A commentary in song form set in some dystopian fantasy!

*****
Welcome to the land
Where skyscrapers abound
Where you can climb to the top
And be whoever you want

Welcome to the land
Where you have the upper hand
To turn the tables on
An unfortunate past

You got the bricks and the gold
The wood and the stone
To build higher and higher ’til you reach the clouds
A word of warning
Don’t get too close to the sun

Babylon
You made it into Babylon

Welcome to the land
Where the hustle doesn’t stop
Where you need to adapt or else
get thrown in the trash

You need to build a thick skin, be ready to bleed
‘Cos it gets harder and harder ’til you crash to the ground
You may want to reevaluate 
Before going all in on this path

Babylon
You made it into Babylon

Welcome to the land
That appeared to be grand
Whose facade began to break
And revealed many cracks
Welcome to the land
Where the only way out
Is to accept you’re alone
And burn the works of your hands
Welcome to the land
Where you lose your soul
To gain power, prestige, and applause
Welcome to the land
Where you signed a pact in blood
Only breakable by a miracle

Babylon
You made it into Babylon

Babylon

First rap song I've ever written! Started from being disappointed with not being able to write a song, and it turned into this song about conquering!! :)

Overcomer

I've always thought of mashing up songs, but my first time to do one of them. This was the result of listening to Imagine Dragon's "Evolve" on loop for at least 3 hours and less than 30 minutes of impulsive "This song sounds familiar --- Oh it's like Shots! What if I mash-up of the two?" Somehow, the mashed up lyrics made as much sense as in their original songs.

Shots X Mouth of the River (Imagine Dragons Cover/Mashup)

This song was written as a project for songwriting class at the Open Academy of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The project was to incorporate the line "But alas, I cannot swim to the other side" in the song's chorus/refrain. I tried incorporating as much of the things I learnt, and am very satisfied with how this turned out, given I wrote and recorded everything in a day. 

Fun Fact: Musical inspiration for this was Bastille, because "alas" is a word that they would probably use in a song. 

*****
Suffocating
I do not remember how we got to this  
Trapped in motions
Swirling through currents with no direction

Last November we survived the storm
But it came again, I’m losing hope

But alas, I cannot swim to the other side
Alas, I cannot swim to the other side
It’s the chains wrapped around my feet
Tied to rocks, pulled by gravity
Alas, I cannot swim to the other side

Unresisting
I drowned In the drizzle before flood flowed in

Do you remember we survived the storm
Then there was the calm and I felt numb

To the other side, to the other side
I try to go
I can see new land, I can see new land
But cannot make it on my own
You reach out your hand
Pull me out to the ground
Warm earth touches my palms
There is no turning back

But alas, I cannot swim
Alas, I cannot swim
Alas, I cannot swim to the other side

It’s the new wave that formed from these
Crests and troughs that pulled us in
It’s the change that swept our feet
To the other side

The Other Side

Like my previous release, this was a project for songwriting class where we should write an AABA song (ie. song without a chorus). I decided to arrange this song to sound simple/clear to suit the story, which is fictional (at least in my world). Ended up becoming one of my saddest songs lyrically. And that breath in the first verse, yes that is me paying homage to Imagine Dragons. 

*****
Words rolled out of your tongue so casually
My ears take them seriously; I bite my lips and hold my breath
And all the words you said echoed down my spine
My head might still be on my neck, but it’s drifting to the clouds
Wondering what could have been, I dropped a few words coolly 
That’s the last you heard from me
Can’t say that I mean that

My lungs breathe in the cool of the bayside breeze
My skin is kissed by the summer sun
My eyes are drifting to the clouds
And all the words you said still hurt but no longer sting
Wounds are still there but no longer bleed
Your voice no longer haunts my mind
Wondering what I was thinking when I dropped the words “I’d put up with you no matter what”
Can’t say that I mean that

Realized that though I should give more than I could take
I cannot live another day where my bones break and break and leave me lame
It seems like yesterday that...

Words rolled out of your tongue so seriously
My ears take them casually; I bite my lips and hold my breath
And all the words you said wrapped me in an embrace
Your smile was like the summer sun
That parted all the clouds
Wondering what the future brings
I dropped a few words coolly
That’s the first you heard from me
Can’t say that I mean that

Can't Say That I Mean That

Back to basics with just strumming a guitar. This is quite a big departure from my usual lyrical style. I was inspired by Lorde's Royals to incorporate "pop culture" words and a bit of whimsy into the song, while retaining some semblance of storytelling. A precautionary tale with a "bonus" redemption arc.

