MEN make music

Simultaneously

Be Like This

Off Our Backs

Life’s Half Price

Who Am I To Feel So Free

ABOUT MEN

MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective led by LE TIGRE’s JD Samson.
MEN focus on the energy of live performance and radical potential of dance music. Their music speaks of issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and the demand for liberties through lyrical content and an inventive, high-energy stage show.

The group began in 2007 with the DJ/production/remix team of LE TIGRE members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. With LE TIGRE on hiatus, when the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with JD’s other project HIRSUTE (Michael O’Neill, JD Samson, Emily Roysdon and Ginger Brooks Takahashi).

JD and Michael now comprise the core of MEN, with Johanna Fateman and Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers. The band enjoys changing the shape of the project and collaborating every tour with new instrumentalists and visual elements. Last year they were joined by Tami Hart of the band Making Friendz and this year have been joined by percussionist Lee Free.

MEN put out their debut record, ‘Talk About Body’ on IAMSOUND Records February 2011. The band have toured extensively all over the world, played Coachella 2011 and have supported both Peaches and Gossip, and most recently supported CSS through a full US tour.

MEN Lyrics

BE LIKE THIS

we we are getting too old
to find ourselves in the crowd
and find a way that we can go

we we are getting too old
to even call it a game
to even find what we want where we try to be and where we go the same.

oh and if you know we know
but if you know we know
we’re gonna try to live again
gonna try to live again
and its gonna be like this

we we are staying too young
we hit the clubs all the time
we shut em’ down when it gets light
we we are staying too young
our faces won’t even change
our people passing for 12 what we try to be and where we go the same.

we are getting too poor we are getting too rich
we are getting too poor we are getting too rich
we are getting too poor we are getting too rich
its hard to keep alight this flame its hard to keep it like this
we are getting too poor we are getting too rich
its hard to keep alight this flame its hard to keep it like this

oh and if you know we know
but if you know we know
we’re gonna try to live again
gonna try to live again
and its gonna be like this

is it thunder i hear outside or is it an aeroplane or is it an aeroplane
cuz nothing is working not even a little bit nothing is working not even a little bit.
is it thunder i hear outside or is it an aeroplane or is it an aeroplane
cuz nothing is working not even a little bit nothing is working not even a little bit.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

high on the horizon night into day
half the boys are building cars half the boys a war away
our heads are in the clouds
clocks between our thighs
global markets demand big guns and we have to supply

boom boom boom
i can’t see the sky
boo boom boom
working world is changing time
working world is changing time
there’s nothing left to give
that they commodify

too fast too fast

microfinance
eunice talked to gore
buy me a goat and a sewing machine
don’t give me another war
buildings rise and fall
people do the same
time can break your heart but the government has a name

boom boom boom
i can’t see the sky
boo boom boom
working world is changing time
working world is changing time
there’s nothing left to give
that they commodify

fighting at home and abroad
what’s the difference between you and a tree
high on the horizon night into day
half the boys are building cars half the boys a war away
half the boys are building cars half the boys a war away

boom boom boom
i can’t see the sky
boo boom boom
working world is changing time
working world is changing time
there’s nothing left to give
that they commodify

CREDIT CARD BABIES

wanna talk wanna talk about
talk about body
body building
i’m gonna fuck my best
i’m gonna fuck my best
i’m gonna fuck my best to get a little tiny baby
we’ve got holes
places to stick our poles
chips vargas knows
ask him about the loop hole
i’m gonna fuck my best
i’m gonna fuck my best
i’m gonna fuck my best to get a little tiny baby
we want some options
there is a way
why don’t you adopt
borrow someone’s cock
call up the bank
we all scream now
is it really so hard to make a new heart
sharing our love goes on a credit card
and we put paper to pen and we ask all friends
big plans for a newborn gay creation

why procreate and overpopulate
there’s insecurity, questioning our liberty
i’m gonna fuck my friends
i’m gonna fuck my friends
i’m gonna fuck my friends to get a little tiny baby
raise our kids, radical politics
sontag in the crib, loose joints lullaby
i’m gonna fuck my friends
i’m gonna fuck my friends
i’m gonna fuck my friends to get a little tiny baby
we want some options
there is a way
why don’t you adopt
borrow someone’s cock
call up the bank
we all scream now
is it really so hard to make a new heart
sharing our love goes on a credit card
and we put paper to pen and we ask all friends
big plans for a newborn gay creation

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING

if you want something, then you got something, if you want something right now you’re gonna get it.

we can have just what we want.
it’s all there for you.

LIFE’S HALF PRICE

life’s half price for suckers in love
life’s half price for suckers in love
life’s half price for suckers in love
i don’t know what size i’ve become

life’s half price for suckers in love
life’s half price for suckers in love
life’s half price for suckers in love
i don’t know what size i’ve become

i’ve lost myself plenty of times and friends call for to warn me that the world’s falling down around me.
that here i am paying rent inside a lament that no one will ever love me again.
my prescription for this life is that a mix of philanthropy and crime is better than therapy

my life my crime my gift to you is a mercy fuck. yeah.
my life my crime my gift to you is a mercy fuck free love free money free love free money i’m not your baby(s) daddy free love. i’m not your baby(s) daddy free money.  they warned you they warned you always always always always goin away goin away goin away they warned you they warned you i’m not your baby’s daddy free love i’m not your baby’s daddy free money. i’m not your baby’s daddy free love, i’m not your baby’s daddy free money. my body my body my body can’t afford myself free love free money free love free money. i’m not your baby’s daddy free love i’m not your baby’s daddy free money i’m not your baby’s daddy free love i’m not your baby’s daddy free money. i’m not your baby’s daddy free love.

