messages and Internet communication. Save for later.

[2]The Marvel Universe is a fictional universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place. Save for later.

[3]The endless media repetition saved for later.

[4]While it would be understandable that this line references actors, musicians and sports authorities thanking a deity for deliverance, it’s actually a reference to the striking number of rap videos about Santa. See Tyler, the Creator – ‘Fuck Santa’ and Snoop Dogg – ‘Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto’ feat. Bad Azz, Daz Dillinger, Nate Dogg, & Tray Dee, to name just two.

[5]For many lower income people in New York City, canning can be a safe and legal way to earn a living. Canners are New York City residents who scour residential trashcans in the shadow of high-rise condos and million dollar apartment complexes in the hopes of finding abandoned bottles or cans to redeem for 5 cents apiece.

[6]Humanity’s new home. Earth’s trashcan is full.

EXITMUSIC
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Released April 28, 2017

Resolver is from the forthcoming video album Hemisphere.
Out April 28, 2017. Fight the power!

 

Lyrics

RESOLVER

Hands up! Don’t shoot!

HabitEXITMUSIC 1023
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Habit is the new single from Metronome. It’s inspired by trees, drones and love. Released on July 17, 2015, it’s the inaugural single, B/W Growing Pains, featuring Claire Karoly. The new album from Metronome will be released in fall 2015. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

Lyrics

HABIT

Trees hide their leaves
And just believe
Trees hide their leaves
And just believe

Everyone is dumb for days
Everyone is dumb for days
Everyone is dumb for days

Stuff is falling from the trees I know
Stuff is falling from the trees I know
Stuff is falling
Stuff is falling
Stuff is falling from the trees I know

You must know the feeling’s gone
And so I’ve said so long
You must know

Habit x7

Stuff is falling from the trees I know
Stuff is falling from the trees I know
Stuff is falling
Stuff is falling
Stuff is falling from the trees I know

Trees hide their leaves
And just believe
Trees hide their leaves
And just believe

GROWING PAINS

Growing Pains growing pains
Clean the carpet, clean the stains
Growing pains growing pains
Clear the planet’s last remains

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move

Everything collapsing right on cue
What were you and I supposed to do?
Battles won and battles lost
Everyone is getting what they need
Trying to get over what they breed

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move

Baby takes the money outa me
Trying to ignore the scarcity
Battles won and battles lost
All the things you can and can’t undo
Savoring the smiles that come to you

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move


Growing Pains

EXITMUSIC 1023
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Growing Pains is the new single from Metronome. It’s inspired by kids, cameras and love. Released on July 17, 2015, it’s the inaugural single, B/WHabit, featuring Claire Karoly. The new album from Metronome will be released in fall 2015. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

 

Lyrics

GROWING PAINS

Growing Pains growing pains
Clean the carpet, clean the stains
Growing pains growing pains
Clear the planet’s last remains

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move

Everything collapsing right on cue
What were you and I supposed to do?
Battles won and battles lost
Everyone is getting what they need
Trying to get over what they breed

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move

Baby takes the money outa me
Trying to ignore the scarcity
Battles won and battles lost
All the things you can and can’t undo
Savoring the smiles that come to you

Take pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move
I guess it’s just the normal thing to do
Pictures of your baby’s every move
Take pictures of your baby’s every move

Lift Your HandsEXITMUSIC 1022
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Lift Your Hands is the new single from Mikel Rouse and Metronome. Put the knives away for a rainy day. Released on January 13, 2015, it’s the first collaboration of Rouse with Metronome. The new album from Metronome will be released in fall 2015. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

Lyrics

LIFT YOUR HANDS

Hey, let me lift your hands
Fifth estate MANPADS
Hey, let me lift your hands
Fifth estate MANPADS

Put the knives away
For a rainy day

I live like I’m rich
When I’m poor
I live like I’m rich
When I’m poor

Boredom: please forgive me
Boredom is gone forever
Boredom: please forgive me

When you put your hands up
When you put your hands up
When you put your hands up
Your hands belong to me

When you put your hands up
When you put your hands up
When you put your hands up
Your hands belong to me

You never knew her
She never knew you
You never knew her
She never knew you

Put the knives away
Hey, let me lift your hands
Fifth estate MANPADS
I live like I’m rich
When I’m poor
I live like I’m rich

I live like I’m rich
When I’m poor
I live like I’m rich
When I’m poor

Take it all back
Take it all
Take it all back
Take it all

SideMyself2EXITMUSIC 1021
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Side Myself is the new single from Mikel Rouse. It’s inspired by Fashion Week, drones and love. Released on December 2, 2014, it follows the previous singles and sketches and ideas for the 13 hour installation ‘One Boys Day’. More singles will become available through 2013-15. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

Lyrics

SIDE MYSELF

I saw the world
Through a 50 year plan
I come correct
Like I’m rich with no where to go

Maybe I’m not god
But I feel like god tonight

And you never side with myself
If you ever go back
To the empty shells in a broken home
Of a Western style attack

In a wonder-world of fashion
With a minimal flare
You can take the bread & the bombs galore
Play dress-up standing there

And you never side with myself
Is it something you lack
In the sink or swim of the Middle East
Of our Western heart attack?
Side myself

I can’t pretend you matter
I’m living alone
I’m living alone
I’m living alone ’til I die

When I miss you
I miss you more
Even when it’s good news it’s bad news
Even when it’s good news it’s bad news

