FAWM: "Pedal on the Spacebar"

Pedal on the Spacebar

2025 by @vomvorton

NSFW

Liner Notes

Angry work song. Big round of redundancies out of nowhere after being taken over by a US company of low repute. I'm "not currently affected" because they're planning to get rid of the people who care about the job and work hard instead, fuck knows how they make these decisions.

Trying for #folkpunk but I don't think the energy is quite there. Very first-takey. Recorded it in a different room on an older laptop than the others, don't really know why. With apologies to REM.

#basssolo

Lyrics

that’s great, it starts with a handshake then you get the disrespect what the hell did you expect? to be treated like a human? well for god’s sake there’s no time for feeling fine “please think of the bottom line!”

you signed up for stability, they offered you incentives then somehow things got out of joint when the game is fixed, you can’t play the percentages the cruelty is the decimal point

you told yourself that you could make a difference make the world a better place put a smile back on your face now you’ve learned to keep your fucking distance turn your head, be silent when the world turns violent

what’s the loudest way to quiet quit? pedal on the spacebar, move the mouse amazing things can happen when you least expect it the winds of change took the roof off of my house

you signed up for stability, they offered you incentives then somehow things got out of joint when the game is fixed, you can’t play the percentages the cruelty is the decimal point

Comments

@frenchcricket 2025

I think what elevates this is the way it captures the specific and the universal (this political moment we’re in—i.e. everyone getting fucked over in new ways by money). I don’t think you missed the mark with folk punk at all. It was a bullseye. The lyrics are angry but in a brilliantly sardonic voice. It’s great

@nancycunning 2025

Oh, I like this on a lot of levels. It catches the spitting mad feeling of having the corporate applecart turned over when a good or good enough company gets bought by a lousy one. The pedal on the spacebar is a great metaphor. That roof blown off the house gave me a glimpse of an old Chinese poem about a fire burning the roof off the house so now the moon is visible. The times I’ve gotten bough or fired have turned out great for me in the longrun. Whisp of smoky hope.

@owl 2025

idk I think the folk punk attitude shines through loud and clear! Love that solo and the lyrics are amazing, “the cruelty is the decimal point” is perfect.

@waar 2025

My company has also been bought out by a US firm and has made redundancies. They are also shutting the Derby office this summer and forcing us to commute to somewhere near Hucknall! So I think I identify with your anger. And the need to bass solo.

@freshspotlessyouth 2025

Love the rhythm on this one. It feels a bit like a Tullycraft song. Sorry about the situation. I, too, like the 'roof' line, but that last one lands hardest. You don't want to name this company of low repute?

@bradbrubaker 2025

Good REM reference at the top. Good folk punk energy here with a sorta Western solo. Favorite line: "the winds of change took the roof off of my house"

@scottmcb 2025

Nice bass solo. Love the anger coming through, feels folkpunk to me. We must have some parallel thoughts because I'm currently working on a song where I also cribbed some REM lyrics. 😄

@thedutchwidows 2025

That sucks big time. The news, not the song. The song is great - a slab of controlled anger, and I’m sure Mr Stipe would approve. “The cruelty is the decimal point” is such a good line - too much management by spreadsheet, making decisions with no proper understanding of consequences. Or maybe they do understand but don't care. I don’t know, but sad times. Hope it all goes ok.