Xquixepe' - Gracias

Canción Mixteca

spring song

AVEC LE VENT

This song blends the intricate fingerstyle of classical guitar, inspired by Bach’s BWV 996, with the ethereal and melancholic warmth of Sufjan Stevens’ “Mystery of Love.” The melody flows gently, weaving an introspective and poetic narrative of love and longing, set against a serene, golden-hued landscape. Soft, emotional vocals complement the delicate instrumentation, creating an intimate, cinematic atmosphere. The song evokes a sense of nostalgia and quiet reflection, capturing fleeting moments of beauty and the bittersweet nature of time and memory.

Echoes of Time

A fun, musical journey. Uplifting in music, while telling the story of lovers problems.

A combination of guitar, strings and strong vocals. Creates a story through intricate progression, a good fast beat and just joyful music.

Written in 2024, recorded 2025.

Beginning

mom and dad gave their very best 
post rounds, play grounds, at desks
didn’t own a video to watch ET
didn’t own a hoody coat that said nike
or a soda stream or mr frosty 

childhood
why did I want more?
childhood
I really had it all 
they push started me 
my A reg family 

dad used bits of biscuit tinny
to patch the holes in his mini
While friends jet away on foreign holidays 
mustard mini on moody motorways
four and our gran and our cat in rear place 

we do our best we’re busy bees
factory floors,  on the wards, glossy screens
they get the funkiest pumps and the coolest coats
and gadgets and games and streaming videos
all they think they’ll need wherever they go 	

(**This song is about all the stuff I wanted as a child of the 80s and never got…..like a video recorder, soda stream, mr frosty and a newer car than our tiny family Mini. Not realising at the time of course that I already had everything I needed 😄)

Childhood

When fear has its hold on you
You’ll feel it’s chill before the warmth
(Before the warmth you’ll feel the chill…)
But if you let it take hold
Hold you it will
For as long as you get comfort from its embrace
It will hold you close (hold yiu close)
And steal your will
Your will. (Your will)

Hold on
Hold on
Emergency crews reported on the scene
Repeat and repeat again
Until numbness takes control
Fly away. Let go. Never to return
To the you, you used to know

Repeat and repeat again
Until numbness takes control
Fly away. Let go. Never to return
(To the you, you used to know)

The stress kills
Calm down they say
But the pills they gave me
Take my confidence away
I want them to comfort me
And perhaps they do
But the numbness invades my every move

Hold on
Hold on
Emergency crews reported on the scene
Repeat and repeat again
Until numbness takes control
Fly away. Let go. Never to return
To the you, you used to know
When fear has its hold on you
You’ll feel it’s chill before the warmth
But if you let it take hold
Hold you it will
For as long as you get comfort from its embrace
It will hold you close
And steal your will
Steal your will
Your will
(Your will) 
(Steals you)
[fade out]

numb

Loves Like a Parachute
Verse 1
There ain't no way I'm saying goodbye
You've been my closest friend
I loved every single moment
But I know this has to end

Verse 2
There's no use crying tears
Heartfelt spells never clear
Never even kissed you, darlin'
But the love—I felt it here

Verse 3
No inspiration left
Truth behind a quiet breath
To the morning light she rose
Mirror shattered, love regressed

Chorus
Hold on—won’t you set me free?
Hold on—let what’s meant to be
These feelings never end
Love was lost—it never began

Instrumental
(music break)

Verse 4
She walked into my life
Like a rose in moonlit light
Then the darkest clouds rolled in
Love was lost before it could begin

Bridge
Hold me in your thoughts
Hold me in your dreams
These feelings won’t let go
Even love that's never been

Breakdown / Build-up
Ohhhhhhh...
Ohhhhhhh...
Ohhhhhhh...
Hold me in your dreams

Outro
That was the parachute
That never really opened
That love was taken
Just like the parachute...


Loves Like a Parachute

Let Her Go

Verse 1:
Many days it’s hard to wake up
In a world that is so cold
But the only way to shake up
Is to stand and be bold

Promises keep on breaking
Empty words play on repeat
Crooked smiles won’t stop faking
You gotta claim your empty seat

Chorus:
You don’t have to run and hide
You can just roll with the tide
And eventually you’ll be on the shore
The more and more you try 
You will grow stronger inside
And find out that you can be so much more

Verse 2:
In the end what truly matters
Are the things you leave behind
Plant a seed and watch it scatter
To the places left to find

You can sit at the table
There’s always room for many more
If you’re willing and you’re able
To break right through the open door

Chorus:
You don’t have to run and hide
You can just roll with the tide
And eventually you’ll be on the shore
The more and more you try 
You will grow stronger inside
And find out that you can be so much more

Just walk through the door

You Don’t Have To Run And Hide

Journey of the Magi (Elliot) 2025

Just an ordinary knucklehead strumming my six-string and singing songs. All songs are original raw recordings of my songwriting journey of healing and finding peace. Being born and raised in San Diego means that many of my songs have an ocean theme. You can take the boy out of the beach but you will never take the beach out of the boy 🤙 Maybe one of these days, I'll actually learn how to record and mix better, but until then, I'm just having fun. Many of the thumbnails are my original art creations check out my insta for more art. I hope you like it!

You Don’t Have To Run And Hide

Mark Ballard