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 

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 

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

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 

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

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

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  

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

A
Human human, wallow in fear
Human this fear's Spirit killing 
Down down deluge, soul desert thee
Put down the fear, Spirit's willing

B 
Turn back to the source, the almighty
Take the smallest step - take the hardest
Go on, within. Listen within, 

Be still. Within. Spirit's willing

 

C
Can you see there? Look at the one
Burn up thee, torch your own karma
Channelling come feel it, the one

In touch within, Spirit's willing

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

CHORUS

God is everywhere

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 “İnsan İnsan” by Fazıl Say featuring Burcu Uyar, Cem Adrian, Güvenç Dağüstün 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

 

 

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

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

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

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 vidéo bar branché où
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 cimetière
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 

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

Recipe for something better

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.

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?

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

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?

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

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?

It’s a journey of perfection
The culinary art
Of baking a confection
To heal the human heart

Public land

We grew up on a dead end street out on the edge of town 

We didn’t have much land to call our own 

We had big dreams of the mountains and tall pines 

We needed those wild places we could feel it in our bones 

Every weekend Dad would take us to the forest to roam around 

We learned to hunt and fish just like he had planned 

It was as much a part of us as that house that’s we called home 

I thank god every time I step on public land 

Those hills were like a classroom they taught me all I know 

It wasn’t hard for me to understand 

Leave it better than you found it cause we only get one chance 

We have to be good stewards of the land 

Every weekend Dad would take us to the forest to roam around 

We learned to hunt and fish just like he had planned 

It was as much a part of us as that house that’s we called home 

I thank god every time I step on public land 

Meaning in the Moment

Everything you see is impermanent
Every last star in the firmament
Everyone you love or you ever met
Every single thought running through your head

Every setting sun, every morning mist
All the works of art and the sciences
Every “out of body” experience
Everything you see is impermanent

Try, try, try not to let it throw you
You know you can find
Meaning in the moment
Meaning in the moment

Every sweet song that you ever heard
Each turn of phrase, every perfect word
Every back corner of consciousness
Every single thing is impermanent

Try, try, try not to let it throw you
You know you can find
Meaning in the moment
Meaning in the moment

No one will remember us
When we return to sand and dust
But there’s one thing that you can trust
When you feel all alone

Meaning in the moment