Superchunk: "What a Time to Be Alive"
Clip: 2/20/2025 | 4m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Superchunk performs the title track from their 2018 album, “What a Time to Be Alive.”
“What a Time to Be Alive” is the title track off Superchunk’s 2018 album. Both the song and the album were written largely in response to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Lead singer Mac McCaughan feels the song is still all-too-pertinent but hopes it won’t always be.
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Superchunk: "What a Time to Be Alive"
Clip: 2/20/2025 | 4m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
“What a Time to Be Alive” is the title track off Superchunk’s 2018 album. Both the song and the album were written largely in response to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Lead singer Mac McCaughan feels the song is still all-too-pertinent but hopes it won’t always be.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[upbeat rock music] ♪ ♪ You brushed your teeth and found your calling ♪ ♪ At the bottom of a swamp ♪ ♪ There was no air, but to be clear ♪ ♪ Darkness was all you wanted ♪ ♪ And now, just floating to the surface ♪ ♪ Hoping to find some kind of light ♪ ♪ Revised your look but something stinks ♪ ♪ And you will never smell right ♪ ♪ There's a crooked line that runs ♪ ♪ Through every crease in this map ♪ ♪ And you want to take us all the way back ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] ♪ To see the rot in no disguise ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ The scum, the shame, oh, all the lies ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] ♪ ♪ You've been carving tales for dummies ♪ ♪ Out of live oak and out of pine ♪ ♪ Let's turn your heroes into mummies ♪ ♪ Throw them straight onto the fire ♪ ♪ Yeah, just below the surface lurking ♪ ♪ A shadow breathing through a straw ♪ ♪ Clinging to the myth that you were cheated ♪ ♪ Yeah, the myth that you were robbed ♪ ♪ And there's a crooked line that runs ♪ ♪ Through every crease in this map ♪ ♪ And you want to take us all the way back ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ To see the rot in no disguise ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ The scum, the shame, and all the lies ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ We can't pretend to be surprised ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ The seasons change and some survive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ ♪ Oh, what a time to be alive ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] ♪ Oh, what a time ♪ ♪ To be alive ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] ♪ [upbeat rock music continues] [upbeat rock music fades]
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Preview: 2/20/2025 | 30s | Indie rock band Superchunk harnesses its trademark high energy in a performance for the ages. (30s)
Superchunk: “Driveway to Driveway”
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 4m 46s | Superchunk performs a fan favorite, “Driveway to Driveway.” (4m 46s)
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 4m 6s | Superchunk performs “Hello Hawk,” a single from their 1999 album, “Come Pick Me Up.” (4m 6s)
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 3m 41s | Superchunk performs an early radio hit for the band, “Hyper Enough.” (3m 41s)
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 4m 52s | Superchunk performs “Low F,” which was inspired by the tuning of singer Mac McCaughan’s guitar. (4m 52s)
Superchunk: “Skip Steps 1 & 3”
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 3m 5s | Superchunk performs “Skip Steps 1 & 3” off its sophomore record, 1991’s “No Pocky for Kitty.” (3m 5s)
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Clip: 2/20/2025 | 3m 40s | Superchunk performs “Water Wings,” a song from the band’s 1994 album, “Foolish.” (3m 40s)
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.