A haunting and emotional tribute to the victims of 9/11, this song is a poignant reflection on the tragedy that shook the world. With a simple yet powerful melody, the lyrics convey the pain, bravery, and resilience of that fateful day. The song's soaring chorus captures the enduring memories of the event, while the verses and bridge honor the lives lost and the heroes who emerged. A heartfelt and moving ballad, it's a reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from the past.

Please note that this is a sensitive topic, and I've tried to approach it with respect and care.


LYRICS

Verse 1:
In the shadow of the towers high
A day that started like any other sky
But then the world stopped turning round
As flames engulfed the ground

Chorus:
Oh, the memories that refuse to fade
Echoes of a day that will forever be displayed
In my mind, the scenes replay
A tragedy that took so many away

Verse 2:
I remember the faces, the tears, the pain
The voices crying out in vain
The bravery of those who rushed inside
The heroes who gave their lives

Chorus:
Oh, the memories that refuse to fade
Echoes of a day that will forever be displayed
In my mind, the scenes replay
A tragedy that took so many away

Bridge:
Time may heal, but it won't erase
The scars that mark that fateful place
We'll hold on to the love and the light
And keep the memories of that day alive

Chorus:
Oh, the memories that refuse to fade
Echoes of a day that will forever be displayed
In my mind, the scenes replay
A tragedy that took so many away

Outro:
Now the towers are gone, but our hearts remain
With the memories of love, loss, and pain
We'll never forget, we'll always recall
The day that changed us all.

#AokiChallenge #contest 

Echoes of 9/11

💔 They judged our love, doubted our bond, tried to silence our dreams... but we’re still here.
🎙️ "Still Here, Still Us" is a raw, soulful anthem about surviving hate, holding each other close, and rising stronger, together.
🎶 Smooth harmonies, grounded rap, and a touch of sax weave a story of love that won’t break.
🔥 For anyone who’s ever been told they don’t belong, this one’s for you.

#StillHereStillUs #AxisThree #RnB #PopRap #NeoSoul #QueerVoices #PolyLove #UndergroundSoul #LGBTQMusic #EmotionalRap #IndependentArtist #SoundCloudRNB #NewOnSoundCloud

Still Here, Still Us (Axis Three)

This song is a raw and emotional love letter to my younger self, a message of hard-earned wisdom and vulnerable strength. I'm looking back on the struggles and mistakes I made, and I want to tell my younger self to stand strong, to not compromise who you are to fit someone else's idea of what's acceptable. The song is about embracing your true self, your worth, and your voice, and not letting the world dim your light. It's a message of empowerment, of self-love, and of rising above the expectations and judgments of others. I'm urging myself, and anyone who's listening, to be brave, to shine, and to be unapologetically who you are.

*Fun fact: Both the present-day and young Vicky in this painting are based on real photos of me!  You probably recognize the present me, but I thought you all might think it's cool to know that my 5-year-old self is also captured here as well. 👧😍


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
Hey little wildflower, knees all scraped
You dream in thunder, but you're taught to wait
They’ll call you too loud, too much, too free
But don't let the world rewrite your story 

[Pre-Chorus]
I know you wanna run, I know you're scared to fall
But baby, trust your gut—don't listen when they call
You trouble just for shining like the sun 

[Chorus]
Don't be me, don't fold to please
Don’t kiss boys just to feel seen
Don’t hide your light to calm the room
Don’t chase love that makes you bruise 

If I could go back, I’d scream it loud
You’re enough, right now, without the crowd
So don’t be me—be who I couldn’t be 

[Verse 2]
You're gonna wear shame like it's a dress
Swallowing dreams you can't confess
But guilt was never meant for girls like you
You were born with fire, not to be subdued 

[Pre-Chorus]
I know you think it’s love when it hurts the most
But you don’t need to bleed just to feel close
You're worthy even when you walk alone 

[Chorus]
Don't be me, don't fold to please
Don’t kiss boys just to feel seen
Don’t hide your light to calm the room
Don’t chase love that makes you bruise 

