Sunday 31 December 2023

Catching Lightning

Feel it out like a spider makes her web
It's time to see the proof
Truth is a cave in a cold backwater mountain
Isolated in the eyes of a new moon

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ohh
Yeh yeh

Ohh when you see fire, there is no higher high
Catching lightning all night till you see the horizon, in the morning light

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ohh
Yeh yeh

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ohh
Yeh yeh

Cargo cults comedies at bamboo airports
Straighten out so they see you
Sober up for the camera you’re facing
Switching the lights on in you

Ohh when you see fire, there is no higher high
Catching lightning all night till you see the horizon, in the morning light

Don’t check me out I'm out for lunch
Don’t check me out I'm out for lunch

We’re all catching lightning
We’re all catching lightning
We’re all catching
We’re all catching lightning
We’re all catching lightning
We’re all catching
We’re all catching
We’re all catching lightning

Conversations in D

It's when I say hello
It's when I call you on the phone
It's when I open up my heart enough to let you know

It's when I toss and turn at night
And wonder will you be alright?
Cos I don't have the answers much less the questions

Cos this is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation

Man I know you've been let down
Even when you're not around
I can hear your voice tremble like it's hiding in a ghost town

And I wish we had more time
And a little piece of mind
Cos I don't have the answers much less the questions

Cos this is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation

This is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation
This is a one-way conversation

I don't have the answers much less the questions

Art can change the world

Art can change the world
Art can change the world

Paintbrush in a child's hand
See her universe expand
Color canvas with her love
Sharing joy and creation

Art can change the world
Art can change the world

Young man with his first guitar
Transported to worlds afar
Sharing songs with all the world
Melodies so magical

Art can change the world
I can change the world

Every moment is a chance to give
To someone who's hurting
Who's so deserving
Of a miracle

Art can change the world
You can change the world

Sculpture in refugee camps
Reminds us of our humanness
Come together as one blood
See what we're capable of

Art can change the world
We can change the world

Wednesday 11 October 2023

Coincidentals

His assistants busy themselves
Fetching scissors and coloured papers
Mixing hues of different flavours
Painting blues and greens and purples
Cutting stars and squares and circles
Beginning the journey
Through a thicket of collage and texture and bread and
circuses
From his bed he considers the surfaces
He remembers his voyages
And he watches
Henri watches
Henri’s body is bed bound
But his mind isn’t even earthbound
He cuts into the form of a figure
He places it next to another
Improvisation,
No turning back, no hesitation
Letting go to muscle sense and iteration
Creativity in the present tense
No more sitting on the fence
Commit to the composition
And he watches…
Enrico watches…
The kids coming up through the quavers and crotchets
Little birds with their scales and rhythms and pitches
Finding their voices and hoping to sing
He’ll pass on the history, of princes and kings
Of Bix and Miles and the truth and the sophistry
Of Chet and Louis and the proof and the mystery
And he takes an occasional player under his wing
And flies through fundamentals
Improvisations and incidentals
And he watches…
Stefano watches…
The silence of the film and the stillness of the man
Deadpan
Buster
Keaton
The girl leaves
His heart heaves
His blank expression
Falls to his knees and then the horizon
He sits.
He thinks.
Pushing his hat
Back on his head.
Lost in this moment of loss, the signs he misread,
He fails to notice
The coupling rod on the train that is rising and falling
and that is where his seat is
He bobs up and down as his dignity decreases
His stone face flashes a moment of indignation beneath
his…
Hat.

