20 - Arko - Tell the Truth (mastered)

You'd walk past it
Most do
Paint chipped like bad decisions
One leg shorter than it used to be
Still, it waits
Under that half-dead tree

Enters girl, maybe seventeen?
Big sunglasses, bigger bubble tea
and a mop of joy named Pickle
Yes, she named the dog Pickle

She sits, cross-legged, like a question mark
tells Pickle he's a star
Snaps twenty-five angles
of one floppy ear and one historic bench

Caption?
"Look who found the philosopher's throne
😊😊😂❤️
#deepbarkthoughts"

Pickle pees on the tree
Bench approves
Tree does not comment

Then: a man and a woman
The date
They bring mulled wine in a thermos
Sit sideways, legs tangled like headphones in a drawer
He says something about stars
She says something about Lady Gaga
They kiss somewhere in the middle

A busker walks by singing Wonderwall
They tip him a sandwich and a smile
Bench approves
God of music sighs

Third act: Old man
Corduroy jacket in summer
Hands folded like quiet apologies

He doesn't speak
Doesn't blink much either
Just feeds pigeons one crumb at a time
like each one is a password to another day

He might be waiting
Or forgetting
Or remembering wrong on purpose

Bench knows his name
And age
And weight
And history
Doesn't say it out loud
Not polite

Pickle runs past again
He is twice as large now
The couple, now maybe married, maybe not, walk by
With a stroller

The old man doesn't come anymore
The bench doesn't judge
It just
Is there

The Bench

I saw them argue over coffee
Steam forming secret shapes
She laughed at something small and lofty
He reached, then fixed his sleeve in haste

Rain dropped one perfect tear
I almost caught it in my case
Their shadows leaned until they neared
A crime they forgot to embrace

He looked right at her and said
"That's not really you"
And God help her
She hoped it was true

He'd chased the edge of every map
Collecting stamps, abandoned rooms
But she smiled
And just like that
The ground felt...
Nice
It bloomed

'Cause happiness isn't happiness
Without a violin-playing goat
Without something real and tender
No one can name or quote
It's a string fraying mid-song
A bow that forgets its place
A note that stays too long
And still finds its grace

The wind heckled
Coins chimed in the case
He looked ridiculous 
In the shivering rain
And she knew
She wanted ridiculous too

I kept the melody clean and slow
They kept their tempers, let them strain
They learned to bruise without retreating
I learned their silence had a grain

'Cause happiness isn't happiness
Without the risk of being wrong
Without someone who keeps your silence
Like it belongs in the song
It's a vow spoken sideways
A chord that won't resolve
A goat still bowing at midnight
While the rest of the world dissolves

I only play on Tuesdays
And sometimes Wednesdays too
Tonight, I played for them
Tonight... they nearly knew

The Goat Plays On

Good Damn

This tune was released by Adele in 2011. Performed by me on my Yamaha PSR-SX900 arranger keyboard. Can you "Name That Tune"?

Name That Tune #587 by Adele

Oleander - Fleursonseaux
All rights reserved - © Copyright

Oleander

😆(Preface ..this is our 100th track on SoundCloud)🫨
OK, we’re back, ready to get hated even more than before, especially from those who have no sense of humor!😆
🚀 Wanna see Uranus? 🌌
No, not what you're thinking… or maybe yes 😏
A cosmic comedy with a twist: William Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781, was also a musician - so we’re in good company. The Beating Edge shares his love for both music and the stars. Dropping late August, this track is perfect for summer nights under the stars (and cracking a few cosmic jokes). Look up… and remember: it's just a planet!
💫 Poetic license alert: we know Uranus isn’t actually shining bright in the night sky, it’s almost invisible to the naked eye. To spot it, you’d need binoculars or a small telescope, and a really dark location, definitely not in the city.
💫 Bonus: you don’t need a telescope to enjoy it, but laughing is mandatory!
Have fun and maybe we’ll talk about Ur-anus 😂 in the comments!
Love you all!! 🫶

At the moment, this track is exclusively available on SoundCloud.
Released on August 22, 2025.
©2025 Beating Edge

Lyrics:

Wanna see Uranus?

Hey, wanna come and check out Uranus?
It’s shining bright, you gotta see this
Everyone’s got their cameras out
Capturing something way too lit to miss

Wait, what? Did you just say Uranus?
Are you serious? Or messing with me?
My... what now? Can you say it again?
Is this some kind of cosmic comedy?

No, no, no, it’s the planet, man
Out there spinning in the endless span
Not what you’re thinking, don’t be shy
Just look up at the summer sky

Wanna see Uranus? It’s out tonight
Glowing in the dark, such a crazy sight
Not what you thought, don’t lose your cool
It’s just a planet, no need to drool

My... anus? Really? That’s the joke?
I thought you said something broke
But now I’m laughing, can’t deny
Uranus rules the cosmic sky

Wanna see Uranus? Come along
It’s more than just a silly song
Look up high, don’t be confused
It’s the planet, dude, not your… you know

Wanna see Uranus? Come along
It’s more than just a silly song
Look up high, don’t be confused
It’s the planet, dude, not your… you know!

Uranus

Just some fun vibes. Be careful it's addictive 🤩💯👊🏾🫵🏾

So into you

I Believe

This has the second-most drafts of anything I've done (eight) behind William Tell Should've Known, recently with 12 drafts.

The Bench

Axioms of Mediocrity