MAKE IT REVERSE

you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
we just have to pause and rehearse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse

2 and a half or twice that
since you went away
these bitches bring us back to the same thing
we missed at the time we stopped at the wrong sign
shake shake while we’re swallowed by this new heat we clap with the same choir.

you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
we just have to pause and rehearse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse

when the floor sinks we will stand up
when the ceiling shakes lets get the fuck out
secrets we yell at the same time
are realer than this baseline
take take on the one and the two
and if there’s three for me i’ll call it ours.
and i can see you all from a mountain away

you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
we just have to pause and rehearse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse

you and us make it reverse
we just have to pause and rehearse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse

i can see you all from a mountain away
pretended the only thing that i am is gay
and i can see you all from a mountain away
i had you convinced i was only yesterday

you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse
we just have to pause and rehearse
you and us make it reverse
you and us make it reverse

MY FAMILY

have you met my family
wouldn’t take long to know them well
though they number from one to a million
in this house we all dwell
say hello to jo she is a goddess and to paige she is a saint and dana she’s from the forest and sia paints her face

you ask me how i feed them. i tell you no lies
its grandma she brings the sunshine you can see it in her eyes.

brownie tends the garden and little goldie sews the seeds. our manna is right here. we give us all we need

he is leidy he is a painter and he’ll never grow old
so welcome. welcome brothers. welcome to the fold.

you ask me how i feed them. i tell you no lies
its brendan, she brings the sunshine you can see it in her eyes.

brownie tends the garden and little goldie sews the seeds. our manna is right here. we give us all we need

we give us all we need.

originally written by – Pam Nestor (amended by MEN).

OFF OUR BACKS

hold me one time one time only
second time the second time was gonna cost some money
hold me one time one time hold me
second time was gonna cost cost me some money yeah
told me one time one time you told me
second time the second time it wasn’t worth the money
own me one time, one time you owned me second time the second time i let you ride the pony yeah

oh baby please don’t go
you’re gonna take it two times take it two times yeah
one time one time only
its two times baby its two times i told you

you picked the first time to tell me i do
you picked the second time to tell me we’re through
you picked the third time to tell me what’s true
you picked the fourth time to write a review

one night one night one night only
second night the second night we gotta make some money
one night one night one night only
second night the second night we gotta make some money

oh baby please don’t go
you’re gonna take it two times take it two times yeah
one time one time only
its two times baby its two times i told you

i’m a tease we’re flipping can’t you see
off our backs and back up to lead yeah
i’m a tease we’re flipping can’t you see
off our backs and back up lead
i’m a tease we’re flipping can’t you see
off our backs and back up to lead yeah
i’m a tease we’re flipping can’t you see
off our backs and back up lead

RIP OFF

orange juice orange juice is the center of the world.

Musically the band, tempted to fuse post punk guitars with disco and funk rhythms. rather in the manner of the gang of four, rather in the manner of the gang of four
while the group has long dispersed they remain active in their separate and diverse fields. including travel writing.

Half spoken half sung were the vocals in most of the songs.
repeating simple phrases creating a hypnotic monotony
taking over production, they’re responsible for finishing their record and even booking tours yeah.

Our truth our truth is the center of the world.

Esoteric words, contributions from other artists.
showed their collaborations with multimedia performances.
with multimedia performances

We talked about whether we were trying to write a song to talk about this band, or talk about other bands.

Aren’t you aren’t you at the center of the world.

SIMULTANEOUSLY

simultaneously we look up to the sky
simultaneously we will ask each other why
simultaneously

everything you do
you try to do two
carry another move it all along
she looks up and your eyes down
almost ripping at the seams can it be
with pain, we grow
cut your hair
you’re not there
you are invisible
change

simultaneously we look up to the sky
simultaneously we will ask each other why
simultaneously

now its time to grab a breath
don’t let silence turn to death
do your dance to stand up tall
take a chance and don’t you fall
double strength can not get old
people watch you on the streets
change direction with their feet
stop that rhythm and repeat
put your head down and relax
pick you head up don’t look back
cuz today the world has changed.

TAKE YOUR SHIRT OFF

take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off no.

its been a while since we did this.
perhaps before there was a difference tractor roaring to the chorus of the creek. she hit the panic button.

for all these years we watched these bodies.
memories of those ungendered dreams.
fabric layers the extension of our skin. that we’re in.

take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off no.

i give i give i give i give make.
please take please take please take please take
one way streets still get you there its not a game.
its a place without a name.

a surgeon creates separation. our hearts sewn together in a chain its true
we’re birds of a feather as you say . we dance either way.

take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off don’t take your shirt off no.

these in between moments call for in between souls.
for our in between t shirts and our in between holes.

WHO AM I

changed our names, used our hands
we found options that were better than a man
radical surgery prosthetic sex
we built this world and we are asking your best
group group work and gay power
what’s the path to chose now is the hour
women’s land
dirty command
life ideas run deep in woman
unemployed itinerant life no existence without strife
proposition for new practice written rights hand slaps and man piss
money money money class voluntary booby trap
money money money crash feminist art hits the glass

who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who who am i, i feel so free

sky and earth earth appear to meet meet
on which horizon do we plan a retreat
on our way way stop and frisk government asks are you a fucking risk
on the corner we got booked papers say its because of the look running around stop to harrass instead of fighting fingers in ass.
money money money class voluntary booby trap
money money money crash feminist art hits the glass

who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who am i
who am i to feel so free who who am i, i feel so free

who how what why i feel so free i could never die.
i feel so free i could never die.