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

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

Side A [01] Secondhand Smoke • BLOWsutra Ego Gone Loco Gipsy Indie Trip Hop LOFI

Made "Peace Matters More (The Only Wish Worth Making)" last summer, as a birthday wish prayer song kinda thing... EPx7 flows Indie ❯ Burlesque ❯ Jazz ❯ Dub 🕊️🎶

Cover art #peace disclaimer: 
this is not an afro style cover ❨ it's a dandelion wish blower ❩ 🌬️ #makeawish 

@banasutra #lyrics

[Verse 1]
Hey, hi, between you and me
Birthdays don’t mean much, honestly
But I’ve got a wish I can’t keep in
So I’m letting it out, soft but clear within

Not for things, not for praise
Just one truth I feel these days

[Chorus]
Peace that grows from trust
Not power, fear, or hush
No mask, no game, no war disguised as law
Just peace that grows from trust
And honest is always a must
In my book of joy, that’s what matters more
Yeah, peace matters more.

[Verse 2]
If you’re cheering on cruel men in suits
Twisting lies into law like forbidden fruit
If you still think silence means you’re wise
Then you might be mistaking peace for disguise

I won’t fight… but I won’t pretend
I choose peace that doesn’t bend.

[Chorus]
Peace that grows from trust
Not power, fear, or hush
No mask, no game, no war disguised as law
Just peace that grows from trust
And honest is always a must
In my book of joy, that’s what matters more
Yeah, peace matters more.

[Bridge] 
It takes courage to ask
Humility to hear
To reach through the awkward
Instead of disappear
So if you’re unsure, just knock on the door
’Cause peace don’t bloom when we keep the score.

[Final Chorus]
Peace that grows from trust
No echo chamber hush
No gaslit grin pretending not to see
Just peace that grows from trust
Where curiosity’s enough
To build a better “we”,
That’s what matters more to me. 



[04] Peace Matters More - GROWsutra Gipsy Circus BURLESQUE

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?

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

bananasutra

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