2:8

From the speakers wedged in the corner over the barista a slow tune slipped out into the room, joining the noise of the patrons and the espresso machines yet somehow owning a distinct space in the atmosphere of the coffee shop. It was a new song by a band that had got its start on an amateur show at a local radio station and had never looked back once they’d move up and out.

I’ve got time on my mind
And time’s never been kind

I’ve miles to run
And the road ain’t no fun

So why do I keep on going
Fighting the way the river’s flowing
Why do I always fight the current
And why do I always get burned

I just wanna give up
But I know I never will
I just wanna give up
Roll on down the hill

Ain’t enough enough?
Don’t care shit ’bout that stuff

My mind says stop
My heart’s just full to the top

So why do I keep on going
Fighting the way the river’s flowing
Why should I always fight the current
I don’t want to always get burned

I just wanna give up
But I know I never will
I just wanna give up
Roll on down the hill

Christ I want to get off
But I know you can’t back off

Someone’s just driving you
Creeping all that you do

Screw them all, fuck that noise
They don’t mean shit to me
I need to fight to be free
Of them and their creeper toys

So that’s why I keep on going
Fighting the way it’s all flowing
That’s why I always fight current
Screaming as all I am gets burned

I ain’t gonna give up
I know that I never will
I can wanna just give up
But I’ll roll on up the hill

I ain’t gonna give up
I know I never will
We can wanna give up
But we’ll roll on up the hill

Roll on up that fuckin’ hill

The song slowed to its  end and, as if everyone had been using the musical conversation as part of their personal narratives, the entire room lapsed into silence at the same time. Into that small but oddly profound moment of silence Gareth’s voice flowed clearly through the small room. “No, I don’t fucking understand. Why don’t you just fucking explain it for once?”