I am so excited about collaborating with soprano Maribel Villarroel and arranger and pianist René Calderón. The lyrics are from the Pablo Neruda poem "Para Mi Corazón" in the book "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair". Translated by W.S. Merwin. Permission has been granted by Fundación Pablo Neruda.

Canciones para Pablo Neruda" is a book of musical scores for songs based on lyrics by Pablo Neruda and artwork from some of Chile's greatest artists: 
www.amazon.com/dp/9564163218

This song was also performed live at "La Chascona", the former home and now museum of Pablo Neruda in Bella Vista, Santiago: youtu.be/vzz8tY0CYLk?si=ZfYIat6iL69p2FW4

YouTube: https://youtu.be/l4YpDsQEuYw?si=kULRUp_GJraLR_Iu


Para Mi Corazón

Para mi corazón basta tu pecho,
para tu libertad bastan mis alas.                                                                                 
Desde mi boca llegará hasta el cielo                                                                                   
lo que estaba dormido sobre tu alma.

He dicho que cantabas en el viento                                                                             
como los pinos y cómo los mástiles.                                                                           
Como ellos eres alta y taciturna.
Y entristeces de pronto, como un viaje.

Acogedora como un viejo camino.                                                                                   
Te pueblan ecos y voces nostálgicas.                                                                              
Yo desperté y a veces emigran y huyen                                                                   
pájaros que dormían en tu alma.

Your breast is enough for my heart,
and my wings for your freedom. 
What was sleeping above your soul will rise
out of my mouth to heaven.

I have said that you sang in the wind
like the pines and like the masts.
Like them, you are tall and taciturn,
And you are sad, all at once, like a voyage.

You gather things to you like an old road.
You are people with echoes and nostalgic voices.                                                          
I awoke, and at times, birds fled and migrated
that had been sleeping in your soul.

Para Mi Corazón (Poem by Pablo Neruda)

In the 17th century England’s last great lowland wilderness was drained and tamed, the fens of East Anglia and Lincolnshire were the home to a proud and independent people, this song is inspired by their struggle to retain their homeland and way of life. Lyrics below.

Oh the milk was off
And the horse was lame
And like the mist
The sickness came
The reason why
It was clear to see
That Tiddy Mun was in a puckatory

‘Cause the river’s gone
Now there’s only drains
Where once was fens 
Only peat remains
The greedy souls
Have drunk it dry
But it shake the leaf
When Tiddy Mun he cry

Aaagah (fever)
By hair and shiver tree
Pyewipe and poppy tea

Now that

Old Charlie boy
He lost his head
But before he went 
The last words he said
All sick and sallow 
Down on his knee
“That Tiddy Mun
Has a c… cursed me”

Aaagah(fever) 
By hair and shiver tree
Pyewipe and poppy tea

Now that

Oliver soon
He changed his tune
For that black gold
He’d drain the moon
But fever struck 
And he quickly died 
Bless Tiddy Mun 
All the fen men cried

Aaaagah (fever)
By hair and shiver tree
Pyewipe and poppy tea

Now that

Captain Flood 
and Two Penny Jack
Been long gone
But their coming back
Like the wild birds
And the copper coloured butterflies
Between the earth and heavy skies

Aaagah(fever)
By hair and shiver tree
Pyewipe and poppy tea

Now that

Old Tiddy Mun
Without a name
Know the fens 
Will rise again
Until that day
All I ask of you
Is Tiddy Mun
Are the waters through

Aaagah (fever)
By hair and shiver tree
Pyewipe and poppy tea

Now there’s

A hundred thousand acres 
For the undertakers
And not a pot with fish in left for us

A joyless wild amphibious race 
With sullen woes on every face
They drink like fishes and sleep like hogs
And lurk like spiders in the bogs
They sally out, drive down or steal
But all with knees can learn to kneel
And when this fens all cattle pasture
Their know then their lord and master.

Tiddy Mun (awesome video  on youtube)

Lost David Lynch this month, he suffered from emphysema, some say being exposed the LA wildfires contributing to his death, who knows, but ‘Drill baby drill’ is madness.
https://youtu.be/fR0b9E4ORwc

Not sure where to start
Not sure what to say
That old bald-headed eagle
Is having a bad hair day

There’s no stars
No stripes
Things just don’t seem right
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

Wrote postcard to a friend of mine
Up on Mulholland Drive
Not even sure if he still lives there
Coz he has not replied

No stars
No stripes
On this postcard that I write
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

No Stars No stripes

Dopamine

People might say that I was a man of action
that a well thought plan gets traction
and I guess they got used to me clapping
back...the tip of the wedge
on one helluva an attack
but since my hearts a-bruising
at the hands of those abusing
I figure this war for a bitter hag
so here I am doing the dead dog drag
yea
well I suppose this wrecks ur scam
exposin the psycho plan U been hatching
yea...what's that now???
Is that a charge ur catching???
well damn...
doing the dead dog drag
O yea
and I've heard of a viral thing
called energy matching...
but seems to me its power grabbing
and if ur a monster with a hunger or
a thirst...thinking its me U tag
well...think again my friend...
cause I'm a living master of the dead dog drag