*****
Sunset serenades 
Yoga on a beach
Martinis and kombucha
Versace and Supreme
Ten years ago these were far from your reach

Flamingo thoughts in these posh lawns
Rovers and Mustangs on the streets
Boulevards with tons of bling might be ones that lead to broken dreams
Be sure of what you wish for
Be careful what you wish for

Grecian getaways
Paris on New Year’s Eve
Your eyebrows and your lips are perpetually on fleek
Hard work got you here and you’re trying to fit in
You know you don’t belong here

A stairway to heaven or a highway to hell
Are you sure you didn’t trade your soul to have the world in your hands
A stairway to heaven or a highway to hell
Not all is lost, but your fate lies in the palm of your hands

Your neighbor garden gnomes
I heard them whispering
They mentioned that you were finally breaking free

Flamingo Thoughts

Wrote this as a project for songwriting class with the intent of capturing Matt Murdock/Daredevil recalling a conversation he had with Father Lantom, since we needed to write a song to match a scene (See song art). Ended up becoming more than that -- it unintentionally made me go back to my songwriting "roots", which was more on the inspirational, leaning towards Christianity side. My hope is for this song to speak life to someone. This is the prayer of the lonely and the struggling.

*****

Took a match, tried to ignite a fire
It’s been rough stumbling in the dark

I’ve always been the wolf torn from the pack
Waiting for the moon to answer back
Would you care if this all I’ve known?

I cannot see the other side, so should I trust in your plans?
I cannot see the other side, so should I?
I cannot see the other side, so should I trust in your plans?
Should I? Should I? Should I?
Should I? Should I? Should I?

My shadow’s wrestling me relentlessly
Breaking me piece by piece

Blood drips from my nose and runs through my hands
Rust is beginning to bite on my tongue
I may be giving up on me
Would you care if time has molded me to this?

Can you see me? 
I keep my secrets cloaked underneath the night
Can you hear me?
Your silence makes me believe that I don’t need any saving
Would you care to save me?

Trust

This song started because I got tired of the rain pouring all day. Then, I decided to experiment and challenge myself - Why not make a song with the same chord progression and rhythm all throughout, and I can only change the melody or add other musical layers, all the while keeping the story engaging? Special thanks to Hanson and Passenger for inspiring me to add strings over guitar, and Owl City for inspiring me to add some blackbird singing in the background.
_____
The skies are overcast, and here I am in these four walls.
Glancing out my window; the rain’s been pouring.

For a couple of hours or maybe minutes, I’ve lost track.
Dusk is starting to fall but I cannot tell, because it’s been like this for far too long.

But I continue… business as usual.
I continue… lost within my cluttered thoughts.
I continue… night is creeping in.
I continue… You are gone. Life goes on.

Turned on my study lamp, because it’s definitely becoming dark.
I grab my book to pick up where I left off.

For a couple of hours or maybe minutes, I’ve lost track.
Dawn is starting to break and I can surely tell, because it’s been like this for far too long.

And I continue… exploring another world.
I continue… in this jungle made of words.
I continue… light is creeping in.
I continue… You are gone. Life goes on.
(And on and on and on)

The sun is shining brightly, and here I am in these four walls.
Oddly, I am wide awake.

And I continue… to finish my morning coffee.
I continue… I can hear the blackbirds sing.
I continue… to get changed, and wear my shoes.
I continue… to greet the sun.

For a couple of hours or maybe minutes, I’ve lost track.
Roaming among familiar city streets.

Still I continue… to take in the sights and sounds.
I continue… to be in awe.
I continue… to rediscover what I have.
I continue…

You Are Gone. Life Goes On.

Haven't done anything like this before! Basically made a story of having a caffeine high and subsequent crash interesting.

Inspired by a friend who drank tea in the evening and stayed awake until 4am. Swapped her tea for coffee because coffee sounds catchier, and I have the tendency to drink too much coffee.
-----
Lyrics:
When your body is weak
But your will is strong
Temptation is hard to ignore
You’re left with the choice
To set the scene and course
Will you pull that trigger?
1, 2, 3, 4

Aroused from that shot, shot, shot
Coffee in the evening’s a loaded gun
Too late to stop, stop, stop
Coffee in the evening’s a loaded gun
Tara ratata tatata

Energy dripping through your veins
Invincibility within reach
Danger’s now your middle name
While the cartridge isn’t empty

Regret coming, coming
Exhaustion kicking in
Eyes wide open, closing
You were found in a dead end street

Coffee in the evening's a loaded gun.

Started with "Everyone's got dirty little secrets", followed by "Miss goody two shoes over there", and then the song just happened!

-----

Miss goody two shoes over there
Without fail is always the teacher’s pet
Gets straight A’s and is class president

She’s her parents’ pride and joy
Unknown to them, she sneaks out to smoke joint
She’ll finish high school then run away with some boy

We hide behind our little lies to get by

Miss single mother over there
Works three jobs while her son’s at daycare
She’s met the man of her dreams
2 years in, she’s led him on that she’s child-free
‘Cause she thinks he won’t accept her as she is

We hide behind our little lies to get by
 
Everyone’s got dirty little secrets

Dirty Little Secrets

Just messing around with my voice, the guitar, and a bit of computer in my bedroom. Almost always uploading originals unless otherwise specified.

kamaeiniguez

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