Fairytale Forest Pt. 3

Link to video where I tell the story behind the song : https://youtu.be/cilXaNM0IoI?si=IbBwc2wlxYTwoADH 


In Catholic school, whenever I misbehaved, the nuns used to pull my hair.
If I could go back in time and do it all again, I’d gab some clippers and shave my head bare.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive  
My first-grade teacher was a nun, who if you’re penmanship was sloppy
She’d make you take all your books and stand there holding them in the back of the room.
She was like a witch except instead of a pointy hat she wore a habit
She carried a crucifix instead of broom.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic School
I was never the kid who was considered cool
The cafeteria food tasted horrible, but I had to eat it
I had to wash it down with milk that was warm and sour
I’d try to fold my plate in half and throw it away, but the nuns would catch me and make me eat it
It’s like they had this secret food wasting detection superpower
Every year your birthday, it was customary for the kids in the recess yard,
To grab you and kick you and punch you for every year of your age.
I still have flashbacks of a girl with pointy hard black shoes kicking me really hard in my rib cage.
My fifth-grade teacher Sister Margaret she’d been teaching for way too long
It was time for her to retire but they let her teach another year and that was wrong
She had long grey whiskers growing out of her chin
She’d sit at her desk and trim them with of scissors and you sure as hell better not grin
She’d tell cautionary tales about innocent kids who got into cars strangers
She seemed to enjoy describing all the bloody graphic details of the danger.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive

Catholic School

Lyndon B. Johnson - ”If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lbj-convince-the-lowest-white-man/

John Philpot Curran, "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.
https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/respectfully-quoted/john-philpot-curran-17501817-2/

Patrick Henry - Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/patrick.asp#:~:text=Is%20life%20so%20dear%2C%20or,liberty%20or%20give%20me%20death!

No Surrender

Now convince the lowest man that he's better
And he won't even notice you're picking his pocket
Hell, give him someone to look down on
And he'll empty his pockets for you

If ya wanna be free, live your life own way 
Then eternal vigilance is the price ya pay
Cause  Servitude is the consequence
If you’re too damn complacent  

No surrender, to the powers that be
No surrender, to autocracy
No surrender, no surrender 

It’s a lie, It’s a lie, It’s a lie
It’s a crime, It’s a crime, It’s a crime
Of the time, of the time, of the time
It’s a low down stinking lying crime of the time.

Is life so dear or peace so sweet
To be purchased at the price of slavery 
Some will bend the knee and kiss the ring
For me I say let freedom ring 

If ya wanna be free, live your life own way 
Then eternal vigilance is the price ya pay
Cause servitude is the consequence
If you’re too damn complacent 

No surrender, to the powers that be
No surrender, to autocracy
No surrender, to the chains of tyranny

No surrender, to the powers that be
No surrender, to a wanna be king
No surrender, no surrender

NoSurrender

Art and Miles
By David Husted

Vs
How much more now is enough
the body turning home
passions and the red, red dust
You and wonder roam

Far more grace than we can see
often so deceived
To give, to give to give away
And find where tender lays

Miles 
It's miles and miles away
Smile
We're gonna find another way

Ch
We were larks whistling, 
soaring with our wings  
The memories fade, but the love remains 
We were fine art, a masterpiece 

We were larks whistling, 
soaring with our wings  
The memories fade, but the love remains 
We were fine art, a masterpiece 

We were larks whistling, 
soaring with our wings  
The memories fade, but the love remains 
We were fine art, a masterpiece 

Pre Vs
{instr}

Vs
Miles 
It's miles and miles away
Smile
We're gonna find another way

Miles 
It's miles and miles away
Smile
We're gonna find another way

Outro
How much more now is enough
the body turning home
passions and the red, red dust
You and wonder roam

Art and Miles

DRUMAX No. 63 // XAYMACA // Musical Greetings From The South-West
@docfritz // All Musical Stuff, Drums & Percussion, Artwork, Mix & Production
@joerxworx // Completely Relaxed Alto Sax
© 2025 | DRUMAX PROJECT | All Rights Reserved

DRUMAX No 63 // XAYMACA

Inspired by William Walton's Bagatelle No.3.   It is 4am on stage, the club is vacant but loving these acoustics.
Compare: https://youtu.be/9_RsORGkVF8

Bagatelle Acoustics

Cast of Characters:
Steve's Planet -- @steve-vervaet — Steve -- acoustic guitar, vocals, lyrics, and composition
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender Stratocaster electric guitar
Mistrermark -- @user-432503709 — Mark — organ 
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –- four string fretless Warwick bass and Roland electric piano and organ
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– mix, mastering, and production
  
This song began with Steve, who wrote it on his guitar and sang it, before sharing it with Eclectic Collective about half a year ago, back in the fall. Always grateful to Steve for sharing his amazing music with us, we kept it alive even though it had stalled out on us for whatever reason. 
  We had a decent skeleton from our original go at it, but decided to scrap it, and start fresh. Ken, being the one who actually revived it, added his solid drums first, providing for a groovy foundation. Tez came next, surprisingly, adding his hooky guitar fills throughout. Mark hopped on shortly after, adding the organ you hear coming in around the 2:00 mark. Josh took his turn after that, even though it was only a couple of days between, by adding his fretless bass to complete the rhythm section. He also, in the same recording session, added the electric piano you hear throughout, as well as the organ in the first half. 
  Once it was in the can, we asked Stephen to mix it for us, in his always professional manner. 
  We all love working on Steve's songs, and admire him as a musician, singer, and songwriter. This makes almost a half dozen songs on which the EC has collaborated with Steve, and we're sure to add many more. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Steve's Planet

