Inspired by the American Songwriter Association’s weekly prompt to write a song about yourself, “Not That Girl” reflects my journey through divorce and rediscovering my strength.

Thank you for listening, liking, 
and reposting.

Written by Melinda Klotz Mercer
 • Argyll Music.

Not That Girl

I'm Gonna Build Me a Boat

The one that got away.mp3

Subie in Distress is a true story.
I took my 2015 Subaru Forester in for routine service and walked out with a $10,000 repair estimate on a car worth less than that. So I did what most people would do: I got a second opinion.
This is an acoustic, singer-songwriter take on car ownership, trust, and the feeling that maybe you’re being nudged toward buying something you don’t actually need.
Recorded and mixed in Logic Pro.
Mastered with iZotope Ozone.
If you’ve ever loved a car that the repair shop didn’t, this one’s for you.
🎸 Vocal + acoustic guitar
🚗 Real story, no AI
🎧 Headphones recommended
***
Instruments:  
Guitar Strumming Track: Taylor 114Ce (capo 3rd fret)
Organ:  Playing my Midi keyboard with Logic Pro BeBop organ sounds
Bass and Fiddle:  PG Music Real Tracks
***
Copyright 2025
***
I took my Subie to the dealership, thinking it was doing just fine
Ten years old, eighty-nine thousand miles – just regular maintenance time
I dropped him off and they gave me a loaner, brand new with Apple CarPlay
I drove it home with a smile on my face, thinking maybe I’ll buy one like this someday

I really like my Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
We’ve been so many places over the years
He’s fulfilled my every transportation need
I’ve driven him on the west coast, and I’ve driven him in the east
We’ve gone across the continent, he’s been such a steadfast beast

I was looking forward to picking up my Subaru at the dealership the next day
Then I got a call from the service advisor saying things were not okay
He said, “Your transmission fluid’s leaking and your engine oil is too”
There were lots of things wrong – it was gonna cost 10k, and I wasn’t sure what to do
I really like my old Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
We’ve gone so many places together over the years
He’s satisfied my every transportation need

I thought Subie has been a good partner, I’ve always treated him right
I’ve done all the routine maintenance, addressed every check-engine light
And when I got that call from the advisor, I thought about trading him in
I felt like a hopeless battle that I was never goanna win

So I posted on an online forum, asking everyone for advice
Some of the comments were nasty but most of them were nice
The consensus was unanimous – they were trying to scare me into buying new wheels
And I should get a second opinion to make sure all the problems were real
So, I got a second opinion, and the engine oil leak didn’t exist
A few of the problems were legitimate, but for a lot less money, they could be fixed

So instead of ten thousand dollars, the repairs cost less than 4K
And I breathed a sigh of relief that my Subie would live for another day

I really like my Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
Subie you’r the only car I’m ever goanna need.

Subie in Distress

fire-fall-country.mp3

Keep Going

I sat down to write a Christmas carol, and this is what happened. 
Instrumental: Kammerin Hunt
Vocals, lyrics, mix: Nadia Selvaggi

Try it On! by Kammerin Hunt & Nadia Selvaggi

In this extended version of Old Saint Nick we finally added all the things we wanted from the start but didn’t have time for. There’s a lovely intro by Mauro using Omnisphere, some backing vocals from Tom who handled production and mix, and a final instrumental section to put the cherry on top of this amazing musical cake created by the awesome Joe Stroffolino (https://soundcloud.com/joseph-stroffolino/old-saint-nick), of which we carved out a delicious Chiptune slice (https://soundcloud.com/beatingedge/old-saint-chip-instrumental-chiptune)!
Enjoy! We’ll be back in a week with one of our own songs. You can find the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPFKANVV9Us

©2025 Beating Edge & @Joseph-stroffolino

Credits:
Main Vocals, music and lyrics: Joe (@Joseph-stroffolino)
Guitar & Backing Vocals: Mary
Backing Vocals: Tom
Synths: Mauro
Bass & Synth Bass: Davide
Drums & Percussion: Valerio
Mixed & Produced by Tom

Lyrics:

St Nicholas was born in Turkey in the fourth century AD.
He became the bishop of Myra, and was known for his generosity.
They say he tossed three bags of gold into a poor family's dwelling,
And he raised three boys from the dead — it’s a legend, but it sure sounds compelling.

How did a man who lived in Turkey,
In a land that’s warm and sunny,
End up in the North Pole with flying reindeer
If you think about it, it’s kind of funny.

Nicholas died of old age in Myra in the year three forty-three.
They buried him in a tomb expecting him to rest eternally.
The years went by, the tales grew taller and his legend continued to grow,
And it was a fact that relics of a saint could earn you quite a bit of dough.

It’s good to give gifts to family and friends,
And people in need,
But sometimes it feels
Like we’re being manipulated
To buy things we don't need.

