This EPx7 flows from Blues to Indie to Dub to Drum Mantra, and it's about a song I created yesterday... after popping up on Facebook (as I very rarely do) and writing a heartfelt plea in a TL;DR kind of comment, in response to an old friend I respect very, very much, who is a young, brilliant disabilities attorney, hard-working diversity advocate, music production teacher and hella fun and stylish DJ, and as queer as bright and brave <3

+++ here's the comment:

This is not about you, or me, it's about documenting the truth. It's about the integrity of American history. It's about exposing the abject lies and cruel actions of an authoritarian regime with no conscience nor accountability. It's about helping each others understand what(tf) is actually happening, ever since a convicted rap!st and recidivist fraudster felon "rigged the elections" (sic). It's about helping each other fight greed and corruption. It's about educating the people, equally. It's about justice, and the importance of transparency. It's about honesty. It's about being brave, and discussing the reality of fasc!sm in this country. 
It's about being kind, and that means being clear. Speaking up is the very least you, and I, and everyone MUST do.
Please, please, DO speak up! Why Not? We must, while we still can… Mass-incarcerations haven't started yet (ha hahem). 

+++ @bananasutra lyrics:

[Verse 1]
It’s not ’bout me, it’s not ’bout you,
It’s about the wounds that never heal through.
It’s about pages torn from time,
Truth in exile, buried in rhyme.

It’s about the silence, cold and wide,
Where history’s ghosts are forced to hide.
Not for glory, not for clout —
Just for saying what it’s about.

[Chorus]
What it’s about…
Is the truth they drown.
What it’s about…
Is the breaking down.
What it’s about…
Is the cries unheard.
What it’s about…
Is the weight of words.

[Verse 2]
It’s about a felon crowned in gold,
Feeding lies like they were soul.
It’s about greed with a mask of grace,
Selling fear to stay in place.

It’s about schools that never taught,
And cages built from every “ought.”
It’s about naming what they shout,
Then whispering: that’s what it’s about…

[Chorus]
What it’s about…
Is the ones they chain.
What it’s about…
Is the hidden pain.
What it’s about…
Is the smoke, the screen.
What it’s about…
Is what freedom means.

[Bridge]
It’s about the cost… of keeping still.
The hush that bends a nation’s will.
It’s not a choice to speak or not —
It’s breath, it’s blood, it’s all we’ve got.

They laugh and call it overblown,
While prisons fill and hearts turn stone.
But kindness cuts the deepest way —
And truth, my love, don’t look away.

[Final Chorus]
What it’s about…
Is the love that stays.
What it’s about…
Is the darker days.
What it’s about…
Is the voice inside.
What it’s about…
Is the will to rise.

[Outro]
So please…
Speak while we still can…
Before the silence
Takes the land.

That’s what it’s about.
Yes…
That’s what it’s about.

[end]



[01] What It's About - BLUESsutra


Because Gladys is my middle name, and "Sonder" is a magic feeling of knowing wonder--when each stranger you see is the main character of their own life, and you are merely an extra in their story... The word was coined by author John Koenig and first appeared in "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows", a project that creates names for emotions that don't have one  🕳️🐇 

Gipsy Burlesque Blues Dream @bananasutra EPx14 #lyrics (variations):

[Intro – Down the Rabbit Dream] 
The curtain breathes smoke, the dream’s out of tune, Gladys sings sideways beneath the fool moon. Mister White Rabbit spins clocks out of thin sand, time melts in mirrors all over the land. The Chessshire Cat strips in a glitch ’n bitch show, Whispering, “Truth’s just a pathetic trick, meow.” And Gladys keeps falling, big heart in her hand, into the bassline bloom of Sonderland. 

[Chorus 1 – The Dance of Sonder] 
Gladys in Sonderland, dance out of line, chase that White Rabbit with a glass of wine. Truth traded by cocky kings and sons, Love is fool, woke… screw their whacky plans. Oh laugh, my loves, the joke’s still grand, we all fall slow in Sonderland.

[Bridge – The Burlesque of Empathy] 
Contempt kills the courage meant to soothe, Fear builds a cage on a stage, proof. The Cat draws claws in nonsense sand, the Queen flips hearts like contraband. And Sonder sighs, and Gladys sings with the band: Love that sees, not love that blinds, unchains the demons from our minds.

[Final Chorus – The Carnival Crescendo] Gladys in Sonderland, lift up your mask, toast to the fools who dare to ask. White Rabbit’s gone, the clocks are banned, we measure love by gone grains of sand. So laugh, my loves, the truth’s divine, the heart’s a door, swing open wide. Gladys in Sonderland, you understand: we fall to rise, we blend to mend.