Please Come Home (Eclectic Collective with Steve's Planet)

i’m already 
goin’ down
to the end of the story now
wind is blowing
to the end of the story now

come away   come away

time is bending 
drifting down
spin the hourglass all around
pulverize it
spin the hourglass all around

i’m comin’ after 
i’m comin’
i’m unembodied
i’m free

i’m already 
leaving town
train is rounding the mountain now
got my ticket
train is rounding the mountain now

come away   come away
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

image from Malcom Shadrach via Unsplash


Quietus

“The Stars and Constellations Point to Christ”, inspired by Genesis 1:14, Psalm 19, and the ancient story in the heavens:  God created the lights (sun, moon, strs) not just for physical illumination but also as signs pointing to His Divine order and appointed times.  From the beginning, creation was meant to reveal God's story-ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the true Light of the World (John 8:12)



✨ “He Wrote It in the Stars”


Before the world had drawn a line,
Before the sun began to shine,
He carved His story in the sky,
A love so vast, so deep, so high.
The virgin rose, the lion waits,
The stars proclaim amazing grace.

He wrote it in the stars, the heavens still declare,
From Virgo to the Lion, His promise lingers there.
Before the prophets spoke, before the manger cries,
The gospel sang in silence through the canvas of the night.
Oh Jesus, Morning Star so bright—
You wrote it in the stars.

The scales cry out, the Lamb was slain,
The Archer points to wrath and reign.
The Fish swim through the water clear,
The Water-Bearer drawing near.
The Bull and Twins, the Lion roars—
Each sign a whisper: Christ the Lord!

He wrote it in the stars, the heavens still declare,
From Virgo to the Lion, His promise lingers there.
Before the cross was raised, before the veil was torn,
Creation bore the gospel that the Savior would be born.
Oh Jesus, Word before all time—
You wrote it in the stars.

No astrologer’s design,
But a holy, sacred sign—
The stars align not by our fate,
But by the hand that formed our faith.

He wrote it in the stars, with glory shining bright,
To lead the wise, to stir the heart, to pierce the silent night.
The skies still tell His name, the constellations sing,
That Jesus is the risen Lord, the everlasting King.
Yes, Jesus—our Redeemer King—
You wrote it in the stars.

Lyrics by Kelly Ross-Hagans
ASCAP# 931551691

He Wrote It In The Stars

I don’t need another fight in the kitchen,
Don’t need another sorry I don’t mean.
Truth is, girl, I’ve been slippin’,
Blamin’ you when it’s all on me.
I pour whiskey like it’s water,
Light a smoke just to kill the time.
Tell myself I’ll try tomorrow,
But tomorrow never shows up right.
Guess I’m better off lonely, than breakin’ your heart,
I’d rather take the blame than tear us apart.
It ain’t fair, but it’s all I know—
To push away the one I hold close.
You loved me good, but I can’t stay sober,
I’m the reason love keeps gettin’ colder.
Baby, don’t wait on me…
I’m better off lonely.
Your mama said I got a good heart,
But a good heart don’t fix my ways.
Every time you try to save me,
I just dig a deeper grave.
It’s not that I don’t want forever,
It’s that I can’t give it to ya straight.
I keep runnin’ from the mirror,
And losin’ every race I chase.
Guess I’m better off lonely, than breakin’ your heart,
I’d rather take the blame than tear us apart.
It ain’t fair, but it’s all I know—
To push away the one I hold close.
You loved me good, but I can’t stay sober,
I’m the reason love keeps gettin’ colder.
Baby, don’t wait on me…
I’m better off lonely.
One day I might find my way,
But tonight I’ll just drive and fade.
You deserve a man who ain’t
Always fallin’ on his face.
Guess I’m better off lonely, than breakin’ your heart,
I’d rather take the blame than tear us apart.
It ain’t fair, but it’s all I know—
To push away the one I hold close.
You loved me good, but I can’t stay sober,
I’m the reason love keeps gettin’ colder.
Baby, don’t wait on me…
I’m better off lonely.
Yeah, I’m better off lonely.
Better off lonely…
Than hurtin’ you again.


Better Off Lonely

Verse 1
She never slowed down,  a smoke show in this town.
Shook the walls, cut no slack,
Lord, I’m prayin’ — send her back.

Chorus
I know she’s trouble, but that’s alright,
She kept me runnin’, she kept me alive.
I’ll take the fire, the storm, the laugh —
If she’s too much, Lord, send her back.

Verse 2
She gets too loud, she drinks too strong,
She’ll steal your night, but won’t stay long.
She’s the best thing I ever had,
So Lord, don’t keep her — send her back.

Chorus
I know she’s trouble, but that’s alright,
She kept me runnin’, she kept me alive.
I’ll take the fire, the storm, the laugh —
If she’s too much, Lord, send her back.

Bridge
You’ve got angels, yeah that’s true,
But none raise hell quite like she do.

Chorus (big)
I know she’s trouble, but that’s alright,
She kept me runnin’, she kept me alive.
I’ll take the fire, the storm, the laugh —
If she’s too much, Lord, send her back.
Just send her back.

Tag/Outro
Lord… just send her back.

Send Her Back

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
Recently I have had the urge to pick up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire) and I have been trying to use more guitar in my songs.  
My go to .vst plug ins are  EZkeys 2, EZ Bass and  EZ drummer 3) and my DAW is Logic Pro 11. 
I welcome your comments and enjoy listening to all the great music on SoundCloud. 
All songs are originals and copyrighted.

Catholic School

Joe Stroffolino