Dead Dog Drag

Cast of Characters:

Cgmaness – @user-419254289-15129531 – Chris – acoustic guitar, composition, production, and mix
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken– drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – Warwick four string fretless bass 
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- piano and lead synth
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – VST cello, strings, clarinet, flute, and synth pad
Nyla K-- @user-162163879 -- vocals and lyrics
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–  Gibson Earle Scruggs banjo

This song started as many of our best do, with Chris coming up with it on his acoustic guitar. He shared it with the rest of us shortly after, and we were all very excited to tuck into it. 
  Ken was fist at the trough for this one, adding his jazzy, expressive drums. Josh came in as soon as he had a beat to work with, adding his signature fretless bass to the mix. Not long after that, JJ broke out the hauntingly melodic piano and Shine On You Crazy Diamond timbred synth you hear throughout. 
  Once it had a good structure to it, Mark came in and added the dynamic cello swells that open the song, some subtle strings, the melodic clarinet and flute, and a bit of synth pad near the end to spice up the soup a bit. He also had the great idea to ask Nyla to add some vocals, which she did in her typically dynamic and expressive way using her original lyrics. Last, but definitely not least, we convinced Stephen to add some of his perfectly mood-setting banjo. 
  Once it was all in the can, it actually sat for several months before being revived by Chris, who also did the production and mix, expertly, as always.
   This song is an example of Eclectic Collective coming together to bring another one of Chris' brilliant songs to life. You should check out his new albums on Spotify, which you can find by clicking the link next to his name in the credits. 
  Also, this is our first time collaborating with Nyla K. We wanted to find a way to include her talents on this one, and her vocals here are magical. You can hear a lot more of them on her page if you follow the link next to here name in the credits, too. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Nyla K: 

I once overheard 
a hushed up conversation 
'tween the fishes coming home 
and thank god for a holiday
yea
making the bull frogs sing for joy
as they awake
yea
...and this... is what they had to say

Spanish moss and bullfrogs
cattail cotton in the wind
yea...
and won't U take me to the river
yea...
take me on down to the river
and U

Better Not Say-Cg Maness/Nyla K/ Eclectic Collective

Feel that pain it happens when you care
Lean right in, embrace it if you dare
Dangerous days, perilous nights
I’ll take the reins, hold on tight

Life has taught you to protect yourself
To not take the fall, stay back from the edge
But love might be right within your reach
If you risk falling for me
Risk the fall for me

One step first, my love is all you need
Soon your thirst for more will set you free
Joyful days, blissful nights  
 Sit with me, hold me tight

Life has taught you to protect yourself
To not take the fall, stay back from the edge
But love might be right within your reach
If you risk falling for me
Risk the fall for me
  
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Don’t hold back cos life won’t wait
If there’s never love, there’ll never be loss              
We’ll all be shielded but at what cost

Life has taught you to protect yourself
To not take the fall, stay back from the edge
But love might be right within your reach
If you risk falling for me
Risk the fall for me

Risk the Fall

The Reach Around

Written, Arranged, Performed, and Produced by Kyle Bolan
Art by Kyle Bolan

Lyrics:
Whatever pours out of me I hope is for you
Messenger divine love to pass through
I cant get out of myself, my wandering is held too
Messenger divine love to pass through

Lay on my side and think of what I've shared
What I wished and should've dared
Inconsistency, the mark of human love
The hurt and ache come sharp from above

Plant yourself like cacti in sand
Live hardy on discipline in the harsh hot land
Divining hexagrams on the newsprint texture
This page will lie heavy for sure

God has eaten man, fair grace
Whoever he takes he uses, fade trace

Lacking in basic motor skills
while collecting a diverse set of wills
Third world journey, travel by train
Throw off my jacket and any other trappings
that leave a social stain

Sorry for being here 
at the foot of the mountain
With my cast aside clothes and wrappings
that I will not have again

Messenger divine love to pass through
Whatever pours out of me I hope is for you
Messenger divine love to pass through
I can't get out of myself
My wandering is held too
               March 31, 2025

Three Tails

Organics (2025)

A Hard Go     Original song (lyrics and music by Mike Dampf copyright 2025) Flute and percussion - Becky Sora; Bass - David Leadbitter; Guitar - Dave Medcof; Guitar, banjo etc - Mike Dampf 

It's a hard go, shuffling in line
papers in my hand, children on my mind
the day my job gave out, the first snow come flying
it's a hard go and I feel like crying

It's a lifetime of dreams I've already lived
and there's plenty of love I'm willing to give
but the world digs you up, then shovels you in
and you just want to sleep under blankets of gin

It's a pretty hard go and it's a pretty long way
from here to where a peaceful mind
can greet a sunny day
and it's a hard go, hoping my worries will end
but I know I'll find the heart again

A Hard Go

Writing songs and kitchen party playing with my many musical friends ... pretty much sums it up.