In 1087, there were sailors in two cities, Venice and Bari.
They decided they wanted St Nicholas's bones so they raced across the Adriatic Sea.
The sailors from Bari got there first and they took those bones by force and deception.
They brought them back to Bari and they were greeted with a heroic reception.

You can take all the bad parts of the story that happen in real life,
Remove the uncomfortable dark parts and keep only the light.
We sing our Christmas carols and say it’s the most magical time of the year.
For a few days we ignore all the bad stuff as we spread the Christmas cheer.

Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried to help those in need.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, now he’s a mascot for corporate greed.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried so hard to help the poor.
Now he’s a giant plastic figurine who smiles as you walk into the big box store.

As we sit there ripping the paper off our presents underneath the Christmas tree,
It’s good to remember there are people out there who are less fortunate than you and me.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick — maybe we can.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick.

Old Saint Nick Extended Version

given my list of themes when I started working on my album “Despair,” here is my fourth-to-last song.

have you already been to an immersive art exhibition? using VR and AR glasses, 3D mapping, elaborately designed projections, and sophisticated soundscapes, these institutions offer the opportunity to witness art in a multisensory and emotional way.

before the remarkable advent of digital technology, this special pleasure could only be experienced by consuming widely discredited plants such as magic mushrooms, mescaline cacti, or a hawaiian baby woodrose. or through an instrument that has been almost replaced by electronic entertainment: human imagination.

this atrophying ability can unfold effects by far more immersive than anything that could ever be achieved through digital simulation because every imagination is absolutely unique, solely existing in the mind of the individual. 

think of the paintings by caspar david friedrich: heaps of immersive power for unique experiences, interpretations and lively discussions (one of carina and my favorite pastimes).

there is this enigmatic work, “winter landscape with church,” (see wikipedia), which at first glance shows exactly what its title suggests. but then you discover a detail in this scene, which has sparked the imagination of the many experts who have attempted to interpret it. many have identified religious messages in it.

I – largely unimpressed by christian iconography and theological confirmation bias – I just feel the icy cold mist creeping into my clothes, into my skin, into my bones. I smell the piercing frost in the air as the white fragrance of a vast nothingness. I hear the heavy silence of the snow. somewhere, the cry of a crow echoes, and an old tree sighs and cracks. I see the inhospitable outline of a cathedral, like a lifeless mirage from another world. and then, in front of me, I witness an infinitely wordless tragedy.

a person. in ultimate self-abandonment. in despair that leaves everything behind. following one final illusion that transforms a lonely death into a dream. a dream I tried to turn into a song. 

no need for special glasses.

©music and lyrics by Hans-Michael Albers, translational support by deepl, instrumental cover & vocal performance by suno 5


He drops in the snow where the cold winds bite
No clue where he’s heading, no strength left to fight 
His crutches tossed down like: Man, I’m done 
Breath turning to clouds in the weak morning sun

Tiny fir trees stand there, quiet and small 
Iced-up and shivering but still standing tall 
They’ve taken the storms and they’ve ridden the night
But damn, they look peaceful in that pale blue light

Lone, lost in hope
No way to cope
Ice freezing breath
Tears
Grief 
And death

Through the fog in the distance a steeple breaks through 
Like a half-faded signal saying: Hey, still you 
A ghost of a promise in the silence and snow 
A place for the lost when they’ve got nowhere to go

He stares at that church with a shake in his chest 
Worn-out as hell but still trying his best 
And something inside, real tiny, real thin
Goes: Yeah, you’re hurting, but you’re not cashing in

Lone, lost in hope…

He hauls himself up with the last of his drive
Snow on his jacket but wait, he’s alive 
And the church just waits there, calm like it knows: 
You’re stuck in the frost, but you’ll get where you go

Lone, lost in hope…


Lone, lost in hope

Cast of Characters:
The Beautiful Dark -- @thebeautifuldark -- Carl — vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar and composition

Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark –- VST strings and mellotron 

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – upright double bass, plucked and bowed

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums

J.J. Terrell– @j-j-terrell – piano

TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen — Tom Anderson custom T model electric guitar, Danelectro baritone electric guitar, and e-bow

Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – production, mix, and mastering
 
Carl came up with this song at the beginning of November on his acoustic guitar, and shared it with the rest of us shortly after. Carl is a songwriting supernova, in case you're unfamiliar with our newest addition to the team. We're always excited and grateful to get to work on his music. 

  Mark was first to add his parts, although he tweaked them throughout the process. His work can be heard in the dramatic string arrangement and mellotron at the crescendo. Josh was next to jump in, adding his new upright bass to the song. He played not only the plucked part, but the bowed part in the strings section, too. Ken came along next with his perfect drums to complete the rhythm section. JJ wanted in on this, too, so he added the foundational piano you hear throughout. Last, but not least, Stephen dropped in his electrifying guitar solo and the accompanying textural chords using is Danelectro baritone guitar, followed at the very end by his magical e-bow part. 

