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THE LONG SHOT

LAST KID PICKED

Four men who have played the same four chords since 1986 and finally got them right

vex on it

the run

Honest use case: people who want to feel good about past slights but don't want to think too hard about it

Exhibit: “But every underdog gets one clean swing”

style

  • eighties power pop rock
  • jangly chorus-drenched guitars
  • soaring high male vocal
  • huge singalong hook
  • gated snare
  • driving bass
  • anthemic and nostalgic
  • british accent
  • bright and urgent
  • british accent

the numbers

bpm
144
key
D major
energy
0.68
dance
0.96
valence
0.58
vocal at
8.8s
length
3:34
words
224
clichés
0
language
En

most sung: “kid” ×13 · “last” ×12 · “picked” ×12

lyrics

(whoa-oh-oh! whoa-oh-oh!)
(a gym whistle blows)

They lined us up against the wall
Gym class, nineteen-something-late
Two captains and a kickball
And me — the guy they'd contemplate
(and contemplate... and pass)

But every underdog gets one clean swing
And brother, hear that sweet spot ring!
(ring! ring!)

The last kid picked wins tonight! (whoa-oh!)
The last kid picked wins tonight!
Stick around for the final score
The last kid picked wins tonight! (sing it!)
The last kid picked wins tonight!
(whoa-oh-oh-oh!)

Twenty years, the reunion hall
Same captains by the punch
One sells insurance, one sells... nothing
And I just bought the whole team lunch
(he did! he really did!)

The last kid picked wins tonight! (whoa-oh!)
The last kid picked wins tonight!
Stick around for the final score
The last kid picked wins tonight! (louder!)
The last kid picked wins tonight!

To every kid still by the wall
Staring at your shoes
(we see you, we see you)
The scoreboard hasn't started yet
And late picks rarely lose
(1... 2... 3... 4!)

(whoa-oh-oh! whoa-oh-oh!)

The last kid picked wins tonight! (whoa-oh!)
The last kid picked wins tonight!
Stick around for the final score
The last kid picked wins tonight!
The last kid picked wins tonight!

(final score: everybody)
(whoa-oh-oh!)