To acquire learning you need to read
But to gain wisdom you must watch
Stefano watches
Through the bars of his cage
A cage of bar lines and staves
Something to break out of
To fight with
To play with
To push and pull and tear and tickle and sway with
All those accidentals
Co-accidentals
Incidental music for life
Incidental music for life 

Friday 29 September 2023

Fiery skies

Distant worlds from a past life, they haunt me
Memories blurred from that time, still find me
A shell of myself just trying to survive

Fiery Skies celebrate tonight, but I'm locked up
Trapped inside of my own mind, I'm fucked up
Maybe it's time to leave it all behind, and change my state of mind

No longer feel the need to wear my armor, long the way that it's been
And now I begin to see in colors, more than I've ever seen 

Wednesday 27 September 2023

On the outside

On the Outside

Never quite at home
Always you’re alone
Always on the outside
Riding out the storm
So where do we now start
Where do we begin
Never looking outside
Always looking in
Always on the outside
And never quite at home
Always on the outside
And every Christmas you’re alone
Waiting for the dawn
Family full of strangers
Barely holding on
Always on the outside
You know you must be strong
Always on the outside
And you’ll survive the storm
And always you’ll belong
Always you’ll belong
Always you’ll belong

Wednesday 6 September 2023

Animam Nondum Efflavi (I Have Not Yet Exhaled My Spirit)

Animam Nondum Efflavi (I Have Not Yet Exhaled My Spirit)

[Latin original]:

animam nondum efflavi,
tametsi eam vulneravi;
parce mihi frater,
tam longe meo carne.

quando te deterrui
et quo furtim effugisti?
te quoniam necavi.

mortuis adiunxisti
vel phasmatibus perditis?
redde mihi vitam
quam in noctem abstractam.

[English]:

I have not yet exhaled (flared out) my spirit,
Though I have caused her harm (wounded her) ;
Forgive me, my brother,
So distant (remote) from my flesh.

When did I cause you to flee in terror,
and whither have you quietly (furtively) fled?
For I have murdered (killed) you.

Have you joined the company of [the] depraved phasms (spirits) ?
Return to me the life (vitality)
that was dragged off into the night.

Shane Joshua Thomas 

Friday 21 July 2023

Change or Die

VERSE 1
Cm
So many people I meet every day on the street
Have their life on a loop and a day on repeat
Fm
I can't go down that rut it would drive me crazy
Gm
Perhaps I'm gifted or maybe just not lazy

Cm
I go for perplex aspects of complex subjects
And at the apex of multiple projects. 
Fm
The questions hard, the answers evolve, simple
Gm
Change or Die!!!

VERSE 2
Cm
To repeat myself, is to defeat myself
Gotta unseat myself, need to beat myself
Fm
Why once you've mastered the art by heart 
Gm
would you continue to take on every upstart? Is that smart?

Cm
Instead I profess finesse for progress
To make egress a process for success 
Fm
I see my destiny as a legacy of tenacity, 
Gm
that's why I'll, Change or die

VERSE 3
Cm
I seen friends disappear now they're a name on a phone
The chat stops here and I'm left all alone
Fm
I don't have time to greave, I got the need to achieve
Gm
I up and leave, I got a thread to weave

Cm
I got sent here to reinvent not be content to create content 
like the people I see on a mental ferment in their one segment 
Fm
what they represent to me is torment
Gm
To me it's simple change or die

VERSE 4
Cm
I move to the vacuum, do what's not getting done
Even if it's thankless and the job's no fun
Fm
Fill the gap at the back just to simplify
Gm
People watch in awe they see how hard I try

Cm
Why'll they're repeating their style, they say they're building a brand
They don't understand that one day soon they'll
Fm                               
Replace you with a fucking AI
Gm
Change or Die!