And you never side with myself
If you ever go back
To the empty shells in a broken home
Of a Western style attack

In a wonder-world of fashion
With a minimal flare
You can take the bread & the bombs galore
Play dress-up standing there

And you never side with myself
Is it something you lack
In the sink or swim of the Middle East
Of our Western heart attack?
Side myself

You said that you loved me
You said that you loved me
You said that you loved me

© 2015 Mikel Rouse
All rights reserved
Published by Club Soda Music (ASCAP)

Mayan YoursEXITMUSIC 1020
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Mayan Yours utilized handclap delays from the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, Mexico and builds on these delays to construct a maze like structure. I Dry Gin explores the pleasures and the perils of drink. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

Lyrics

MAYAN YOURS

Where are the duds?
Where are the wannabes?
Where are the bombs waiting for history?

Send in the clowns
Artillery rounds for free
Selling the psalms
Selling the rosary

Infinity breaks and bake yellow cakes for me
Another collapse
Another sobriety

Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours
Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours

I have crossed a million stars
I have crossed a million stars
Waiting on the wonder
Waiting on the wonder

have crossed a million stars
Waiting on the wonder
Waiting on the wonder

Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours
Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours

Where are the duds?
Where are the wannabes?
Where are the bombs waiting for history?

Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours
Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours

I have crossed a million stars
Waiting on the wonder
Waiting on the wonder

Infinity breaks and bake yellow cakes for me
Mayan yours
Ours Mayan yours
I have crossed a million stars

Another collapse
Another sobriety
Waiting on the wonder
I have crossed a million stars

I DRY GIN

In the morning I dry gin
In the mornings you won’t let me in
And in the mornings I dry out
And forget what we were all about

And no one’s winning for now
Like every one is swimming to drown

And in the middle of the night
When the bottle don’t put up a fight
And in the middle of the room
That’s spinning like a well worn tomb

And sober’s winning for now
But no one’s singing along
Like everyone else drifting alone

And in the morning I dry gin
When I beg the morning to begin

© 2014 Mikel Rouse
All rights reserved
Published by Club Soda Music (ASCAP)

Dawn-CoverEXITMUSIC 1019
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Welcome to 2014. The new single Dawn (B/W Tears Of Joy) is now available on iTunes and Bandcamp just in time to ring in the New Year. The new single joins Ambulance Chaser and The Law Of Average as tracks from a soon to be announced 13 hour installation. More singles will become available through 2013-15.

Lyrics

DAWN

Who is Dawn in your world?
Who is Dawn in your world?

I think she’s an angel
With no time to spare
A heavenly body
A heavenly stare

But danger moves quickly
Without any need
To pick up the pieces
To pick up the speed

Who is Dawn in your world?
Who is Dawn in your world?

Isabelle Isabelle Isabelle Blue
Isabelle Isabelle Isabelle Blue

And if I don’t love you
What am I gonna do?

I think she’s an angel
With no time to spare
A heavenly body
A heavenly stare

But danger moves quickly
Without any need
To pick up the pieces
To pick up the speed

Who is Dawn in your world?
Who is Dawn in your world?

Isabelle Isabelle Blue
Isabelle Isabelle Blue

And if I don’t love you
What am I gonna do?

TEARS OF JOY

Here’s a wish
From me to you
Here’s a missile
Made for two
And here’s a reason
From up above
To mix a brew of
Uncovered love

And here’s a tissue
For your tears of joy

Here’s a planet
Spinning true
Here’s a blanket
Just for you
And here’s a reason
To hold on tight
And trust the moment
To get it right

And here’s a tissue
For your tears of joy

Thank God it’s only one
Thank God it’s only one

Here’s to Hayley
Here’s to Gib
Here’s to Betty
And womens lib
And here’s to Steven
Girl or boy;
And here’s to Mellie
And tears of joy

And here’s a tissue
For your tears of joy
And here’s a tissue
For your tears of joy

Ambulance-ChaserEXITMUSIC 1017
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Ambulance Chaser and The Law Of Average are the first tracks from a soon to be announced 13 hour installation. More singles will become available through 2013-15. This single is available in 96kHz/24 Bit resolution.

Lyrics

AMBULANCE CHASER

She’s an ambulance chaser
A fitness trainer
A single malt missing
On a steep retainer

She’s an ambulance chaser
A guru come later
A penny for her thoughts
If you should try to date her

She’s an ambulance chaser
A total stranger
A message in a bottle
Sent to Betty Danger

She’s an ambulance chaser
The Bureau of Labor
Has cuddled with the kittens
Of her strange behavior

She’s an ambulance chaser
An ambulance chaser

Law-Of-Average

EXITMUSIC 1018
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS

Lyrics

THE LAW OF AVERAGE

The law of average is a blessing
Of fables and fears and letting go, oh…
Stumble blind until you know
That fair trade ended long ago

And every girl I’ve known
Was right until I’m wrong
I’d bless the heart savant
That’s beating loud and long
I’m running out of steam
And where I don’t belong

The law of average is not catching up
With tangled hair and mating so, oh…
Stumble blind until you know
That fair trade ended long ago

And every girl I’ve known
Was right until I’m wrong
I’d bless the heart savant
I tried to bring along
I’m running out of steam
And where I don’t belong

Lyrics © 2013 Mikel Rouse
All rights reserved
Published by Club Soda Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission