Another KNOWsutra EP, with 12 variations of 3 old songs, about truth and religion—inspired by this quote from the (brilliant, deep, subtle, and lovely) one and only Joseph Campbell: "Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble"... because, oh boy, ain't that true, heh Murica?! ;)

@banasutra lyrics x3:

—
(V1) Metaphor’s Edge

[Verse 1]
On the edge of belief, we teeter and sway,
Caught between fact and the words we obey.
But a story untold is no story at all,
Yet frozen in truth, it leads to our fall.

[Chorus]
Oh, take the edge, the metaphor’s kiss,
Find the meaning that others may miss.
Don’t get stuck in the riddle’s disguise,
For only the open can truly be wise.

[Verse 2]
Wolves in the sheep’s clothes, prophets of gold,
Tell you the gospel, but the message grows cold.
The tale is the journey, not the walls that confine,
To walk with the wind is to walk with the divine.

[Chorus]
Oh, take the edge, the metaphor’s kiss,
Find the meaning that others may miss.
Don’t get stuck in the riddle’s disguise,
For only the open can truly be wise.

—
(V2) Sacred Shadows

[Verse 1]
Whispers in the dark, they speak of heaven’s gate,
A tale so ancient, but twisted by fate.
We worship the shadows, forget what they’re for,
In the light of the moon, we must search for more.

[Chorus]
When the sacred becomes stone, the spirit slips away,
You’ll lose the dance of night for the brightness of day.
But it’s in the shadow that truth comes to play,
Hold the sacred as fluid, don’t let it decay.

[Verse 2]
The stars above speak in riddles, in shapes we misread,
We build temples of answers, but they’re just what we need.
To feel safe in the chaos, to feel known in the void,
But if you make it concrete, all the magic’s destroyed.

[Chorus]
When the sacred becomes stone, the spirit slips away,
You’ll lose the dance of night for the brightness of day.
But it’s in the shadow that truth comes to play,
Hold the sacred as fluid, don’t let it decay.

—
(V3) The Song of the Universe

[Verse 1]
Every story’s got a secret, hiding in plain view,
It’s a mirror for your soul, shaping what you knew.
But you’ll drown in deep illusion, if you take it word for word,
When metaphors become the law, meaning gets blurred.

[Chorus]
Oh, the trouble with truth, when it’s set in stone,
Is that it loses its mystery, leaves you all alone.
Dance with the shadows, don’t hold on too tight,
For the song of the universe shines in metaphor’s light.

[Verse 2]
Priests and prophets, saints and fools, all walk the same line,
But the more they cling to “truth,” the further from divine.
The symbols are the guideposts, not the end of the road,
But some mistake the map for the meaning it showed.

[Chorus]
Oh, the trouble with truth, when it’s stuck in the past,
Is that it forgets it’s a tale, not a spell meant to last.
Dance with the shadows, don’t hold on too tight,
For the song of the universe shines in metaphor’s light.


[05] Joseph Campbell's Truth Metaphors - The Song of the Universe - KNOWsutra Kindness is in the Depth BLUES

This is a French (my mother tongue) EPx17 song for those who’d rather be awake than reassured—the ones who’d rather KNOW & GROW than BLOW & SHOW blindly, even if “Some Truths Are Harder to Swallow” 🍌💦  i.e. my BJ (banana joke:) sister-song of “L’Embobinage”… 

The lyrics are rooted in one of Carl Sagan’s most haunting and relevant psychological insights: 

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: 
If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge (even to ourselves) that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”

“Une des leçons les plus tristes de l'histoire est celle-ci: si nous avons été embobinés assez longtemps, nous avons tendance à rejeter toute preuve de l'embobinage. Nous ne sommes plus intéressés à découvrir la vérité. L'embobinage nous a capturés. Il est tout simplement trop douloureux de reconnaître, même pour nous-mêmes, que nous avons été dupés. Une fois que vous donnez du pouvoir à un charlatan sur vous, vous ne le récupérez presque jamais.”

It’s a story rooted in the GROWsutra spirit: a philosophy of fierce compassion, where curiosity is stronger than comfort, where questioning is a form of kindness, and where truth, though sometimes bitter, is ultimately the beginning of healing.

—
Lyrics: 

[Verse 1]
Une des leçons les plus tristes de l’histoire,
Est celle-ci, Carl Sagan nous a dit,
Embobinés depuis longtemps, c’est illusoire,
Chercher la vérité, c’est si troublant,

[Chorus]
L’embobinage nous a pris,
Trop douloureux, la vérité,
Nous avons été trahis,
Le charlatan a pris pied,

[Verse 2]
Difficile de reconnaître,
Que nous avons été dupés,
Le pouvoir au charlatan,
Jamais récupéré,

[Chorus]
L’embobinage nous a pris,
Trop douloureux, la vérité,
Nous avons été trahis,
Le charlatan a pris pied,

[Outro]
La vérité, toujours elusive,
Nous sommes capturés, l’embobinage nous tient,
Le charlatan règne, et nous restons perdus.


[11] L'Embobinage (d'après Carl Sagan) • French GROWsutra World Peace La Poesita Flamenco INDIE DUB

[02] L'Embobinage (d'après Carl Sagan) • French GROWsutra World Peace CelLOFI

[09] L'Embobinage (d'après Carl Sagan) • French GROWsutra World Peace Hypnotic Tango Jazz INDIE

Fair opinion-gone-banana-peel of the day: white pedantic racist immigrant wannabe elitist antiantifa hypocritical dude(s) who dare deny racism is a core cause of injustice = one more reason why Murica is a hopeless deadly stoopid toxic sh!thole bigotracy... #deepbreath

"So, What Is Racism?" EPx17 flows Dub ❯ Jazz ❯ Blues 

@bananasutra lyrics: 

[Hook]
Tell me, tell me, is it in the mirror?
Or hiding in the jokes when the room gets clearer?
If love’s universal, why you drawing them lines?
Bananasutra asking questions, messing with your mind.

[Verse 1]
Is it when you clutch your purse on the late-night train?
Or when the résumé gets tossed for the “wrong” last name?
Is it system-made, or just “a couple bad dudes”?
Or is it brunch talk, served with fair-trade food?

What if you laugh at a meme, but it cuts like a blade,
Would you still call it harmless, or truth in the shade?
If color’s just skin, why’s the history so loud?
Why the silence when the wrong ones speak too proud?

[Hook]
Tell me, tell me, is it in the mirror?
Or hiding in the jokes when the room gets clearer?
If love’s universal, why you drawing them lines?
Bananasutra asking questions, messing with your mind.

[Verse 2]
Is it subtle like perfume in a Sunday crowd,
Or heavy like a cop’s knee pressing too loud?
Is it “I don’t see race”, but you kinda still do?
Or is it blaming all the problems on “a chosen few”?

Would you trade your skin just to borrow their shoes?
Walk the block, pay the rent, get stopped with no clues?
If fairness was real, would you lose your place?
Or would equality feel like you’re in second place?

[Bridge] 
What’s the weight of a word when it’s not meant for you?
What’s the cost of the dream when it don’t come true?
If justice is blind, why she peeking through her mask?
Here’s a question, baby, don’t be scared to ask.

[Hook]
Tell me, tell me, is it in the mirror?
Or hiding in the jokes when the room gets clearer?
If love’s universal, why you drawing them lines?
Bananasutra asking questions, messing with your mind.

[Outro]
So what is racism, honey, is it yours, is it mine?
Or just a ghost in the closet we pretend’s benign?
Keep on asking, keep peeling the skin,
’Cause the fruit gets sweeter when the truth kicks in

⁉️‼️🍌



[11] So, What Is Racism? KNOWsutra Gipsy Dub JAZZ

[08] So, What Is Racism? KNOWsutra Gipsy Dub JAZZ

[10] So, What Is Racism? KNOWsutra Gipsy Dub JAZZ

Can you guess what world peace issue this song is about? 

And by "world peace", I do mean world peace... if only humans were humble, empathetic, and educated enough (aka wise enough) to understand righteous vengeance is nothing but an ancient power hungry rhinoceros myth, and violence always ripples so far, far beyond their own short-sighted ego spheres of rationalization, bleeding throughout many generations. 

This song is yet another peace prayer, for the better not the worse #together and shared with much #hope and #compassion for ALL who did, do, and will suffer from bloody hatred, chosen entitlement, and nonsensical injustice  🌍 🕊️💨 

☩ ☩ ☩
@bananasutra lyrics:

[intro]
Soaring above bloody ashes,
Rising like love’s the only breath
That blooms like hope
Not doom in trope…

[verse 1]
Sparks of snark never heal, they only burn,
Barks of sharks never help, they only churn,
At the love
Of a dove.

[verse 2]
Preachers of vengeance dressed in light,
Call it justice, call it right,
But no bomb can bless a child,
In the womb of hate gone wild.

[chorus]
Raise your heart to peace, not war,
Blessed be the faith we’re fighting for,
Let mercy rise to bliss, let it prove
We dare to care for the love of a dove…

[bridge]
Why praise the wound, deny the tear?
Preaching for safe, by planting fear?
If truth is right, then we shall see
No holy blame can set us free.

[chorus, soaring]
Raise your heart to peace, not war,
Blessed be the faith we’re fighting for,
Let mercy rise to bliss, let it prove
We dare to care for the love of a dove.

[outro, gentle]
Let’s lay the anger in the dust.
Let’s be holy, return to trust...
And when they ask what we’re made of
Hum: “The love, the love of a dove.”

[09] The Love Of A Dove - GROWsutra Queen of Authentic Dubby Psychedelic BLUES

When brutal force is normalized, we the people are dehumanized. Please don't let 'em power hungry cowards stampede our peace with greedy double-standards and manipulative lies, because peace is everything... and being honest, vulnerable, and fair is being brave. 

Ça je le sais, dans mon coeur. Et le rêve qui m'anime, il est fait de paix et d'amour sans peur.

Artistic expression is my Force Douce. And it ain’t a skill, or an asset, it’s a gift, to you and me! 
Making music ain’t about ego, nor fame, or #godforbid money, #corporatebranding or #copyrights it ain’t even really about hard work, nor what buttons one pushes, or what strings one plucks—it is about intentional exploration, about pulling the invisible yet super awesome magic strings only brave pure loving #souls dare to share, as we leap forward, trusting we’re all here to learn aka evolve, grateful we’re all born equal, as divinely mighty as fragile, i.e. #human 💌

✪ ✪ ✪

“La Force Douce” @bananasutra #lyrics en Français: 

[Couplet 1]
Il faut être bien malheureux 
pour semer la douleur sans raison,
pour étouffer la lumière d’un cœur 
par simple trahison.

Mais moi j’ai vu que la paix, 
c’est pas la fuite ni la peur,
c’est un feu tranquille, 
un courage qui guérit nos rancœurs.

[Pré-refrain]
Ils disent que la bonté c’est faible, 
moi je dis c’est divin,
regarde les rivières: 
elles creusent la pierre, 
sans jamais lever la main.

[Refrain]
Bananasutra 
chante la force douce,
celle qui choisit d’aimer 
quand tout s’écroule autour.

Bananasutra, 
les âmes justes avancent nues,
intègres, vulnérables, 
mais debout jusqu’au bout.

[Couplet 2]
Il faut être bien audacieux 
pour parler vrai sans armure,
montrer ses cicatrices 
comme des fleurs sous la blessure.

Justice, ce n’est pas la vengeance, 
c’est l’équilibre des vents,
où chacun gagne en donnant, 
où l’humain devient vivant.

[Pont]
Quand le monde crie “gagne seul”, 
je réponds “gagnons ensemble”,
le futur n’est pas une guerre, 
c’est un chant qu’on assemble.

L’amour n’est pas dangereux, 
c’est la seule loi qui sauve,
et la tendresse, 
c’est l’arme des braves.

[Refrain]
Bananasutra, dans le feu des jours,
tu gardes la foi, tu redonnes l’amour.
Bananasutra, même au bord du monde,
ta paix rayonne, et jamais ne succombe.

[Outro]
Il faut être bien pernicieux 
pour punir sans comprendre,
mais il faut être divinement fou 
pour continuer d’aimer tendre.

—

"The Gentle Force” lyrics in English (unedited AI translation, for the curious :)

[Verse 1]
You have to be very unhappy
To sow pain for no reason,
To stifle the light of a heart
By simple betrayal.

But I saw that peace,
It's not flight or fear,
It's a quiet fire,
A courage that heals our grudges.

[Pre-crorus]
They say that goodness is weak,
I say it's divine,
Look at the rivers:
They dig the stone,
Without ever raising your hand.

[Chorus]
Bananasutra
Sings the gentle force,
The one who chooses to love
When everything collapses around.

Bananasutra,
The righteous souls advance naked,
Honest, vulnerable,
But standing until the end.

[Verse 2]
You have to be very bold
To speak the truth without armor,
Show your scars
Like flowers under the wound.

Justice is not revenge,
It's the balance of the winds,
Where everyone wins by giving,
Where the human becomes alive.

[Bridge]
When the world shouts "win alone",
I answer "we win together",
The future is not a war,
It's a song that we put together.

Love is not dangerous,
It's the only law that saves,
And tenderness,
It's the weapon of the brave.

[Chorus]
Bananasutra, in the fire of days,
You keep the faith, you give back the love.
Bananasutra, even at the edge of the world,
Your peace radiates, and never succumbs.

[Outro]
You have to be very pernicious
To punish without understanding,
But you have to be divinely crazy
To continue to love tender.

[02] La Force Douce - French GROWsutra Gipsy Flamenco Duende Chanson INDIE

I mourn peace and freedom. I mourn checks and balances, and the democratic consensus. I mourn every innocent victim of war—every child, every dream crushed by every tyrant. How could I not? How can you not?

Being pro-people and pro-peace isn’t being anti-anyone, it’s refusing to let pain justify cruelty. I love my Jewish friends, but I also mourn the moral consensus we once called “Never Again.” Because safety matters—yours, mine, theirs, ours. Everyone’s safety matters… That’s why my heart can’t stop singing and praying for world peace. I’m not anti-anyone. I’m anti-dehumanization. My hope is that the Jewish story can end in healing, not repetition. 

I can’t help but hope… because I believe we can protect each other without inflicting new wounds. Empathy isn’t a zero-sum game; it’s what makes us human! It’s what helps us survive and thrive as one earthly, democratic tribe. In fact, empathy is the ultimate weapon against evil! That is exactly why those who cannot feel it try to divide and conquer by calling empathy weak or dangerous.

Simone Weil wrote: “Imaginary evil is romantic; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren.” So when I hear friends glorify revenge to justify genocide, I weep… as if trauma could explain violence because it gives despair a proud story; as if moral drama, fueled by hubris, could heal the multigenerational void of helplessness left by past and future trauma. When a pacifist says “no more heroes, no more villains, just humans,” it’s treated as a threat, as if “you’re with us or against us” were unquestionable truth. 

But Nietzsche warned that those who fight monsters must be careful not to become them, and Hannah Arendt reminded us that fear of being a victim can make us accept the role of the oppressor. Real humanism doesn’t erase trauma, it transcends it! Pacifism isn’t naïve; it’s a radical commitment to ending the cycle of identification with force. 

Winning means grounding ourselves in moral coherence. Life is sacred. It’s not about picking sides between nations (or parties)… it’s about choosing compassion over cruelty. Sigh. 

And so well now, of course, I wrote yet another song—another “Letter to My Friend,” about Never Again. 💌

—
@bananasutra – Lyrics: “Letter to My Friend”

Hey love, 
I’ve been thinkin’, the air’s gone strange.
We built a bridge, but fear made the range. 
When did caring turn into crime? 
Since when did heartbeats choose a side in time?

You think my tears forgot their tribe, 
But pain’s one language, that’s the vibe. 
If I cry for Gaza, do I leave you dry? 
Or can both our ghosts learn to sigh and fly?

I’m not your enemy, babe, I’m the echo that remains. 
Every love I add don’t steal your chains. 
Peace ain’t a prize that one can win; 
It’s a wound that heals when we let it begin. 
Oh, Bananasutra sings again…

Your roots run deep in haunted clay, 
I feel that tremor every day. 
But if walls keep empathy out of sight, 
Ain’t we just living in longer nights?

You guard your story like sacred wine, 
But I sip my sorrow... it tastes like thine. 
Can’t “never again” be a door, not a wall? 
Must one rise so another can fall?

I’m not your rival, love, I’m the ache that understands, 
Two trembling souls with open hands. 
My heart don’t subtract when it starts to expand; 
It multiplies truth in foreign lands.

Pain is pain; it don’t wear flags. 
It needs no borders, no tags. 
Fear’s a thief, babe, it steals our sight, 
Makes day look wrong and wrong look right.

Would you rather win, or rather heal? 
Would you rather numb, or rather feel? 
If trust could hum a new refrain, 
Would you hear my note through your pain?

I’m not against you, I’m just against cruel. 
Love ain’t a weapon; it’s the rebel’s rule. 
Let’s rewrite Never Again for all, 
’Cause peace built on pride’s just another wall.

So hey, my friend, come dance instead? 
We’ll sing for the living, not just the dead. 
Bananasutra’s heart don’t bend, 
It blooms, it breaks, it mends. 🪽


[15] Letter to My Friend (Never Again) - GROWsutra Tzigane Arabesk Soul Peace Fusion Gipsy INDIE

[27] Letter to My Friend (Never Again) • GROWsutra Jazzy Hop Storyteller LOFI 02

… 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?