VERSE 5 
Cm
If art is a wager and every line is your last
You gotta think fast what will make the contrast
Fm
I'm in a battle with history I don't have peers
Gm
A fight for the ages, and I ain't got no fears

Cm
Tell me what's unique with you
Can what you're doing be
Fm                                Gm                  
done by another guy? Change or die



Sunday 2 July 2023

Hollow Bones

CHORDS 
A - E - D - E

CHORUS
Hollow bones
Divining from River Stones
Thriving on
The world contained in a moment of play
And every beings a thought away

Hollow bones
Human-based telephones
All-embraced
Calling all creatures, every race
Tune into your inner space

VERSE
Journeying on a magic trip
Into the underworld
There we met the special ones
Our spirit animals

The ripple effect is playing out
Raising consciousness
Connecting to the source of life
With greater confidence

BRIDGE
And still you try try try

CHORUS

VERSE
Metamorph into alignment
By tapping into tools
Mirroring and taking on
As you journey through the rules

Love and forgiveness both come first
In everything you do
Saying your sorry and ask forgiveness
And they you say thank you

BRIDGE
And still you try try try

CHORUS

MIDDLE/OUTRO? 

Study the well to cure the sick
Is your methodology
Subtly manipulating
Self-talk psychology




LYRICS

Hollow bones
Divining from River Stones
Thriving on
The world contained in a moment of play
And every being's a thought away

Hollow bones
Human-based telephones
All-embraced
Calling all creatures, every race
Tune into your inner space

Journeying on a magic trip
Into the underworld
There we met the special ones
Our spirit animals

The ripple effect is playing out
Raising consciousness
Connecting to the source of life
With greater confidence

And still you try try try

Hollow bones
Divining from River Stones
Thriving on
The world contained in a moment of play
And every being's a thought away

Hollow bones
Human-based telephones
All-embraced
Calling all creatures, every race
Tune into your inner space

Metamorph into alignment
By tapping into tools
Mirroring and taking on
As you journey through the rules

Love and forgiveness both come first
In everything you do
Saying your sorry and ask forgiveness
And they you say thank you

And still you try try try

Hollow bones
Divining from River Stones
Thriving on
The world contained in a moment of play
And every being's a thought away

Hollow bones
Human-based telephones
All-embraced
Calling all creatures, every race
Tune into your inner space

Hollow bones
Divining from River Stones
Thriving on
The world contained in a moment of play
And every being's a thought away

Hollow bones
Hollow bones
Hollow bones




Thursday 22 June 2023

Candy Land

 Mother, father I’ve seen signs
In the symbols of your faith
Gone are days of muscadine
Nightmares follow like a wraith

Tears of sparrows, Brothers blood
Laid a curse on holy ground
Buried boundless in the mud
For the joy of tainted crowns

Go down Moses lead the band
Fill their mouths with desert sand
Milk and honey in their heads
Dreaming of a candy land

Children’s sorrow, hidden well
Drowned out by a gospel song
Trouble hid behind the veil
Lost in plain sight all along

Go down Moses lead the band
Fill their mouths with desert sand
Milk and honey in their heads
Dreaming of a candy land

Milk and honey
Running wild
Hungry mouths are full of sand
Go down Moses, meek and mild
Raise your cane and lead the band
Say farewell to freedom child
Welcome them to
Candy land  

Tuesday 20 June 2023

Rend Your Heart

VERSE
It's not a matter of propriety
If you should do your praying quietly
There's a private sort of piety
In the silence that you find
In a corner of your mind

Might be the God you love is Lord alone
But do you know Him like you know your own
Is it His footstool or is it His throne?
That your life is aiming for
While your knees are on the floor

CHORUS
My dear your soul is a hidden thing
Like a diamond in the coal or a bud before the spring
And what's gonna make you whole is gonna pull you all apart
So don't tear your garments, tear your heart

VERSE
There's no finding any clarity
Through the veil of your prosperity
It's better kindling for Charity
Just to burn up all you know
To just what's real left in the glow

What now seems just like a senseless beast
Is preparation for a wedding feast
Where first come last until the most are least
The beginning and the end
Are both a lover and a friend 

Human human

VERSE
Human human, maldek man
Human enslaved, blind in ignorance
Down down you're In karmic confines
through the realms here In slime of involved ignorance

CHORUS
I implore you now, look upwards
To your higher self - realise divinity
Go on - within, Listen within, 
Be still - be wise, Become a God man

