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1. |
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2. |
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Showdown breaking tonight,
A shoot out at county lines,
Outlaws take up the throne,
They chest pound to set the tone,
The lost years and taller lies,
A ghost town, left behind,
They’ve got us fighting over water,
While they’re filling their supply.
I was told to pay no mind,
To causes beyond control,
But I, I can’t keep turning blind eyes,
Whatever happened to the heroes?
We’ve gotta make it out, make it out tonight,
Who’s gonna be the last one out, last one out alive?
Cos’ we’re in the final stand, who will win decides the end - tonight,
The warriors of the wasteland,
The warriors of the wasteland.
One chance to right the hell,
It’s every man for himself,
Stand up or take the fall,
Inside the thunder dome,
The chorus of cheers and cries,
A soundtrack electrified,
Don’t pull any of your punches,
If we’re gonna last the fight.
I can start to see the light,
With every swing and take down,
But I, I know we can break their lines,
Cos’ all of us are heroes.
We’ve gotta make it out, make it out tonight,
Who’s gonna be the last one out, last one out alive?
Cos’ we’re in the final stand, who will win decides the end - tonight,
The warriors of the wasteland,
The warriors of the wasteland.
Warriors, warriors,
Warriors of the wasteland
Warriors, warriors,
Warriors of the wasteland
Chorus
We’ve gotta make it out, make it out tonight,
Who’s gonna be the last one out, last one out alive?
Cos’ we’re in the final stand, who will win decides the end - tonight,
The warriors of the wasteland,
The warriors of the wasteland.
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3. |
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I’m sitting at this bar alone,
Glass in hand, the night grows cold,
The jukebox is playing “In Your Eyes”.
I can feel my heart beat fast,
As shadows moving from the past,
Surround me like creatures of the night.
Since you walked away out of view,
I’m holding on to a memory of you.
A memory of you,
Kicks into motion,
The spark that I’ve been trying to light the heart,
Memory of you,
Chasing illusion,
Of you and I another chance to start.
I’m trapped behind a thousand lies,
But I see through your sweet disguise,
It’s over, no room for second chances,
Because I’m nobodies fool,
Send a love that won’t be cruel to this heart of mine,
I’m breaking these chains,
I’m not caught in the headlights.
Memory of you,
Kicks into motion,
The spark that I’ve been trying to light the heart,
Memory of you,
Chasing illusion,
Of you and I another chance to start.
A memory of you,
Kicks into motion,
The spark that I’ve been trying to light the heart,
Memory of you,
Chasing illusion,
Of you and I another chance to start.
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4. |
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1am, Brooklyn,
Wide awake sinking,
Somewhere between a hope and regret,
I’m just scrolling by faces,
Some are strangers,
And places I haven’t been yet,
Was it a mutual interest?
A design to affect how we live from one day to the next?
Is it all redirection from connection?
Selling out the heart for a flex.
Has the day now come?
Is the race now won?
To falling skyward,
Falling skyward,
What was make believe,
Is now plain to see,
We’re falling skyward,
Falling skyward.
It’s up for the taking,
A digital calling,
Jump on the wave or lose it all to the rest,
Every night I’m repeating,
This way of thinking,
Feels like a weight pressing down on my chest,
I can’t be the only one out here hoping,
That we’ll wake up to find it was a test,
Empty data and figures,
I’m trying to reconfigure,
How I live my life one day to the next.
Has the day now come?
Is the race now won?
To falling skyward,
Falling skyward,
What was make believe,
Is now plain to see,
We’re falling skyward,
Falling skyward.
I’m just holding on,
Watch the world keep spinning,
Into endless space.
Has the day now come?
Is the race now won?
To falling skyward,
Falling skyward,
What was make believe,
Is now plain to see,
We’re falling skyward,
Falling skyward.
As the mask starts to break,
Count the cost of how much it gives and takes,
We’re falling down tonight.
Is the day almost done,
Change your heart, we are one.
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5. |
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Days like thunder, flashing by,
Felt like forever, sign of the times,
Scrolling the pages,
Beyond the graphs,
I was searching for something more,
Than a kid’s suppose to ask.
Dressed like my idols, walking to class,
Listening to Ferry’s ‘Don’t Stop the Dance.
Met with a silence, made out the fool,
But the teacher’s just a junkie,
And the playground is so cruel.
I’m telling myself,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until it’s over,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until I’m older,
Now time will change, cause nothing stays the same
So I wait until it’s over.
Hoping the future plays out as asked,
Got through the crash course,
Taken to task,
The passion within me brought me so far,
And all the pitfalls of our youth they say,
Will make us who we are.
I’m telling myself,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until it’s over,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until I’m older,
Now time will change, cause nothing stays the same
So I wait until it’s over.
Don’t stop the dance.