[Outro – The Curtain Closes, or Maybe Opens] The Queen wipes the blood from her wonder lips. The Cat hums an old stolen hymn, its grin dissolving from outside to in. Gladys stands amazed, champagne in her hand, and bows to the holes of Sonderland. She laughs… It’s absurd, but it’s hers, this plan, to lose herself just to understand… “Every fall’s a beginning; Blessed be holes, Son.” 

🥂 🎶


[11] Gladys in Sonderland • SHOWsutra Psychedelic Gipsy Accordion Circus Waltz BURLESQUE

Ce qui est marrant c'est que salaud au féminin, en français, c'est pas salaude! Ha, #justsayin
Chanson inspirée par un vrai livre recent intitulé "Le Temp Des Salauds" 🍟🤓🤌

@bananasutra lyrics (variantions):

[Intro]
Bienvenue, mesdames et messieurs, 
Au grand bal des vertus douteuses. 
Ici, les salauds dansent heureux, 
Les cœurs vendus, les mains soyeuses. 
Leur morale est bien repassée, 
Mais toujours un peu tachée.

[Refrain]
C’est le temps, le temps des salauds,
Des faux héros, des pantins d’ego, 
Qui dansent, qui dansent sous les drapeaux, 
Au bal, au bal des salauds! 
C’est le temps des salauds, oh-oh, 
Des beaux parleurs, des faux normaux, 
Qui rient très haut… pour mentir plus beau.

[Couplet 1 – Le délire raisonnable]
Le nouveau réalisme, c’est l’art des salauds, 
Un délirium sobre, cynisme en costard chaud. 
Ils vendent la peur sous cellophane, 
Et t’appellent “extrême” si tu dis “humain”. 
Ils posent des questions de sages, 
Mais répondent comme des mirages sauvages. 
Ils jouent à la raison...  mais raisonnent faux, 
C’est la saison, la moisson des salauds.

[Refrain]
C’est le temps, le temps des salauds, 
Des faux héros, des cerveaux trop clos, 
Qui dansent, qui dansent sous les drapeaux, 
Au bal, au bal des salauds!

[Couplet 2 – Les alliances du vide]
Trois types de salauds, faut l’dire clair: 
Les politiques, les patrons, les faiseurs d’prières. 
Ceux qui savent mais trahissent, 
Eux les lâches, qui profitent. 
Le p’tit Jupiter, Machiavel au moral, 
Fait valser les foules dans son bal libéral. 
Il pactise, il nuance, tord le vrai, 
Pour qu’le faux paraisse sensé.

[Pont]
Forts avec les faibles, faibles avec les forts, 
Ils vendent la paix pendant qu’ils signent la mort. 
“Bon courage”, qu’ils disent, le sourire faux, 
Mais c’est un orage… on danse, salauds?

[Couplet 3 – Les fous et les faux]
Les fous aboient, les salauds cadrent, 
Et les cons signent tous les contrats. 
Les uns hurlent, les autres calculent, 
Et les lucides… se taisent, s’annulent. 
Les idoles changent, les valeurs se vendent, 
La foule like, la vérité s’attend. 
Les héros sont devenus salauds, 
Nous, figurants d’un online show.

[Refrain – Final]
C’est le temps, le temps des salauds, 
Des faux héros, des gros egos, 
Qui valsent au rythme des fiascos, 
Au bal, au bal des salauds! (oh-oh) 
Au bal… des salauds.

[Outro]
J’en ai aimé, des salauds, c’est vrai, 
Leurs mots brillants, leurs airs parfaits. 
Mais minuit sonne, le bal s’oublie, 
Ces salauds-là ne dansent plus… avec ma vie.


[04] Le Bal Des Salauds • French BLOWsutra Oh Boy Accordion Circus BURLESQUE

Overdue vintage bluesy jazz release of Vol. 02 of "Ain't Doing Bad Doing Nothing" 
#publicdomain lyrics (to die for:)
⭐︎ ⭐︎ ⭐︎ 
Ain't doin' bad doin' nothin',
Just settin' round all day.
I'm tellin' you the less I do,
The more things come my way.

When I get up in the mornin',
Thinkin' o' the day ahead
Makes me so downright weary,
I go right back to my bed!

Why should I ever worry?
It's such a losin' game!
Why should I move when I can prove
I get there just the same?

Ain't doin' bad doin' nothin',
Somehow it seems to pay!
Ain't doin' bad doin' nothin',
Just settin' round all day.

Why should you ever worry?
It's such a losin' game!
Why should you move when you can prove
You get there just the same?

Folks look at me and say, "Be something!
How much more would it take?".
Ain't doin' bad doin' nothin',
Just settin' round all day,
Just settin' and rockin' all day!