VERSE
Human human, Maldek murderer
Human enslaved, blind in ignorance
Down down you're in karmic confines
through the realms here In slime of involved ignorance

CHORUS
Burn up selfishness in karmic fires
Serve your higher self, serve your brothers
Be brave - in love, live in service
Let go freewill, live in freedom

MIDDLE
Love and service
Burn up karma
Let the light flow
Through your hearts and minds
Be brave - in love, live in service
Let go freewill, live in freedom

CHORUS
Oh mighty creator
Let the light flow
Onto heads and into hearts here
So that they might get

A glimpse

Realise inner self

Divine heritage

 

CHORUS

 

VERSE

 

CHORUS

 

MIDDLE

 

CHORUS

 

VERSE

 

CHORUS

 

MIDDLE

 

CHORUS

 

VERSE

 

CHORUS

 

 

Valley of decision

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom of Heaven lies within

 

 

 

 

 

 

The song “Ä°nsan Ä°nsan” by Fazıl Say featuring Burcu Uyar, Cem Adrian, GĂŒvenç DaÄŸĂŒstĂŒn and Selva Erdener conveys the idea of discovering one’s true self, and the importance of knowing one’s identity; knowing what it means to be human. The lyrics talk about the realization of humanity through a questioning of the words “insan" (person/man) and “can" (soul). It also discusses the idea of faith, the idea that one can find the true essence of humanity within themselves if they look for it. The song is ultimately about the discovery of one’s true self through learning the meaning of basic words, and the importance of faith for self-discovery.

 

Human, human that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a human
Soul, soul that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a soul

Muhiddin says God is almighty,
he appears ready in everything.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

Human, human that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a human
Soul, soul that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a soul

Muhiddin says God is almighty,
he appears ready in everything.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

Human, human that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a human
Soul, soul that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a soul

Muhiddin says God is almighty,
he appears ready in everything.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

The seeker finds it in himself
Those left outside still look for it.

In the souls heart which is,
What is believing now I know.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

Muhiddin says God is almighty,
he appears ready in everything.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

Human, human that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a human
Soul, soul that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a soul

Muhiddin says God is almighty,
he appears ready in everything.
That which is evident, that which is hidden,
That which is an engagement, now I know.

The seeker finds it in himself
Those left outside still look for it.

Human, human that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a human
Soul, soul that they were saying,
Now I know what it have been a soul

 

 

Wednesday 7 June 2023

Afterlife of a painting

Now I'm convinced and I admit that dead is better
Only as long as there's a way to live forever

The choice was clear then as it is now
I walk the path for immortality

I lived bold with elegance and a sense of pride
Then passed away irrelevant and cast aside

Today I'm the beautiful queen you have crowned
Tomorrow I'm another woman drowned

I was the image of perfect grace
Encapsulated by the painter's trace

I keep the paintings in the afterlife
And for the image I paid the price

The people saw themselves in me with fallen grace
Then tore me down relentlessly to my disgrace

Today I'm the beautiful queen you have crowned
Tomorrow I'm another woman drowned

The fruit is gone now, the tree is bare
And though you've seen me, you will not stare

Tuesday 23 May 2023

Comedian

 My neighbor came to my door asking for a half a cup of sorrow

So that we might come to know each other better in the lull 

Between the air raid sirens and I asked her in for tea and then we 

Smiled there in the rubble of what used to be my home 

And sang the only song that really stands up

To the mess that men will make

When they are finished being sweet and gentle boys 

And then they rise up from the ashes of their innocence 

To break the world and then we all sing:


God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh


In Memphis Tennessee there is a window in a basement

Shining green tornado skies down on a bunkbed and a bookshelf

And the girl  who’s down there hiding from her high school full of zombies

While her grandpa’s on the back porch smoking weed and watching

All the skinny squirrels that chase each other up and down the scraggy maples

And if he would only tell her of the lover that he jilted

Then the two of them would understand that they are

Roughly the same person and sing


God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh


Have you ever been so wretched that you sat there with your oatmeal

And your coffee in a Starbucks and you cried alone in public

And then noticed every soul around you humming like an orchestra

Just warming up and then there was the hush before the first note 


God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh

Thursday 27 April 2023

Peace on my mind

I know i am strong With peace by my side The story is power Will truth out in time? This one's for all The shame in our lives I need you to call me by my name I need you to let me be my way The story is power With peace by my side I know I am strong I know i'm alive Time and again Building a bridge Change happens when they hear what we did Build with the pen Building with stone Building with fire Building with bone Burdens are ugly The burden is real I know I am strong I know I will heal I know what I know Change happens this way We work from within It ripples away It ripples away We work from within We all gotta live If you felt under-loved And you're at the edge Call your nephew and niece By the name that they choose Be a sensitive man Put your skill to good use Go write a good book Go write a new song Go practice your love With everyone Make it all real Make it yourself Because you are here And you're nobody else This one's for all The love in your heart I know you are strong As I fall apart' This one's for all With peace by their side With peace in their heart And peace on their mind


Wednesday 26 April 2023

Une ville avec un fleuve enterré

Une ville avec un fleuve enterré

Voilà la ville avec un fleuve enterré
Qui coule sous les pavés
Ciel de plomb
Bas en dessous de la place dorée
Bruxelles des années 80
Ma joie et mes remords

Dans le vidĂ©o bar branchĂ© oĂč
Sans un sou sur la rue
Des superstars inconnues
En longs manteaux noirs
 
Je suis assis sur une rive lointaine
Savourant ce chagrin ancien
Perdu dans la musique
Déformé par la musique
Posant dans le cimetiĂšre
Debout sous la pluie


A city with a buried river
 
Here is the city with a buried river
Which flows under the cobblestones
leaden sky
Down below the golden square
80s Brussels
My joy and my remorse

In the trendy video bar where
Without a penny in the street
Unknown Superstars
In long black coats

I sit on a distant shore
Savoring this ancient sorrow
lost in the music
Distorted by the music
Posing in the cemetery
Standing in the rain 

Tuesday 18 April 2023

Dr Harries



Dr Harries I’d invite you to

Hear a song for you that I’ll sing

Though for real I’m shaking in my shoes

At the thought of you listening


Illuminating strands unseen

You helped to open up my mind

And ruminating on everything

You changed the way I look at life


Dr Harries you’re too cool for school

Letting us consume snacks and wine

As you deftly guide us through and through

Concepts fated to blow our minds


A timeless goat song, a rite of spring

At once the sacred and profane

And in the threshold nothing

Can ever truly be the same


Dr Harries I’m inspired by you

All the things you do to make us see

Just how real this life can be in truth 

Makes me glad it’s them, and not me

Monday 27 March 2023

Recipe for something better


Svavar KnĂștur / Jack Stafford


For Neil and Sarah


VERSE

In a cupboard by the larder

I found an ancient book

With recipes and stories 

And lots of things to cook


So meet me in the kitchen

We’ll brew some nettle tea

Then put on silly aprons

And get busy, you and me.


CHORUS

I’ll meet you in the kitchen

I’ll meet you where you are

We’ll bake something together

Why stop now, we’ve come this far?


VERSE

We’ll start with preparations

And gather what we need.

Once all is on the table,

We’re ready to proceed


A bucket of acceptance

Warmed up by the brew

Sprinkle it with humour 

It’s the start of something new 


CHORUS


VERSE

So, easy on the ego

In fact, just let it be

It does nothing for the flavour

Replace with empathy


Mix up and let it simmer,

Don’t burn and don’t reduce

A heart, all charred and scolded  

Is not of any use


CHORUS


OUTRO:

It’s a journey of perfection

The culinary art

Of baking a confection

To heal the human heart