I’m telling myself,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until it’s over,
It won’t be long, it won’t be long,
Until I’m older,
Now time will change, cause nothing stays the same
So I wait until it’s over.
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6. |
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Eyes in front of you, two steps ahead,
Seasons passing through,
This life’s a test,
I know it takes a little emotion,
I know it takes a harder soul,
Just when things all start to move for you,
It puts your ass back on the floor.
Don’t need a reason to forget,
Tomorrow’s horizon won’t be back,
All that is unknown becomes clear,
It’s the Glory years.
Can’t rewind the clocks to
Before the alarm,
Realizing that our youth
Ain’t all glamour and charm,
There’s always going to be the friction,
There’ll always be a race to run,
But the beauty clocking up the miles now
Are the memories all yet to come.
Don’t need a reason to forget,
Tomorrow’s horizon won’t be back,
The story speeds up towards the end,
In the Glory years.
Take it all in as the world turns,
What is meant to be had, it will return,
So keep your eyes open, have no fear,
It’s the Glory Years.
These are your Glory years.
The Glory years.
I know it takes a little emotion.
I know it takes a harder soul.
Don’t need a reason to forget,
Tomorrow’s horizon won’t be back,
The story speeds up towards the end,
In the Glory years.
Take it all in, as the world turns,
What is meant to be had, it will return,
So keep your eyes open, have no fear,
It’s the Glory Years.
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7. |
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A show of hands who’s losing self control?
Over stimulated, running on false hope,
A war of words,
They want you on their side,
It’s all for power,
To conquer and divide.
In this world of promises,
Do our words still mean a thing?
Where’s the truth in all of this?
I can’t take this anymore,
World of promises.
The cracks are showing deep within our souls,
Society is eating itself whole,
Manifests of lies,
From tongues of fire,
Singing the agenda,
Of corporate choirs.
In this world of promises
Do our words still mean a thing?
Where’s the truth in all of this?
I can’t take this anymore
World of promises.
In this world of promises,
Trying to make sense out of this,
A slight of hand an empty kiss,
Just to get the higher score,
World of promises.
The mayday call the fear incites,
The powers that be playing all sides,
The cracks are showing in mankind,
It’s a fever dream,
World of Promises.
In this world of promises
Do our words still mean a thing?
Where’s the truth in all of this?
I can’t take this anymore
World of promises.
In this world of promises,
Trying to make sense out of this,
A slight of hand an empty kiss,
Just to get the higher score,
World of promises.
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8. |
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Strike out another new name,
I’ve heard it all, you don’t change how you love,
And it’s not enough.
An expose, fast money,
For you life comes so easy,
I can’t stay going round inside this hell this way.
I know I’ve got to let go of this unrequited hold,
Before love shakes me down and tears me to the bone,
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Found the root of distraction to fountains of hurt,
The signs are concealed to max their return,
On a wide eyed dreamer clinging to love,
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Do the laws of attraction mean anything more?
Then a spark of fixation to siphon the core,
Of a devout believer, true to their word.
Why do you try pretend?
I’ve seen how this all ends in a blaze of fire,
Fuelled by blind desire.
I showed you my devotion,
Every ounce of emotion a man could give,
For a cause, to his love, from the heart.
Your makeup it cracks and flakes,
Revealing all of my mistakes,
You said you’d love me girl but it seems that you don’t care.
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Found the root of distraction to fountains of hurt,
The signs are concealed to max their return,
On a wide eyed dreamer clinging to love,
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Do the laws of attraction mean anything more?
Then a spark of fixation to siphon the core,
Of a devout believer, true to their word.
Now I’m trying to break out,
From the clutches of obsession,
Such a formidable attraction,
And now I hear the faint sound of reason.
I know I’ve got to let go of this unrequited hold,
Before love shakes me down and tears me to the bone.
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Found the root of distraction to fountains of hurt,
The signs are concealed to max their return,
On a wide eyed dreamer clinging to love,
Bang, bang, bang, shot to the heart,
Do the laws of attraction mean anything more?
Then a spark of fixation to siphon the core,
Of a devout believer, true to their word.
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9. |
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Do you know, do you know all I want to say?
To make it better.
I will go, I will go beyond anyone,
All the miles, counting time,
Has it helped the healing?
Does it feel better?
Let’s get a hold, gain control,
Find the solution.
You don’t make it easy,
Tearing out the heart,
Wanting me to run, I don’t understand,
So do you hear me?
Try and play your part,
I’ve played out all my cards,
This is your last chance.
Cause it hurts like heaven,
When you’re treating me like hell,
I can’t get enough of your punch drunk love,
That keeps me underneath your spell,
If it hurts like heaven then I don’t want nobody else,
Behind stone cold eyes the heart can’t lie,
I know you better than myself.
Just let go, just let go of your preconception,
To see this clearer.
Take it slow, take it slow if that’s what you want,
Clean the slate, it’s a climb but I still believe in,
It’s getting closer.