[fade to end] [end]
[Public domain lyrics]

'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
That she should care for me!
'S awful nice! 'S paradise!
'S what I love to see!

She's made my life so glamorous
You can't blame me for feeling amorous
Oh! 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
That you should care for me!


[01] Ain't Doing Bad Doing Nothing ⭐︎ Public Domain Lyrics Fun ⭐︎ FLOWsutra Wet JAZZ

[03] Ain't Doing Bad Doing Nothing ⭐︎ Public Domain Lyrics Fun ⭐︎ FLOWsutra Wet JAZZ

Two sister-songs, with lyrics directly inspired by Dr. Ramani’s video “Narcissism: The Secondhand Smoke of Mental Health” (on YouTube)...

Why “secondhand smoke”?
* Even if you don’t have NPD, being around narcissists makes you sick.
* The harm spreads outward: family, partners, coworkers absorb the toxicity. 

Five recognizable patterns:
1. Malignant/toxic narcissist – sadistic, manipulative, close to psychopathy.
2. Grandiose narcissist – bragging, flashy, entitled.
3. Covert/vulnerable narcissist – “woe is me,” hyper-sensitive, passive-aggressive.
4. Communal narcissist – the #hashtag-do-gooder; public philanthropy, private cruelty.
5. Benign narcissist – vapid, superficial, not as cruel, but emotionally shallow.

Seven diagnostic hallmarks (the “big seven”):
1. Lack of empathy (the bedrock).
2. Entitlement.
3. Grandiosity.
4. Superficiality.
5. Chronic need for admiration/validation.
6. Rage when threatened.
7. Arrogance (dismissiveness, devaluation).

Other patterns:
- Gaslighting, projection, exploitation, jealousy, schadenfreude, manipulation.
- Comorbidity with depression, substance abuse, compulsive sex/love behaviors.
Impact on others:
- Creates learned helplessness: partners feel nothing they do makes a difference.
- Can devastate self-esteem, health, and careers.

Treatment:
- Narcissists rarely seek therapy voluntarily.
- Progress is very slow, at best moving them from toxic → tolerable.
- No medication cures narcissism.
- Empathy must be cultivated early; prevention is everything.

Hopeful note:
- Empathy is teachable in children. Parents should model and mirror empathy above all else.

---
SIDE A EPx3: “Secondhand Smoke” 

[Intro] Step right up, darlings, don’t choke,
This song is called secondhand smoke. It’s about cocksure egos.
Ha. Ready? Down we go.

[Verse 1] No mirror inside, so they borrow your face, Validation’s the drug they chase. Shiny cars, hollow eyes, Charm that blinds, and charm that lies.

[Chorus ] Mirror, mirror, what do you know? Arrogant hearts all need a glow show. Praise me, praise me… but can you grow?
Like, can you flow and bow?
(Or just blow, blow?)

[Verse 2] Entitled thrones on borrowed ground, Their laughter’s loud, their silence profound. Grand illusions, paper crowns, Lift you up, then tear you down.

[Chorus ] Mirror, mirror, what do you know? Arrogant hearts all need a glow show. Praise me, praise me… but can you grow?
Like, can you flow and bow?
(Or just blow, blow?)

[Bridge] No empathy, no remedy, Woke ain’t like smoke, ain’t your enemy. Round and round, the blowers spin, And sorrow seeps through my skin.

[Outro] Step away, darling, break the spell, Breathe your own air, and breathe it well. Leave their circus, let them choke, 
On their own secondhand smoke.

---
SIDE B EPx3: "Arrogant hearts"

[Verse 1]
Step right up to the mirror maze, Where charm is cheap and love decays, They smile so wide while they cut you thin, Secondhand smoke seeps under your skin. 

[Chorus]
No empathy, no remedy, Entitlement is their melody, Grandiose ghosts on high ego stage, Arrogant hearts and their puppets cage. 

[Verse 2] Superficial saints with a selfie crown, Validation junkies shake you down, Malice erupts when masks won’t stay, Gaslight fever keeps truth at bay. 

[Bridge] “Ladies and gents, beware the show! They’ll promise excellence, deliver shadow. Communal halos, malignant schemes, Covert whispers, grandiose dreams!”

[Final Chorus]
Learned helplessness in smoky air, You breathe their poison unaware, The crowd applauds, the tyrant grins, But emptiness echoes where soul cannot sing. 


