Name: Dreams of Elsewhere by Mike Dedrick
Duration: 6 min 42 s
Description: Hard-hitting riffs and emotive melodies. Separation from Soul is a cathartic, reflective exploration of loss.

Half Ground

This song's aesthetics were vaguely inspired by @holidaysintheusa  more spacey/ambient songs as well as these two videos:
https://youtu.be/i41mDWwydxo
https://youtu.be/Vmz-yFfkgdU

Be sure to check 'em out when you get the chance. 

The big cover art is by Małgorzata Lapsa-Malawska - Pretty badass in our opinion.

Anyway, thematically, it's about empathy. I don't think there is enough space to fully explain how we perceive this topic. But the story is specifically about how blind empathy can bite you in the ass if you're feeling empathy for a "monster", i.e. sociopath. Think "Red Riding Hood". 

Because these "monsters" will manipulate you into believing that they are  harmless and will cry begging for help and/or your empathy, and for you to understand and forgive all of the horrors they inflict on others, when in reality it's nothing but a ruse to reel you into their manipulation and inflict those horrors on you. 

In the real world, the story's situation can take many forms. At a personal level, most people have, or will be led on and manipulated by a sociopath. If you zoom out, however, there have been hundreds of studies that show that certain positions of power in our world are particularly attractive to sociopaths, simply because of the nature of the job. Politicians, CEOs, Surgeons, Police Officers, Preachers, etc... All these jobs have extreme levels of influence in the world we live in, and are all plagued by people who will go to extreme lengths to come out on top in every situation. But those, everyone knows about, and stands guard against the possibility of a monster among those. But, what about the downtrodden? The ones who appear weak? The ones that don't seem to have any influence whatsoever? Could these groups also have monsters among their ranks? If they do, only our empathy for their struggle is what empowers them and gives them the influence that every monster so intensely desires.

Why would Red Riding Hood consider the poor wolf a monster if it's just a sweet old lady?

------------------------------------------------------------------

Took the wrong turn 
Hiking in the woods
I do feel safe, but should head home soon

Faded song of birds
Fly towards the moon
For my own sake, I should head home soon

Silence ain't the word
Empathy was not my cure
I've strayed too far from my little commune

Faced now with a choice
To mend a mind's detours
I strained too hard, I should head home soon


In cold winds
Herald the silence of night
Cold winds
Speak in words of delight


I hear crying
Could it be infant? A child?
In distress? Alas...
Stuck in these woods, even I'm Oppressed 


I walk towards the sound
If anything, I'll help
It's already implied what this path entails

I'm here after all
And I know this path so well
I'm already inclined to what lies in it's trail


Strong winds
Bring the loudest invites
But no wind
Now even the owls gone quiet


I hear grunts
What is it? I can tell it is no child
Disguised, it was lies
Alone in these woods, Monsters, too, can cry


[Bridge]


And so I see how I was wrong
Betrayed by my own heart
I hoped to see the Light, instead I find the Dark

Monsters too do beg for life
But only once they've been caught
I can't bear to describe what I found in the Dark


I squint
To see the coldest of eyes
In a pool of red
Here, even the Devil is pale white


///////////MAY 2025

Monsters, Too, Can Cry

Me, acoustic guitar & phone app, just reflecting on the haunting lyrics here of "All Apologies" that speak to certain people among me who wish I ode them an apology while it's reverse in truth. I'll never forget when many years ago the lyric "aqua seafoam shame" popped in my head, started my car & heard that same lyric on the radio.

Colliding Clouds/ an "All Apologies" reflection

Hard-hitting riffs and emotive melodies. Separation from Soul is a cathartic, reflective exploration of loss.

Dreams of Elsewhere

A little tribute jam to some of my favourite 90s downtempo heroes; Nightmares on Wax, K&D, The Irresistible Force, Funki Porcini,
Jimpster, Bola etc. I wonder if there was a pirate radio station at the top of this tower block?

Yesterday's Dreams of Tomorrow

Counting cards

Mastered by A7 Recording Studio

This songs describes where I'm at these days.

Lyrics:
You think I’ve reached the day, when things have stopped goin’ my way,
It’s scary to consider,  my feet turnin’ into clay,
But there’s that breeze, the greens of the trees,
The beauty makes my head pop so I’ll  keep
Livin’ each day, prayin’ to stay,
Keepin’ that body together.
                                           
I heard the doctor say, 
To stop skippin’ over the ocean,
You know I’ll surely pay,
For acting on every notion,
But look at the sky, the sun flyin’ by,
It’s calling me on and on so I’ll keep
Livin’ each day, praying to stay,
Keepin’ that soul together.

That pile of pills seems to grow bigger every day,
If something gets me they’ll be evidence exhibit “A”,
So head for the hills, forget about wills,
Soak up all the nature and calm and just keep
Livin’ each day, praying to stay,
Keepin’ it all together.

Keepin’ it all, keepin’ it all together.
Keepin’ it all, keepin’ it all together.
          
Yeah, I heard the doctor say, 
I should stop skippin’ over the ocean,
And I’ll surely pay,
For acting on every notion,
But look at the sky, the sun flyin’ by,
It’s calling me on and on so I’ll keep
Livin’ each day, praying to stay,
Keepin’ it all together.

Keepin’ it all, keepin’ it all together.
Keepin’ it all, keepin’ it all together.

Dreams of Elsewhere

Mike Dedrick

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