Hard to Compete
By: Beck Hansen
Written by: Beck Hansen

Version Of: Hard to Compete

This Version:
  • Hard to Compete
 
Lyrics:
(From March 1, 1994 KCRW)

You said go, you said stay
Got so confused I tried to do both
So I broke out in a sweat
Cashed my check
And I spent it to death
And it's hard to compete
And it's hard to eat
When you're beating your teeth
On the ground and it's rude
Did you ever even think about
The first impression that you gave
To the pigs, to the kids
With the hazardous waste
And their wine and their eyes
And their gasoline hormones
Accessories accessorizing

You said go, you said stay
You said try a combination
That I didn't even know where to start
I was lost, I was beige
I was over and under my age
Like a video, like a chick
Like a dead man moving too quick
In my way, had no plan
Passing out flyers for some punk rock band
From San Diego
A freak show is purposely out of control
Soaking it like a sponge
And she's tidying up the grunge
The expectations were pulsing so pure
Over-rated bleakness
So hard, so easy to endure
'Cause it's plain and it's real
Back to the future, make a new deal
With the distortion sounding fake
And the rest of the best was a big mistake
So let's cruise, let's freak
'Cause it's payday every day of the week

Go baby, go baby, go baby go!
(From August 22, 1994 JJJ Radio)

You said go, you said stay
Got so confused I tried to both
So I broke out in a sweat
I cashed my check
And I spent it to death
'Cause it's hard to compete
It's hard to eat
When you're beating your fist
On the ground and it's rude
Did you ever even think about
The impression you gave
To the pigs, to the kids
With the hazardous waste
In their wine and their eyes
Their gasoline hairstyles
Working their magic for you

You said go, you said stay
You said try a combination
Didn't know where to start
I was lost, I was beige
I was over and under my age
Like a video, like a chick
Like a dead man moving too quick
In my way, had no plan
Dealing out papers into the wastecan
Trying hard to stay awake
And the rest of the best was a big mistake
So let's drive right into the ground
Hold it down with the garbageman crown
'Cause it's a deal, it's a noose
It's news, it's payday
 
Live:

Played live 2 times:
Earliest known live version: March 1, 1994
Latest known live version: August 22, 1994