Side B [03] Arrogant Hearts - BLOWsutra Indie Cello MANTRA

The Conquest of Happiness is a 2-songs EPx10 inspired by Bertrand Russell’s 1930 masterpiece—a philosophical field guide for ordinary people trying to build a life that feels real, meaningful, and free. This EP is an homage to Bertrand Russel, and a soundtrack for anyone who’s trying to stay awake, stay kind, stay curious, and stay human… Think of it as a humble and grateful love letter to curiosity, emotional honesty, and the kind of philosophy that makes you sit up straighter and breathe easier… with humor, compassion, and just enough sASS :)

WHAT IS THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS?
Bertrand Russell wrote this book  because he saw ordinary people suffering unnecessarily—not from tragedy, but from habits of mind, toxic social pressures, and self-inflicted misery. He argued that happiness isn’t a mystery. It’s not a miracle. It’s a skill. And he gave us a map. This EP is my humble attempt at translating that map into music.

SIDE A : “THE UNHAPPINESS DANCE”
A song (x5) songs inspired by the forces that drain joy and distort the mind, i.e. the reasons why people tend to feel unhappy—namely, the emotional chaos, the self-sabotage, and the absurdity of modern misery.
Russell’s #unhappiness list, simplified:
1. Competition: Always comparing yourself to others. 
2. Boredom / Excitement Extremism: Swinging between “numb” and “thrilled” without ever landing in contentment. 
3. Fatigue: Overwork, stress, and no margin for joy. 
4. Envy: Measuring your worth by what others have. 
5. Guilt & Moral Self-Torment:  Beating yourself up for being human. 
6. Fear of Public Opinion: Living your life under imagined surveillance.

SIDE B : “THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS”
A song (x5) about what actually creates lasting well-being, what makes people truly happy. These songs waltz through the antidotes: curiosity, connection, creativity, pleasure, laughter, kindness, courage, and the everyday magic that makes life feel like life.
Russell’s #happiness list, simplified:
1. Zest: Being genuinely interested in life. 
2. Affection: Love given and love received. 
3. Meaningful Work: Not necessarily glamorous, but engaging. 
4. Wide Interests: Multiple passions, not one obsession. 
5. Effort & Resilience: The willingness to grow, to try, to adapt. 
6. Impersonal Interests: Joy in things outside the self (nature, ideas, art). 
7. A Sense of Purpose: Living for something larger than ego.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW?
Because we’re living in a time of distraction, polarization, loneliness, and algorithmic noise that quietly eats away at our sense of self… Because people are anxious, burnt out, overstimulated, overwhelmed, and under-nourished in the soul. And because Russell’s wisdom—nearly 100 years old—feels like it was written yesterday, for the world we’re in right now.

☰☰☰
NOTE: Lyrics matter, and I’d gladly share mine upon request, as always. But Soundcloud description length is limited, and for this EP, I wanted to tell you more about Bertrand instead of sharing lyrics, because he is a gift to humanity… and, in a world gone unhappy bananas, I hope he may help inspire you to find your path(s) to #happy, too. Look him up <3


Side B [01] EP Bertrand - The Conquest of Happiness - GROWsutra Lullaby Indie MANTRA

Side A [02] EP Bertrand - The Unhappiness Dance - GROWsutra Jazzy BURLESQUE

Side A [01] EP Bertrand - The Unhappiness Dance - GROWsutra Jazzy BURLESQUE

Side B [05] EP Bertrand - The Conquest of Happiness - GROWsutra Sweet Waltz BURLESQUE

… because life on earth is a Psychedelic Cabaret, and “music is the only religion that delivers the goods” (like Frank said). 

To be clear, all I really know is I dunno shit about fck (like Socrates said:)—music and songwriting included. But(t) I feel it, the music, so damn deeep in my soul! I’m just a humble existential fool, a silly banana who likes to play and share, to question and learn. Words are my oldest best friends, hearing myself sing is a freaking miracle (trust me on that lol), and I believe curiosity and #gratitude are the keys to happiness… So voilà, there’s that.

Also, (if you’re curious) BananaSutra is not just a made up BS brand kinda word, it’s actually the name of my DIY Bible—a collection of songs telling true stories of faith, to help me (and perhaps you) make sense of a world gone wild, like bananas gone foul in shallow ignorance and deadly malevolence… Think of it as an agnostic testament of sorts, an audio book of songs with quirky lyrics about things that matter, like the definition of right and wrong, and the meaning of truth, joy, justice, peace, grace, and awe 🕊️

Some call it Artificial Intelligence, but(t) I call Authentic Imagination, Alternative Ideas, Augmented Innuendos, Abstract Illogisms… hopefully, you get the gist? The point being, life is the story we tell ourselves and LYRICS matter—each @bananasutra song has a wondering root and a loving purpose, guided by one of (my) 7 (bananas) sutras: 
- KNOWsutra : is it fair?
- BLOWsutra : is it foul?
- SHOWsutra : is it fun?
- GROWsutra : is it fear?
- FLOWsutra : is it free?
- GLOWsutra : is it fab?
- BOWsutra : is it awe?