You and I, fire sign in a lonely world.
You don’t make it easy,
Tearing out the heart,
Wanting me to run, I don’t understand,
So do you hear me?
Try and play your part,
I’ve played out all my cards,
This is your last chance.
Cause it hurts like heaven,
When you’re treating me like hell,
I can’t get enough of your punch drunk love,
That keeps me underneath your spell,
If it hurts like heaven then I don’t want nobody else,
Behind stone cold eyes the heart can’t lie,
I know you better than myself.
And my tears formed in fire,
Fuel the hope there’s still a chance,
You’re online but my desire’s overruled by your silence,
How can you know if you don’t try?
Open your eyes back up to us,
It’s a firm and blind belief I have,
I don’t want to shake off.
Cause it hurts like heaven,
When you’re treating me like hell,
I can’t get enough of your punch drunk love,
That keeps me underneath your spell,
If it hurts like heaven then I don’t want nobody else,
Behind stone cold eyes the heart can’t lie,
I know you better than myself.
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10. |
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I want to alight,
The fires within,
Trying to rewrite,
The script that we’re in,
We were taking for granted,
Our sunrise and falls,
When we should have just counted,
How many moons were full.
So let’s just be honest for once in our lives,
Our world would be standing if we read the signs,
The distance created made me realize,
We could turn time back just for tonight,
Won’t you stay a while longer?
I don’t want to call this a goodbye,
It’s never too late, to start over,
Let’s cut this confusion, just use your illusion
Stereotypes,
With hearts in a spin,
Convince ourselves blind,
Into the life we’re now in,
How much time can we both lose?
Skirting round the edge,
When I know we can get through,
If we put us to test.
So let’s just be honest we’ve both served our time,
Entangled by conscious pretending we’re fine,
The reasons for breaking just don’t fit the crime,
Of throwing us away cause of our pride.
Won’t you stay a while longer?
I don’t want to call this a goodbye,
It’s never too late, to start over,
Let’s cut this confusion, just use your illusion,
Don’t wanna call this goodbye,
I don’t want to call this a goodbye,
It’s never too late, to start over,
Let’s cut this confusion, just use your illusion,
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released May 29, 2026
Support:
Facebook
www.facebook.com/MichaelOakleyOfficial/
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/michaeloakleyOfficial/
Twitter:
twitter.com/michaeloakleysw
Album Cover designed by Arkuma Hiyomoto
Art Direction and Lighting Design by Brad A Kinnan
Photography by Guthrie Melchiade
Personnel:
Michael Oakley: lead vocals, synthesizers, drum programming (all tracks)
Holly Dodson: lead vocal & background vocals (track 9)
Ollie Wride: background vocals (track 3)
Dana Jean Phoenix: background vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 10)
Rico Franchi: background vocals (track 3)
John Kunkel: electric guitar (track 7)
F.J. DeSanto: bass guitar solo (track 5)
Elliot Coombes: electric & acoustic guitar (track 3 & 6)
Derek Elliotson: acoustic guitar (track 6 & 10)
Dimi Kaye: electric guitar (track 7 & 8)
Rowan J Parker: electric guitar (track 2)
Daniel Land: electric guitar (track 10)
Nathan Hopwood: electric guitar (track 10)
Bobby Vickery: voice over (track 2)
Technical:
All songs written by Michael Oakley & Ollie Wride.
(With exception of: Track 3 written by Kai Mammoser, James Meays, Michael Oakley &
Ollie Wride. Track 10 written by Daniel Land, Michael Oakley & Ollie Wride)
All tracks produced by Michael Oakley (except track 3 with James Meays)
Mixed by John Kunkel & Michael Oakley
Additional vocal processing by Israel Medina
Mastering by Pete Maher
Software Michael used:
Ableton Live 12, Propellerhead Reason 13.
Synths: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3, Arturia V Collection, Reveal Sound Spire, Lennar
Digital Sylenth1, Korg M1, X5DR, Nexus 5, VPS Avenger 2, Roland JD800, JV2080, JX08, UVI
Emulation II+, Cherry Audio Mercury 8, Rob Papen Blue 3, Baby Audio BA-1, Tal-U-No-
LX, Serum 2, Synapse Audio The Legend.
Effects and processing: Wave Alchemy Glow, Tapewave, Native Instruments Raum,
Replika XT, Valhalla Vintage, Shimmer & Room, Aberrant Audio Sketch Cassette 2,
Baby Audio Transit, Smooth Operator & Super VHS, Soundtoys 5, Vertigo VSM3, Fabfilter
Pro Q4, Saturn 2, Tal Chorus, Nicky Romero Kickstart 2, Wavesfactory Cassette, Cytomic The Glue, Audiothing Speakers.
©2026 NewRetroWave Records. NRW Records is under exclusive license to NewRetroWave, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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