  Once it was all in the bag, we asked Tez to produce and mix it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion. 

  This is our latest song of which Carl is the author. He's been making music with us for the past half a year now, and we can't get enough of his abundant creativity. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

  Also, Carl had this to say about his lyrics, "Labels and putting each other in a particular box is causing big problems on the planet. The song's meaning is born from trying to take labels out of our lessons. In a polarized world, the song pines how we will likely learn lessons properly if we leave ego out of what we are trying to learn. Maybe our art has more relevance for future generations if we do that instead of bolting it to the current people or ideas causing us problems."
Original lyrics by The Beautiful Dark:

Let's play cards
You lying runt
Word poker perfect
A joker to hunt
Motor makeup mouth
Dadless brain itched
Orange sith can shout
Cycle of old child bewitched

Leave out the names
Remove their power
Lessons find refrain
Fake turned to flower

All liars die
'As honest tongue
Dinnseanchas signs our true right and wrong
Transmutation
Time understood
Truth trump card for hate
More blossomed love

Leave out the names
Teach tomorrow's hour
Lessons find refrain
Pure honest power

Lies from power
Carry hidden agenda
Justice can save us from these malady members
Unless they break our sacred norms
They've changed the game with iron fisted porn

Leave out the names
Control our stream
Lessons mute ego
Brutes turn to dream

The system protects us from crazy one
One system collective
Agreement by sum
Normals described
Standards of power
Transmutation of evil
Never named gives real flower

Let's label our love
Let's teach that today
Let lessons of dove
Show us our way

Leave out the names
Remove their power
Lessons find refrain
Fake turned to flower

Leave out the names
Teach tomorrow hour
Lessons find refrain
Pure honest power

Leave Out the Names - Eclectic Collective

Cast of Characters:
The Beautiful Dark -- @thebeautifuldark -- Carl — vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar and composition
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark –- VST strings and mellotron
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – upright double bass, plucked and bowed
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums
J.J. Terrell– @j-j-terrell – piano
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen — Tom Anderson custom T model electric guitar, Danelectro baritone electric guitar, and e-bow
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – production, mix, and mastering

Carl came up with this song at the beginning of November on his acoustic guitar, and shared it with the rest of us shortly after. Carl is a songwriting supernova, in case you're unfamiliar with our newest addition to the team. We're always excited and grateful to get to work on his music.
Mark was first to add his parts, although he tweaked them throughout the process. His work can be heard in the dramatic string arrangement and mellotron at the crescendo. Josh was next to jump in, adding his new upright bass to the song. He played not only the plucked part, but the bowed part in the strings section, too. Ken came along next with his perfect drums to complete the rhythm section. JJ wanted in on this, too, so he added the foundational piano you hear throughout. Last, but not least, Stephen dropped in his electrifying guitar solo and the accompanying textural chords using is Danelectro baritone guitar, followed at the very end by his magical e-bow part.
Once it was all in the bag, we asked Tez to produce and mix it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion.
This is our latest song of which Carl is the author. He's been making music with us for the past half a year now, and we can't get enough of his abundant creativity. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Also, Carl had this to say about his lyrics, "Labels and putting each other in a particular box is causing big problems on the planet. The song's meaning is born from trying to take labels out of our lessons. In a polarized world, the song pines how we will likely learn lessons properly if we leave ego out of what we are trying to learn. Maybe our art has more relevance for future generations if we do that instead of bolting it to the current people or ideas causing us problems."
Original lyrics by The Beautiful Dark:

Let's play cards
You lying runt
Word poker perfect
A joker to hunt
Motor makeup mouth
Dadless brain itched
Our sith can shout
Cycle of old child bewitched

Leave out the names
Remove their power
Lessons find refrain
Fake turned to flower

All liars die
'As honest tongue
Dinnseanchas signs our true right and wrong
Transmutation
Time understood
Truth trump card for hate
More blossomed love

Leave out the names
Teach tomorrow's hour
Lessons find refrain
Pure honest power

Lies from power
Carry hidden agenda
Justice can save us from these malady members
Unless they break our sacred norms
They've changed the game with iron fisted porn

Leave out the names
Control our stream
Lessons mute ego
Brutes turn to dream

The system protects us from crazy one
One system collective
Agreement by sum
Normals described
Standards of power
Transmutation of evil
Never named gives real flower

Let's label our love
Let's teach that today
Let lessons of dove
Show us our way

Leave out the names
Remove their power
Lessons find refrain
Fake turned to flower

Leave out the names
Teach tomorrow hour
Lessons find refrain
Pure honest power

Leave Out the Names (Eclectic Collective)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
https://linktr.ee/joe.stroffolino
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.