If I could go back, I’d scream it loud
You’re enough, right now, without the crowd
So don’t be me—be who I couldn’t be 

[Verse 3]
You're gonna dance with all your fears
Fall apart for all the wrong careers
But keep your heart, don’t sell it cheap
And never trade your voice for sleep 

[Bridge]
Tattoo your truth on every scar
You’re not broken—just battle-marked
The world’s gonna try to shrink your flame
But baby, rise and burn the same 

[Chorus]
Don't be me, don't fold to please
Don’t kiss boys just to feel seen
Don’t hide your light to calm the room
Don’t chase love that makes you bruise 

If I could go back, I’d scream it loud
You’re enough, right now, without the crowd
So don’t be me—be who I couldn’t be 

[Chorus]
Don’t be me, don’t bend and break
Don’t give your magic for their sake
You’re already gold beneath the skin
Let the girl you are begin again 

[Outro]
So dance, little wildflower—dance and scream
Be the girl I lost in chasing dreams
Don’t be me
Don’t be me

Don’t Be Me

This song is for anyone who’s ever had an ex try to convince them they couldn’t survive without them. It’s my story from a long-ago relationship—but even more, it’s for every person who’s ever been told they’d be nothing after a breakup. It’s about finding the strength they never wanted you to have, turning their doubt into your drive, and rising higher than they ever imagined. Every word is both a battle cry and a celebration—a reminder that you can walk away, rebuild, and come back stronger, wiser, and unshakably free.


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
Now that you're out of my life
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without ya
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without ya
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without ya
I laugh harder 

[Verse 2]
You thought I wouldn't grow without ya
Now I'm wiser
You thought that I'd be helpless without ya
But I'm smarter
You thought that I'd be stressed without ya
But I'm chillin'
You thought I wouldn't sell without ya
Sold nine million 

[Chorus]
I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna work harder
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it
I will survive, keep on survivin’ 

[Bridge]
Thought I would crumble, thought I would fall
But look at me now, I’m standing tall
Your doubt was the fire that lit up my soul
Now I’m in control, I’m in control 

[Verse 1]
Now that you're out of my life
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without ya
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without ya
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without ya
I laugh harder 

[Verse 2]
You thought I wouldn't grow without ya
Now I'm wiser
You thought that I'd be helpless without ya
But I'm smarter
You thought that I'd be stressed without ya
But I'm chillin'
You thought I wouldn't sell without ya
Sold nine million 

[Chorus]
I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna work harder
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it
I will survive, keep on survivin’ 

[Outro]
Stronger than ever, I rise from the pain
Dancing in freedom, I’ve broken the chains
You’ll remember my name when the night turns to day
I survived, and I’m here to stay 

[Chorus]
I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna work harder
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it
I will survive, keep on survivin’ 

[Bridge]
Thought I would crumble, thought I would fall
But look at me now, I’m standing tall
Your doubt was the fire that lit up my soul
Now I’m in control, I’m in control 

[Verse 1]
Now that you're out of my life
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without ya
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without ya
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without ya
I laugh harder 

[Chorus]
I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna work harder
I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it
I will survive, keep on survivin’ 

[Outro]
Stronger than ever, I rise from the pain
Dancing in freedom, I’ve broken the chains
You’ll remember my name when the night turns to day
I survived, and I’m here to stay


Survivor

This song is my rallying cry to you, my listeners. It’s born out of frustration with the silence, the lies, and the systems that try to crush truth under power. For me, it’s about naming what’s been stolen — justice, honesty, courage — and reclaiming it with our own voices, our own unity.

When I say “we are the plan”, I’m not talking about some hidden strategy from above. I’m talking about us — people who refuse to stay quiet, who see the cracks in the system and choose to stand in them, shining light. The verses dig into the Trump administration's corruption and manipulation we all feel weighing down on us, but the choruses flip that weight into fire, a reminder that we hold the strength to fight back.

