This is a song about the way I work. People underestimate procrastinators, but remember that if we’re good at it — and I think I’m a fairly Advanced Procrastinator — you don’t even know they waited until the last minute to start the work, which means we can estimate sometimes down to the minute exactly how long a given task will take us. This is a kind of skill. I am acutely aware of how much simpler my life would be if I paced out my work instead of delaying it until there’s exactly enough time left to do a decent job. But until there is a serious consequence with real repercussions, I know myself well enough to understand that I will not change my habits.

This one was recorded with just the Hohner guitar and vocals, both via the Zoom recorder. I really wanted to go heavy with the mix, to reflect how I imagine a complete recording would go, but opted to keep it simple for simplicity’s sake.

Lyrics

I can’t get anything started on time
I let it linger ‘till it clouds up my mind
I know I can’t do the responsible thing
It all flew away when my restraint sprouted wings
So I’ve become adept at being precise
Figuring the littlest time would suffice
I’ve settled in this cycle and it grows more intense
With no consequences the loop never ends

Procrastinate now, do it with me
‘Cause I’m the best straggler that you’ll ever see
Procrastinate now and share my technique
I’ll do it tomorrow, or I’ll do it next week
I’ll do it tomorrow or I’ll do it next week

 

I’ve grown accustomed to the ebb and flow
It’s a problem I will never outgrow
It’s much healthier to spread out the grind
But I can’t get past my own goddamn mind
Maybe someday I’ll have a lesson to learn
When my methods backfire and it’s finally my turn
But for now I’m gonna have to push it all back
‘Till the noose tightens and I ain’t got no slack