Music

Hidden Curriculum

The second full-length album from Company Retreat. Scroll down to stream and read lyrics.

Beginner's Luck

Perfect Vision

Litigate Schmitigate

I'm Surprised You're Surprised

Patron Saint Of Impossible Causes

Horrible Humans

Nuts And Bolts

Odd Man Out

The Great Resignation

Two Heads

To Be Of Some Renown

Wonderful Waste

Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Gabe Usery at Encapsulated Studios. Written and Performed by William Malott (Bass), Josh Nelson (Drums), Brad Schauffler (Guitar) and Jeff Speak (Guitar). Additional Writing and Performances by Sean Young (Keyboards), Haley Regan (Vocals) and Gabe Usery (Percussion/Guitars). Artwork by Chris Varnum.

Lyrics

Select a song from the list below, or scroll down for the whole album.

Beginner’s Luck

I arise each morning
From a bed I’ve never made,
Basking in a familiar warmth,
Curse the sunshine as it permeates
My only window into the world
Through the bars and electric fence
Past the guards and their guns
Over yards that are harboring
thugs and their friends.

And I’m smuggling contraband
Just to maintain an upper hand.
And I’m hiding in plain sight
As I piece together an exit plan.
I stay paid up on protection
And I carry my gun in my bag
And I put in the hours for now
Cause they’re all I have.

I burn every afternoon
On the highway’s crooked miles,
Sweating in a dress shirt,
Greeting people I hate
with a crooked smile.

But they’re there for the contraband
So I maintain the upper hand
Hiding in plain sight
While I piece together an exit plan.
I stay paid up on protection,
And I carry my gun in my bag,
And I put in the hours for now
Cause they’re all I have.

I take a seat at the table
at the start of every night.
I ante up before every meal, and
I raise the stakes after every bite.
I often come home a winner
Though the house prevails over time.
Either way, I’m the luckiest man alive.

I’m just hunting and gathering
Trying hard not to show my hand.
I’m hiding in plain sight
While I piece together an exit plan.
I stay paid up on protection,
And I carry my gun in my bag,
And I put in the hours for now
Cause they’re all I have.

You’re here for the contraband,
So I maintain the upper hand
Hiding in plain sight
While I piece together an exit plan.
I stay paid up on protection,
And I carry my gun in my bag,
And I put in the hours for now
Cause they’re all I have.

Perfect Vision

We’re all singin’ in an endless circle.
We’re all prayin’ for a modern miracle.
We’re all wishin’ for the world to change,
And we’re all gonna keep bitchin
til we get our way.

Cause we’re all blind men
in a dark room
Hopin’ a black cat
crosses our path soon.
But when we find it,
we’ll have nothin’ to do
Except to argue over whose
made up vision is true.

We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.
You’re a piece of shit,
and I’m a hypocrite, but…
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.

We stormed the city on a Trojan horse,
Put it down when it got lame.
We promised peace but demanded war,
Now we still can’t shake the shame.

But we have the freedom to work,
The freedom to starve,
The freedom to choose just
Which brand of asshole we are,
And the freedom to take it too far.

Resist!

We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.
I’m a piece of shit,
and you’re a hypocrite, but…
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better. We’re better.
We’re better than this.

Litigate Schmitigate

Another serial projectionist.
Another coward who’s
already died 1000 deaths.
A phony, fraudulent confidence man.
Pellucid, delusional charlatan.

They should convict you
just to get you off the street.
They should commit you
just to keep you safe from me.

Litigation, schmitigation.
Don’t have the time, boy.
Don’t have the patience.
Spill me a drink.
Cry me an ocean.
I’ll be the judge who
denies you the motion

On prior conduct,
social sickness.
Don’t take it personal,
boy. It’s all business.
The rock you’re rolling has you
lookin’ like Sisyphus,
And this isn’t your first offense.

They should convict you
just to get you off the street.
Another populist demagogue.
They should convict you
just to get you off the street.

Another populist demagogue.
They should convict you
just to get you off the street.
Another populist demagogue.
They should convict you
just to get you off the street.

I’m Surprised You’re Surprised

We’re never gonna wake up
If we don’t start sleeping
We’re never gonna calm down
If we don’t stop screaming

We’ll just keep reopening wounds,
And they’ll all keep bleeding,
And we’ll all keep wondering why
dark history’s always repeating.

I‘m surprised you’re surprised
I’m impressed you’re impressed
I can’t believe you believe that
you’re actually doing your best

Cause I see what you see
And I’ve been where you’ve been
Read all the same stories.
So I know how they end.
I know how they end.

Have we all forgotten the days
When our walls’ inscriptions
Were still written in movements
And truths were consistent?
Are we all just talking to talk?

Is anyone still listening?
Are we really the change
we want to see?
I’m not convinced
Or just acting belligerent.

I‘m surprised you’re surprised
I’m impressed you’re impressed
I can’t believe you believe that
you’re actually doing your best

Cause I see what you see
And I’ve been where you’ve been
Read all the same stories.
So I know how they end.
I know how they end.

