Whether or not this was intentional, it hit me as being about a death before I also recognized that it could be a breakup, which is fantastic.  Major breakups are often a type of death, and going there is the absolute right call as to how to get to the root of the actual emotion without being sappy or trite.

You know what might be really interesting, if you want to stretch this song out even more?  You're kind of veering into Unchained Melody territory, where you're not quite following a traditional pattern.  (Yeah, it's there, but it's fluid.)  So why not let it go there?  Sit and hone the lyrics even more as poetry, have a starting point, maybe have a place where you want to come back to a thematic melody, but let it be free from form entirely, following the emotion of the lyrics more like a sung speech or cry.  Allow the emotional rises and falls, and then work out the kinks from there.  Might be a complete failure, but my supposition is that it would more than likely net something unique, memorable and amazing.

Great collab guys!! I can really feel the heartache!

Wow Mark and Don - really well written and powerful lyrics.  I love the tender vocal performance - it suits the song perfectly.  I like the addition of strings to the solid piano accompaniment as the song progressed.   Really tender and beautiful - well done guys!!.

So moving.  Original musical and lyrical structure. You're right Mark, Don's voice is emotionally pitch perfect for this song. This is beautiful. .  

Ballads

When Love...
Music and Words by Mark Magram

(chorus)
When love claims an innocent victim.
It has no sympathy for sentimentality
When love tears somebody to shreds
It spits them out whole and leaves them for dead

(verse)
And that's when you need a friend
And I'm telling you
I'm here for you until the bitter end
Time and time again.
Cuz I know the bitter sting
Of broken wings
You know you're not alone

(chorus)
When love takes its toll on somebody
Their mind turns from poetry to armchair psychology
When love leaves another heart reeling
Well I know the feeling, been dealing and healing myself

(verse)
Pick up your phone, drop me a line
I've been down and out
And I know you need to just let it out
And the world feels so cold
But it's not the end, you'll rise again,
Just talk to me I'm listening.

(bridge)
These times are few and far between
You've lived before you'll live again
Scar tissue builds a thicker skin
Can't wait to celebrate your wins
When it feel like you'll never see the bright side again.
When you wonder what you're worth when the walls are caving in

(chorus)
When love leaves another heart defeated.
Just look around, you're never far from help if you need it
Love can come and go but it's important that you know you've got a place to turn
And somebody who's concerned
Lean on me

When Love...

My Demise
Music and Words by Mark Magram

Wash
It away
Like a stain
Till i feel clean

Turn
Straight ahead
Clear my head
Of the bad scenes

September comes uninvited
Another year closer to my demise did I
Squeeze every drop out of each situation
Squander my days giving into frustration and worry
I'm not in any hurry...

To go
Cause I know this
Episode is
Not the season finale

Im
Gonna binge
Experience
Every plot twist in store for me

September comes uninvited
Another year closer to my demise did I
Squeeze every drop out of each situation
Squander my days giving into frustration and worry
I'm not in any hurry...

To go.

All the time I thought I wasted
Provided the flavors of life that I tasted
I only regret when I think up regrets
I like to think it all works out for the best and

I've got time
It's my story line
I will make what I want of it

i write the lines
steer the plot
and I cast who I want in it

September comes uninvited
Another year closer to my demise did I
Squeeze every drop out of each situation
Squander my days giving into frustration and worry
I'm not in any hurry...

To witness my demise.

My Demise

Finally free
Words and Music by Mark Magram (2021)

(v)
When it all went to hell
I wasn't so innocent
I played my role
The story's been told
No point in retelling it
Can't even cry if I try

(ch)
I'd say I've been broken hearted
But I just went numb when the end of us started
Now I live a new life
And you don't exist

(v)
Could be much worse
Just look at my resume
My long long career
Of living in fear
And self fulfilling Prophecies
That all came to pass

(ch)
I'd say I'm drowning in sorrow
But all I've got left is a better tomorrow
I did my time, I paid my debt
And now I'm finally free

(br)
The color of pain
Washes out in the rain
The more i go through
The less that it stains
And my inner child
Has been dying to come forward
And paint the world
With any color I want to use.

