The Swagga

The Swagga

"The Swagga" was a track that was thrown on to the DVD that came with the deluxe version of the "Demon Days" album. It was never a b-side and would never have found a physical release if not for "D-Sides", the compilation issued for Phase 2.

"The Swagga" is certainly a track with good old fashioned rock swagger (pun intended) with it's stomping groove, catchy vocal lines and chugging acoustic guitar groove. But these elements are set on top of a minimal drum machine and pulsing synth bass, which give the track a glitchy and disjointed feel. It at times sounds like it could have been a demo for Blur's comeback album, "Think Tank", and it of course makes reference to what was once Damon's best known song, "Song 2" (aka The Woo Hoo Song). Damon seems to be making fun of pop rock lyricism saying everything he wishes to be (he wants to be a "teacher", he wants to be "naked", he wants to be your "make up") and then following it with a comedown chorus about how he "won't get over it now", name checking the time "four o clock in the morning", a common practice in old rock n roll songs and still occasionally gets utilized now. He may say he wants "to die" in the first chorus, but that's common practice as well, Elvis did it, and the backing vocals are so happy, so he must just be being theatrical... right?

Soon the lyrics get more nonsensical, giving cats drugs ("CK", a cocaine and ketamine combo), giving cars to The Beatles ("cause they're just sad", which is accurate at least, near the band's end point, but the line comes a bit out of nowhere). However he begins this verse by wishing he was holding someone ("I wish it was you"), which is another classic rock thing, wishing he could hold you, ya know, you, teenage girl in love with the band, classic Beatles trick. But as this verse progresses, it becomes clear that Damon doesn't wish to be holding someone as much as something. He becomes more unhinged ranting about "shits" and "wishes", and then states "But I ain't never gonna be clean. No I can't get a shot, albeit, no. I CAN'T GET A SHOT, ALBEIT, NO! I CAN'T GET A SHOT!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!" As he says this line, loud and chaotic electric guitars and bass guitars enter as backing vocals swell in a cheerful yet ominous fashion. We now realize that Damon's not singing about any person, he's singing about his old flame, his once true love, the thing that became his life's joy at one point,  heroin. He adds in the "woo" to reference the time in which he made his once biggest claim to fame, which was at the height of his heroin addiction.

It becomes clear that Damon is writing about being a pop star in the middle of quite possibly the darkest period of his life. He confesses that he wants to grow to be clean in "June".  He wants to "make it easy", but at the same time he needs to be the "carrier of the coal" for the kids who "enjoy" his music.

 But he won't get over it soon

there ain't light at the end of his tunnel

maybe he'll stay this way forever and die out of his dependency

but he goes "woo"

he just goes "woo"

we all go "woo"

"The Swagga" was probably written in the album's earliest stages, "Reject False Icons", as lyrically it is more of a continuation of the first album, and not as much in line with the new political commentary Damon incorporated into Phase 2. Despite it's lack of real presence in the album's eventual storyline, "The Swagga" is still an important track and one of the most real and authentic cries for help in Damon's catalogue.