At its heart, this is a song about transformation: turning silence into voice, pain into power, and despair into vision. It’s about believing in a future where truth, science, and compassion rebuild what’s been broken. The pounding energy of dubstep and electro carries that urgency — not just a beat to move to, but a pulse to rise with.

So when you hear it, I want you to feel part of something bigger — not just a listener, but a voice in the plan.


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
Six months of silence, six months of pain
Truth buried under the weight of their reign
They poison the airwaves, rewrite the laws
While justice bleeds out in the name of their cause 

[Pre-Chorus 1]
But we’ve got fire buried deep in our hands
Nine steps to rise, nine lines in the sand 

[Chorus 1]
We are the plan, we are the light
We are the ones who won't run from the fight
Truth in the sunlight, breaking the ban
No more waiting — we are the plan 

We are the voice, we are the flame
We call out every coward by name
The cracks in the system, that’s where we stand
No more illusions — we are the plan 

[Verse 2]
They gerrymander futures, disappear the brave
Shout “law and order” as they dig the grave
But we see the data, we track the lies
Every stolen moment archived in the skies 

[Pre-Chorus 2]
They may have the money, the weapons, the spin
But we’ve got the numbers, and we’re coming in 

[Chorus 2]
We are the plan, we are the light
We are the ones who won't run from the fight
Truth in the sunlight, breaking the ban
No more waiting — we are the plan 

We are the voice, we are the flame
We call out every coward by name
The cracks in the system, that’s where we stand
No more illusions — we are the plan 

[Verse 3]
Give us a vision, a future to build
Homes that are warm, and hearts that are filled
The science restored, the people believed
A nation reborn from the ash of the thieves 

[Bridge]
So join the court, raise the proof
Shine the light and live the truth
Hold the line and take the stand
No one else — we are the plan 

[Chorus 3]
We are the plan, we are the light
We are the ones who won't run from the fight
Truth in the sunlight, breaking the ban
No more waiting — we are the plan 

We are the voice, we are the flame
We call out every coward by name
The cracks in the system, that’s where we stand
No more illusions — we are the plan 

[Final Chorus]
We are the plan, not just a demand
Nine steps forward, one voice, one stand
Blueprints rising from a broken land
Never again — we are the plan 

[Outro]
They stole the power. 
We took the truth.
They had a scheme. 
But we had a plan.
And we still do.

We Are the Plan

This song is my celebration of Labor Day — not just the holiday, but the spirit of everyone who works hard and keeps life moving. It’s about shaking off the stress of the week, kicking back barefoot with friends, firing up the grill, and dancing under the lights. I wanted it to feel like a summer party where the music’s loud, the coolers are full, and the fireworks remind us of everything we’ve built together. It’s joyful, it’s grateful, and it’s a toast to workers everywhere — because we earned this moment to laugh, to dance, and to play.


LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
The grill is hot, the music’s loud,
We’re dancing barefoot in the crowd.
Red, white, and blue lights shine so bright,
We worked all week, now we own the night! 

[Pre-Chorus]
Kick back, relax, let worries fade,
We earned this break, oh we got it made!

[Chorus]
Raise a glass to Labor Day!
Celebrate the workers, shout hooray!
We built this life in every way,
Now it’s time to laugh, to dance, to play.

[Verse 2]
Coolers packed, the speakers blast,
We waited long, the weekend’s here at last.
From 9 to 5 we grind and sweat,
But this is the best weekend yet!

[Pre-Chorus]
Kick back, relax, let worries fade,
We earned this break, oh we got it made!

[Chorus]
Raise a glass to Labor Day!
Celebrate the workers, shout hooray!
We built this life in every way,
Now it’s time to laugh, to dance, to play.

[Verse 3]
Fireworks lighting up the sky,
We clap, we cheer, the sparks fly high.
A nation built on dreams and hands,
Together stronger, we all stand.

[Bridge]
Here’s to the builders, the teachers, the crews,
The dreamers, the doers, the makers of news.
From sunrise to sunset, we’ve carried the load—
Now we dance, dance, down freedom’s road!