(v)
Fell from great heights
But I'm still alive and well
I played my roles
A new tale unfolds
Wherever it goes
I'm finally in control my hands are on the wheel

(ch)
I'd say I've been broken hearted
But I just went numb when the end of us started
I'd say I'm drowning in sorrow
But all I've got left is a better tomorrow
I did my time I paid my debt
And now I'm finally free

Finally Free

Sea Song
Words and Lead Vocal by Havilah Rand
Music and Harmony Vocals by Mark Magram

Building a boat made of dreams

out of hope and a prayer

the sails are tattered and frayed

drifting away

CHORUS

this crew of one

windward toward the setting sun

look to the horizon

leave the ghost behind

and say goodbye forever back to the sea finally be free

turn your eyes to the sky

as the night

sets it all on fire



waves of emotion

roll in with the tide

the moon shadows to a flickering ember

lighting the way



CHORUS

Bridge

and the heart learns to let the fear go

back to the stillness of peace of forgiveness

Sea Song

Go Fishing! - All That's Good Comes With Risk

uncommon (take 2? EP) track 6

Your Own Moves

MadMan

Peeling off my feelings
In the easy summer’s heat
I whisper something soft and low
Falling like a big old domino

The things we tell ourselves
It’s only a matter of time
’Til you get things figured out
And it finally has a reason

I’ll try again tomorrow
Might be better in the morning
When the sun is up and shining
Everything will feel much better now

The things we tell ourselves
It’s only a matter of time
’Til you get things squared away
And you really can’t complain

Feels like my guts have got a gun to my head
I just can’t go on living my life in bed
’Bout time I go out — right out to the shed
I grab myself a shovel and I dig until I’m dead

But if it’s something that you’ve gotta think about
Maybe it’s not for you
But then again, you rather like to push yourself
Maybe too hard

Let it go and I promise you’ll be fine
Slow it down and you’ll get some peace of mind

Don’t hold your tongue when it comes to you
Don’t feel so old when the moment’s new
It’s gonna pass — you know that it has to
Still, you gotta do what you gotta do

The things we tell ourselves
It’s only a matter of time
’Til it’s all waiting behind you
And you and time are on the run
credits
from Things We Tell Ourselves, released October 24, 2025
Max Gardener – Vocals, Electric Guitar
Zoe Webster – Bass Guitar
Franky Fox – Moog Matriarch
Elias Quinn – Drums, Percussion
Emelia Austin – Backing Vocals
Chelsea Brown – Backing Vocals
Justine Brown – Backing Vocals

"Things We Tell Ourselves" - Max Gardener

流向

“Heartbreak” channels the spark of alt-pop and the edge of indie rock into a tight, addictive track. With shimmering guitars, a pulsing bass line, and a hook that stays in your head for days, it’s the kind of song that makes heartbreak feel almost euphoric.

HEARTBREAK

You really want something to work, you've seen all the holes and flaws but you want it to work anyway.

Indelible

Anywhere But Here
Words and Music by Mark Magram
Vocals by Don Mercer

Feel like shutting down
The world is caving in.
How do I go on?
Without 
You Here 
To hold. 

This place aint home anymore
I don't recognize a thing about it 
Most days I just need to be 
Anywhere but here 

Oooohhhh
Oooohhhh

Night bleeds into day 
Time just slips away
on The side where you would sleep 
I Gently traced your shape
Oh this was all a big mistake

This place aint home anymore
I don't recognize a thing about it 
Most days I just need to be 
Anywhere but here 

Beneath the ice I sleep
A fires all I need 
To be free from here
And to fly away
so I just lay awake at night and dream

Feel like shutting down
The world is caving in.
How will I go on?
Without 
You Here 
To hold.

Anywhere But Here

Runnin Down That Feeling
Music and Words by Mark Magram

V1
when we were young
we used to play war in the woods
with toy guns and pine cone grenades
when you got capped
you just laid in the dirt 
and counted to 30

rode our bikes several miles from home
our moms had no way to reach us by phone
we had to be back 
when the sun went down 
or we would get grounded

PRECH1
until were done shooting in the woods
and riding our bikes wherever we please
we're soaking in the daylight laughing till the twilight and 
playing some games in the trees

CHORUS
and we'll keep runnin down that feeling 
when we hadnt a care the world 
 we’ll take every last ounce we can find  
 till the clock pulls us back to the daily grind 

V2
When we were young
We prayed that the sky's would get dark
And our breath looked like cigarette smoke
And we all got stoked
Because we knew it meant snow and we wouldn't have to go into school

And if mother nature
Was to shine down upon us and blanket us in sheets of white
We cheered with delight
Grabbed a football and threw on a jacket and played till we froze

PRECH2
And all we knew was this day was the best one
And later we would sled down killer hill 

CHORUS
and we'll keep runnin down that feeling 
when we hadnt a care the world 
 we’ll take every last ounce we can find  
 till the clock pulls us back to the daily grind 

BRIDGE
its a premature addiction
to a care free condition
we dont know it at the time
but those years will pass us by

by the time the time escapes us
only photographs can take us
to nostalgic recollections of a time when we were punk young kids
living moment to moment through our days

CHORUS
CHORUS
OUT

Anywhere But Here

Mark Magram

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