We all wind up dead.
You’re gonna wind up dead.
Everything that you gain you lose.
Don’t let it include your head.
Everything that you gain you lose.
Don’t let it include your head.

Patron Saint of Impossible Causes

I know some nerds
we can stick in the basement.
I know some actors
we can make the face of it.
I know salesmen who’ll stand
on the mountain and shout it.
And I know addicts who
can’t live without it.

And we’re prepared to manipulate,
Cause love is war when you’re
soldiers of a nation-state
And you swore to do
whatever it takes.
Do whatever it takes.

So get to work!
Gotta earn it to burn it!
You wanna win this war?
Get ready to bleed.
When you’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes,
There’s only one way!
And it ain’t cheap.

That’s why we’re selling
through subliminal messages
Using good old-fashioned
sex and suspense.
That’s why we celebrate the
sound of the register ringing
And blow the money on
armored limousines.

So get to work!
Gotta earn it to burn it!
You wanna win this war?
Get ready to bleed.
When you’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes,
There’s only one way!

You’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes.
So get to work!
Gotta earn it to burn it!
You’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes.
There’s only one way!

You’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes.
So get to work!
Gotta earn it to burn it!
You’re the Patron Saint
of Impossible Causes.
There’s only one way!
And it ain’t…

Horrible Humans

I know what it’s like
to know you’re right
and keep getting told
your wrong,
while you listen to the
assholes fight,
yelling over each other
all god damn night.

It’s a really good thing
I found this microphone.
I just gotta convince myself
this is still worth wearing
my lungs out for.

Cause I’m no longer entertained
With trying to pick apart the brains
Of all these horrible people
Doing all these horrible things.

More poet than artist.
More artist than musician.
More musician than human.
More human than anything.

I’m no savior or therapist,
And I’m no politician,
But I’m certain these
horrible humans
are ruining everything

I know what it’s like
to pay the price
for shitty choices made,
while you’re watching all
the assholes get away with
stealing everything.

It’s a really good thing
we found this place to hang.
Where we can all get loud and
drown out the sounds these
horrible people scream.

Cause I’m no longer entertained
With all this useless arguing
Or all these horrible people
Doing all these horrible things

More poet than artist.
More artist than musician.
More musician than human.
More human than anything.

I’m no savior or therapist,
And I’m no politician,
But I’m certain these
horrible humans
are no good at listening

We’re all poets and artists.
We’re all ripping musicians.
We’re all wonderful humans,
And we’re all good family

Still singing our protest songs
Still stand in resistance
Trying to keep these
horrible humans
from ruining everything

Trying to keep these
horrible humans
from ruining everything

Nuts and Bolts

So you’re telling me the end
is getting dangerously near,
And your intent is to sit here
Torturing every prisoner?

Waterboarding lackeys
and stragglers?
Competing for ranks and
demolishing standards?
Praying for miracles
to a deadbeat savior?

Well, fool me once and
I’ll wear my shame
on a coming date
with an unmarked grave.
But try to fool me again,
it will earn your death.

Must I remind you
I’m an inspector,
interrogator and collector
of heads better severed, and
I never get out of bed for less.

You and I were
cut from the same cloth
Soaked in ether and
stuffed into bottles
Uninhibited diffusion of
stimulation in arsons blazing
Broken on doorsteps,
Used to render addicts unconscious

Well, fool them once and
they’ll wear their shame
on a coming date
with an unmarked grave.

Try to fool them again,
it will earn our death.
Must we remind ourselves,
they’re deceptors,
separators and dissectors
of heads better severed,
and they wouldn’t get out
of bed for less.

Our contention is that the end
is getting dangerously near
And you expect us to sit here
presenting ourselves like prisoners

Waterboarded lackeys
and stragglers
Competing for ranks and
demolishing standards
Praying for miracles
to a deadbeat savior

Well, fool me once and
I’ll wear my shame
on a coming date
with an unmarked grave.
But try to fool me again,
it will earn your death.

Must I remind you
I’m an inspector,
interrogator and collector
of heads better severed, and
I never get out of bed for less.

Odd Man Out

If I could sprout another fist,
I’d raise it.
Another foot?
Probably kick your face in.
Another mind?
I would drown or misplace it.
Another heart?
Eat it just for the taste of it.

If I could be anyone but me?
A 4-star general in World War III
With a lawn chair parked
on my favorite beach
And a magnet to hold up
my college degrees.

There’s no right or wrong when
we’re all just misunderstood.
No one’s ever gotten it,
cause no one ever could.
We can all look pretty bad when
we’re all just dying to feel good,
So we’ll do whatever we need,
not what we think they think we should.

If I could grow the perfect hair,
I’d shave it.
Another butt?
I would constantly shake it.
A new face?
I would stuff it with pastries,
then throw a fit
if the dough wasn’t grain-free.