[Chorus]
Raise a glass to Labor Day!
Celebrate the workers, shout hooray!
We built this life in every way,
Now it’s time to laugh, to dance, to play.

[Chorus]
Raise a glass to Labor Day!
Celebrate the workers, shout hooray!
We built this life in every way,
Now it’s time to laugh, to dance, to play.

[Chorus]
Raise a glass to Labor Day!
Celebrate the workers, shout hooray!
We built this life in every way,
Now it’s time to laugh, to dance, to play.

[Outro]
So here’s to us, both near and far,
We shine together, just who we are.
Labor strong, we’ll always say,
Forever cheers to Labor Day! 🎉

Raise a Glass to Labor Day

This song is all about letting loose after a long week of hard work. It mixes funky grooves with a reggae bounce to capture the joy of Labor Day — the cookouts, the neighbors hanging out, the kids running free, and the music bringing everyone together. It’s my way of toasting all the workers who give their best every day, and reminding us that we’ve earned the right to celebrate, dance, and just be free. It’s playful, it’s soulful, and it’s meant to get you moving while we raise a glass to the holiday.


LYRICS: 

[Intro]
“Ohhh yeah… It’s Labor Day!”

[Verse 1]
Worked all week with my hands in the clay,
Nine-to-five grindin’ every single day.
But now the sun is high, the grill is on,
We got the rhythm and the party’s strong!

[Pre-Chorus]
So move your feet, don’t be shy,
Raise your cup up to the sky!

[Chorus]
Work all week, but we party today,
Labor strong, let the music play!
Feel that funk and the reggae sway,
We’re gonna dance, dance — it’s Labor Day!

[Verse 2]
Neighbors jammin’, kids run free,
Reggae beat bouncin’ in the summer breeze.
From city streets to the country fields,
We built this life with sweat and steel!

[Pre-Chorus]
So shake it loose, don’t delay,
Sing it loud — it’s Labor Day!

[Chorus]
Work all week, but we party today,
Labor strong, let the music play!
Feel that funk and the reggae sway,
We’re gonna dance, dance — it’s Labor Day!

[Bridge]
“Who works hard?” (WE WORK HARD!)
“Who gets paid?” (WE GET PAID!)
“Who’s gonna party?” (EVERYBODY!)
“This is Labor Day!”

[Chorus]
Work all week, but we party today,
Labor strong, let the music play!
Feel that funk and the reggae sway,
We’re gonna dance, dance — it’s Labor Day!

[Outro]
(Everybody move, everybody sway,
Hands up high for Labor Day!)
“Yeahhh… we work, we play… It’s Labor Day!”


Work All Week, Party Today

“This is Labor Day!” is a high-energy 70’s-inspired rock anthem that celebrates the spirit of workers everywhere. With roaring guitar riffs, soaring organ, and a live jam-band feel, it captures the grit, pride, and joy of a holiday built for the people. Almost five minutes of pure rock ‘n’ roll freedom — fireworks, sparklers, and all. Turn it up loud, raise a glass, and sing it out: This is Labor Day!


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
Well the week was long, the road was rough,
Hands got dirty, the work was tough.
Steel and sweat built the world we know,
Now it’s time to let it go. 

[Verse 2]
Fires are burnin’, grills are hot,
We take our rest, we give all we got.
Raise your voice, let the music play,
It’s the working man’s holiday! 

[Chorus]
Raise your hands, raise your glass,
Sing it loud, make it last!
One more night, we’re free to stay,
This is Labor Day! 

[Verse 3]
The teacher, the driver, the factory line,
The farmer out working, the dream we define.
Every brick, every bridge, every mile of clay,
Built by calloused hands each day. 

[Bridge]
From sunrise to the setting sun,
We’ve been working since day one.
But tonight, the load’s put down,
We’re kings and queens of this hometown. 

[Chorus]
Raise your hands, raise your glass,
Sing it loud, make it last!
One more night, we’re free to stay,
This is Labor Day! 

