"The Hard Sell"

Art by Nathan Spoor.

**"The Hard Sell"** is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the third track on their 2013 album *The Afterman: Descension*. A demo version of the song was released on *The Afterman: Descension* (Big Beige Demos) album.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

I'm paranoid and sick of this

World's misconception of things I did

My language poured across this wrist

In a metaphoric disaster

My guess, I'm missing half the punch line

Unless this hanging noose is fitted to be all mine

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I stood by everything I loved

While you never understood me much

**[Chorus]**

Cause there's only one of me

And too many of you fighting over nothing

Oh, there's never enough cool for everyone

And before you know it, you're selling out to be in

**[Interlude]**

*(There's never enough)*

*(There's never enough)*

Oh, you're selling out to be in

*(There's never enough cool for all...)*

**[Verse 2]**

These eyes ungoverned are tearing us apart

Their ears forsaken have given up on art

Now, why believe in anything they praise

When one hand holds them the victor

While the other holds the shovel to their grave?

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I stood by everything I loved

While you never understood me much

**[Chorus]**

Cause there's only one of me

And too many of you fighting over nothing

Oh, there's never enough cool for everyone

And before you know it, you're selling out to be in

**[Bridge]**

Oh, this ticket window has closed

Save your money, baby...

The next show's about to start

Where else can you get to watch this talent fall...

One by one, they drop

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I stood by everything I loved

While you never understood me much

**[Chorus]**

Cause there's only one of me

And too many of you fighting over nothing

Oh there's never enough cool for everyone

And before you know it, you're selling out

You're selling all of me

For too many of you fighting over nothing

Oh, there's never enough cool for everyone

And before you know it, you're selling out to be in

**[Outro]**

*(I stood by everything I loved)*

You're selling out to be in

*(I stood by everything I loved)*

You're selling out to be in

*(I stood by everything I loved)*

You're selling out to be in

*(I stood by everything I loved)*

**[Spoken]**

"*(1...)* I have the great privilege *(2...)* and honor to present to you today the last great *(3...)* visionary in all our beloved *(4...)* company. I present to you a man who brings *(5...)* new meaning to the ideas that we *(6...)* currently believe. Ladies and *(7...)* gentlemen, it is with my great respect *(8...)* I give to you, Mr. *(9...)* Sirius Amory."

## Story Context

When Sirius returns to his home planet of Valencine, he finds that people have presumed his death, already have a variety of thoughts about his life and work ("misconception of things I did"), and worst of all, after his strenuous journey, he thinks more and more about how people would react to his true discovery (the afterlife in the Keywork). For this, the whole outcome seems like a huge joke that he's missed out on. And the cost of this joke is the death of his career; his sense of being.

In the pre-chorus, Sirius is talking to Meri when he says "I stood by everything I loved / While you never understood me much." Even though Sirius ultimately loses Meri, he feels vindicated because he pursued his ambition to its fullest, it spite of Meri not putting much effort in to understand why he felt the need in the first place.

In the chorus, we see Sirius is torn in two directions: On one hand, he can see how the newfound knowledge would cause craze and panic among the population ("too many of you fighting over nothing"), while on the other, he has his own pride and desire to reach profound achievement ("before you know it, you're selling out to be in"). But he's only one person, and he can't have it both ways.

The second verse describes the Prise's visit to Sirius ("These eyes ungoverned"). Knowing he knows the truth, they outline how, if he were to tell the truth of the Keywork, they as its sacred guardians, would be forced to "go to war" with humanity. Sirius weighs this in his internal debate. ("When one hand holds them the victor / While the other holds the shovel to their grave?")

In the bridge, we see Sirius giving up. His big "show" is about to start in the form of the press conference, and he knows that either way, he's probably going to lose. No matter which path he chooses, he will miss out on the fame, he will be the cause of disaster, or worst yet, the cause of the end of humanity. ("Where else can you get to watch this talent fall.")

In the final spoken part, we get Sirius' introduction as the press conference begins. He is introduced with surprising flourish and generosity, described as the last great visionary of his company, and boasts that he will "bring new meaning to the ideas" they currently believe in. Throughout this introduction, we also hear a count, which leads into the next song, "Number City". The voice is distorted and depicts Sirius' anxiety over what will come out of his own mouth.

## Background

Much of this song echoes themes in Sentry's song. Sanchez wrote the song illustrated the idea of "so many people pulling you in different directions." That is, many times we are excited to do things we have a passion for, but what we want out of the product of the passion, and what other people (authorities, fans, and such) want out of it.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Various-Fresh-Cuts-Volume-8/release/4918289
2. ↑ Coheed and Cambria. Booklet. *The Afterman: Decension*, Everything Evil Records, 2013.
3. ↑ https://genius.com/Coheed-and-cambria-the-hard-sell-lyrics