If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to have your brain turned into a warm bowl of oatmeal while sitting in a vibrating velvet chair, I have found your soundtrack. I’m talking about “Already Gone” by Wooden Shjips (yes, with a ‘j’—because regular ‘i’s are too high-energy for this level of chill).
Most bands feel the need to write “verses,” “choruses,” and “meaningful bridges.” Wooden Shjips looks at that level of effort and says, “No thanks, we’re good.” This song has exactly four lines of lyrics. They repeat them twice. Then they just… drift away. It’s like the lead singer started a thought, realized the couch was really comfortable, and just decided to let the organ player handle the rest of the afternoon.
The Lyrics (In their entirety):
Listening to “Already Gone” isn’t an auditory experience; it’s a physical state of being.
In the 1970s, people took Quaaludes to turn their bones into liquid. In 2026, we have Wooden Shjips.” Already Gone” is the only song that makes you feel like you’ve been “already gone” for three days, even though it’s only five minutes long. It’s the perfect track for when you’ve had a long day, and you just want to “light a merry cigarillo” (whatever that is) and “ride on” to the kitchen for some toast.
Warning: Do not operate heavy machinery while listening. Actually, do not operate a toaster. Just sit there and drown in the good vibrations.
The post Already Gone, a Musical Quaalude appeared first on The Old and in the Way Podcast.