[Verse 4]
Let the fireworks paint the sky,
We worked to live, now we live to fly.
Brothers and sisters, shout hooray,
We’re together this Labor Day! 

[Final Chorus]
Raise your hands, raise your glass,
Sing it loud, make it last!
One more night, we’re free to stay,
This is Labor Day! 

[Outro]
“La-la-la, Labor Day” 
“La-la-la, Labor Day” 
“La-la-la, la, la, Labor Day” 

This is Labor Day!

This song is my way of riding through the darker highways of my past and present—the parts of me that carry scars, secrets, and regrets I don’t always let the world see. It’s about the weight we carry when pain turns inward, when mistakes follow us like shadows, and when we feel like redemption is always just out of reach. 

The line “hurt people hurt people” became the heart of this song. I borrowed it directly from Melissa Etheridge’s powerful documentary I’m Not Broken and her song “A Burning Woman.” When Melissa sang those words for the women she met and captured their stories with such compassion, it cut straight into me. It was like she gave language to something I’d always known but never had the courage to admit out loud—that I’ve been both the one hurt and the one doing the hurting. 

Watching I’m Not Broken was an emotional punch. I laughed, I cried, and I saw myself in those women—broken, self-medicating, sometimes reckless, sometimes just trying to survive. In my younger years, I could have easily ended up where they did, and Melissa’s message of compassion and healing reminded me that broken doesn’t have to mean lost. 

So this song isn’t just about pain—it’s about honesty. It’s about facing the ghosts that ride beside you, owning the mistakes carved into your skin, and still searching for some kind of mercy down the road. It’s my confession, but also my reminder that we’re all fragile, we’re all human, and music has the power to shine a light even on the darkest highway.


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
I got ashes in my pocket, gasoline in my veins
Running from a memory I can’t outrun or explain
The night is heavy silence, the sky is painted low
And every mile behind me still whispers what I owe 

[Pre-Chorus]
Hurt people, hurt people, I’ve been both in my time
Cut my hands on the edges of my own crooked lines 

[Chorus]
I’d rather crash and burn than fade out slow
Carrying the weight of things I’ll never show
Father forgive me, for the secrets I keep
Mother, don’t cry when I sink too deep
Hurt people, hurt people—that’s all I know
On this shadow highway where the black crows go 

[Verse 2]
I’ve got a bottle full of thunder, and a fistful of pain
The ghosts ride beside me, calling out my name
Every wrong turn’s a marker carved into my skin
I keep losing the battle I was never meant to win 

[Pre-Chorus]
Hurt people, hurt people, I’ve been both in my time
Cut my hands on the edges of my own crooked lines 

[Chorus]
I’d rather crash and burn than fade out slow
Carrying the weight of things I’ll never show
Father forgive me, for the secrets I keep
Mother, don’t cry when I sink too deep
Hurt people, hurt people—that’s all I know
On this shadow highway where the black crows go 

[Verse 3]
It’s pretty when you’re fearless, it’s bitter when you’re old
The truth is just a fever you can’t ever hold
Am I closer to redemption, or just further gone?
The road keeps on rolling, but I can’t ride it long 

[Bridge]
The signs blur together, the nights turn to rust
I’m a sinner on the run, and I’ve broken what I trust
But somewhere in the distance, maybe mercy will glow
Till then I ride haunted by the shadow of a crow 

[Chorus X2]
I’d rather crash and burn than fade out slow
Carrying the weight of things I’ll never show
Father forgive me, for the secrets I keep
Mother, don’t cry when I sink too deep
Hurt people, hurt people—that’s all I know
On this shadow highway where the black crows go 

[Outro]
So if I vanish in the night, don’t follow me down
I was born for the silence, not a hero’s crown
Hurt people, hurt people, and that’s how it ends
With a crow at my shoulder and no chance to mend

Shadow Highway

I saw this post on Facebook from my niece Tatiana, and it sure is different from what I was taught in school. Remember the films with the fastest sperm racing to the egg? LOL Then I thought it would make a beautiful song...