If I could go anywhere but here?
Hanging in Hoovervilles
under the pier,
Doubting the daywalkers
living in fear,
And spinning The Record
in every ear.

If I could buy another breath,
I’d take it.
Another life?
I’d refuse to pay for it.
A new brain?
Lock it up in the basement,
starve it for weeks just to
see if it makes it.

If I could build a better place
where the things I hate
are wiped off the face,
I’d paint it half-black and
the other half chroma-key green.
Cause your life’s an illusion
your eyes project on to the screen.

The Great Resignation

Sorry, Boss, I’ve been called upon
to serve a higher authority.
I know you think it’s unfortunate,
but This job isn’t cut out for me.

I’m through wastin’ my space.
I’m done punchin’ my time.
You know I’d never replace you, but…
You gotta gimme some space.
I’ll be takin’ my time.
You know I’d never replace you, but…
I might.

We’re through wastin’ our space.
We’re done punchin’ our time.
You know we’d never replace you, but…

Weren’t you the brains behind
This whole botched operation?
Weren’t you the wizard
waving the wand
And reciting the incantation?

Now I’ve got parasites
that live and breathe
And fight and fuck inside of me.
They’re multiplyin’ while I sleep,
And they’re consuming all of me.

You gotta gimme some space.
I’ll be takin’ my time.
You know I’d never replace you, but…
We’re through wastin’ our space.
We’re done punchin’ our time.
You know we’d never replace you, but…
We might.

Two Heads

I was extremely productive today
I dug the first 6 inches
of my own grave
And tomorrow I’ll pick up the pace
I’ll be done by the end
of the week, which is great,

Cause I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the angsty teenager in me
Still prefers to work alone

Yeah, I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the negative know-it-all in me
Still prefers to work alone

I was extremely productive today
I made a laundry list of
all the things I hate
And tomorrow I’ll wash them away
I’ll burn or I’ll bury
whatever remains

I’ll have nothing left
to curse but the days
That I wasted on worrying
about things
That I can’t control
no matter what I know
Where I decide to be
or how tight I hold

Cause I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the angsty teenager in me
Still prefers to work alone

Yeah, I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the negative know-it-all in me
Still prefers to work alone

I was extremely productive today
I sang the same old song,
but it felt new to me.
I decided the sound it was
missing was one extra harmony
that I still can’t sing

Cause I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the angsty teenager in me
Still prefers to work alone

Yeah, I’m way too tired to be here
But I can’t afford to stay home
And the negative know-it-all in me
Still prefers to work alone

But I need your talent to
hit those impossible notes

To Be of Some Renown

The truck and trailer
that struck me down
I’d met twice on the
road into town.
But whether it was premonition
or pattern prediction
Makes no difference to me now.

I need to outdo my old self again
Or resign and humbly hang my head,
Cause it’s better
to be alive and outdone
Than untouchable and dead.

Looking back, it was coincidence,
A random series of occurrences.
But that third time was a charm,
And without tripping the alarm,
I was able to break in.

And in a safe behind a work of art
I stashed a key to every
house on this block.
But all I remember thinking
as I secured the combination
Is, “This will never be enough.”

I need to outdo my old self again
Or resign and humbly hang my head,
Cause it’s better
to be alive and outdone
Than untouchable and dead.

I need to outdo my old self again
Or resign and humbly hang my head,
Cause it’s always better
to be alive and outdone
Than untouchable and dead.
Untouchable and dead.

Wonderful Waste

The more you shop, the more you slave.
The deeper you dig, the colder your grave.
The earlier you retire,
the sooner you die, so they say.

My father worked hard every day of his life.
More work was all he earned for his strife.
The day he retired, he sighed and said,
“Life, what a wonderful waste.”

The more you shop, the more you slave.
The deeper you dig, the colder your grave.
The earlier you retire,
the sooner you die, so they say.

My father worked hard every day of his life.
More work was all he earned for his strife.
The day he retired, he sighed and said,
“Life, what a wonderful waste.”

I’m just trying to buy the horse
So I don’t have to be the horse,
But I still gotta feed this horse,
And it’s takin’ a bite outta me.

We’re all working for easier days,
All screaming, “I’m king of the world,”
from the bow of a ship that’s sinking.
Yeah, “Life, what a wonderful waste.”

My mother worked hard every day of her life.
More work was all she earned for her strife.
The day she retired, she sighed and said,
“Life, what a wonderful waste.”
The more we shop, the more we slave.
The deeper we dig, the faster we fade.
The earlier we retire, the sooner we’ll die!

We’re just trying to buy the horse
So we don’t have to be the horse,
But we still gotta feed this horse,
And it’s taken a bite outta me.

We’re all working for easier days,
All screaming, “I’m king of the world,”
from the bow of a ship that’s sinking.
Yeah, “Life, what a wonderful waste.”

We’ll keep working for easier days,
Keep living for all that we love and we hate
til our hearts stop beating.
Yeah, “Life, what a wonderful waste.”