When it comes to conception, the story of life is far more fascinating than most realize. Contrary to popular belief, life isn’t about speed. The fastest sperm doesn’t automatically reach the egg first. In fact, fertilization is a complex process where millions of sperm race toward a single egg, but only one is selected.

The egg is far from passive. It actively participates in this journey, sending chemical signals that guide certain sperm while blocking others. This means that the sperm that ultimately fertilizes the egg is not necessarily the strongest or fastest but the one chosen through a remarkable biological process. Your very existence is a testament to this incredible natural selection and the precise orchestration of life. Every human being alive today is the result of billions of microscopic chances aligning perfectly.

The egg’s ability to select the sperm it allows to enter ensures genetic diversity and contributes to a stronger species over time. Thinking about it this way, life is not random. You didn’t simply win a race; you were chosen. Your journey began with a silent miracle happening on a microscopic scale, a story of selection, survival, and destiny that shapes who you are. This is the ultimate reminder of how unique and precious every life is from the very first moment.

This song, “Chosen from the Start,” was inspired by that truth — that none of us are here by accident. We are all living proof of a miracle that began long before our first breath.


LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
In the silent ocean, millions collide,
Dreams in motion, carried by tide.
Not the fastest, not the fierce,
But destiny whispers, drawing us near.

[Pre-Chorus]
It’s more than chance, more than speed,
A hidden voice, a secret need.

[Chorus]
You were chosen from the start,
Written deep inside the stars.
Every breath, a sacred spark,
You’re the miracle you are.
Yes, the miracle you are.

[Verse 2]
The egg is waiting, signals ignite,
Guiding the journey, guarding the light.
A perfect meeting, chemistry sings,
Life begins on invisible wings.

[Pre-Chorus]
It’s more than chance, more than speed,
A hidden voice, a secret need.

[Chorus]
You were chosen from the start,
Written deep inside the stars.
Every breath, a sacred spark,
You’re the miracle you are.
Yes, the miracle you are.

[Verse 3]
Threads of billions, woven in time,
Every existence, rare and divine.
Not a race won, but a story told,
Of love and mystery, brighter than gold.

[Bridge]
Not random, not lost, not just by design,
A miracle written in every line.
Through endless chances, you broke apart,
To find your way into a beating heart.

[Chorus]
You were chosen from the start,
Written deep inside the stars.
Every breath, a sacred spark,
You’re the miracle you are.

[Chorus]
You were chosen from the start,
Written deep inside the stars.
Every breath, a sacred spark,
You’re the miracle you are.

[Chorus]
You were chosen from the start,
Written deep inside the stars.
Every breath, a sacred spark,
You’re the miracle you are.

[Outro]
Every life, a destined flame,
Never forgotten, never the same.
Your first breath was proof enough—
Chosen, precious, strong with love.

Chosen from the Start

03 Magic Part 3

STILL AS. HOBBY. AFTER 15 YEARS
AKA. NAMES  OVER THE  YEARS  "WERDNA",  "DMF", "ANDREW BUSHELL", "MAJESTIC SKY", "DREWMASTERFLASH",  "ANDY BUSHELL",  &. "NO7", "Andy Bushell Music"

TO.   ALL THOSE.  WHO.  KNOW  ME.  PEACE. TO. EVERYONE 
SOUND CLOUD  IS. A SPECIAL  PLACE
ABSOLUTELY ANTI-WAR  STOP KILLING  PEOPLE  LOVE. IS MORE THAN  YOUR CHILDISH WARS  BAN  THE BOMBS &. START LOOKING FOR  TO SOLVE  EARTH REAL  TREASURES, DO.  I.  HAVE  TO SPELL. IT OUT ? OR DO. YOU  NOT   LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE  EARTH CAN NOT HEAL.  WITHOUT PROPER PEOPLE  WHO LOVE. OUR HOME.

03 Magic Part 3

Andy Bushell

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