"Shawn" is an intimate folk ballad honoring a brother lost too soon. Through emotional male vocals and gentle acoustic fingerpicking, this song tells the story of a former soldier who struggled with civilian life after military service. The lyrics weave a poignant narrative of brotherly protection, unspoken pain, and the unanswered questions left behind.

Each verse portrays different chapters of Shawn's journey—from military service to civilian struggles—while the recurring June motif creates a temporal anchor for grief. The pre-chorus captures the devastating moment of discovery, while the chorus serves as both lament and tribute to a "silent knight." The bridge addresses complex family dynamics that often accompany loss, adding emotional depth to this musical memorial.

More than a song, "Shawn" is a heartfelt conversation with a beloved brother whose memory endures beyond his absence—offering solace to anyone who has experienced the complicated grief of losing someone to suicide.

Shawn

Please follow: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TuHLZaDhxt6bLGZGKukJ7
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#OneMoreCurveAhead #OutlawCountry #CountryRock #SouthernRock #AmericanaMusic #AltCountry #RoadTripSong #MidnightHighway #DustyRoads #NewMusic2025 #GuitarSolo #StorytellingSong #RaspyVocals #HeartlandRock #TruckAnthem #HighwayVibes #DesertNight #MoonlitDrive #RawEnergy #LiveSession #RootsRock #RebelMusic #BreakupAnthem #GrittyLyrics #RoadWarrior #WesternGrit #EpicChorus #HeartacheSongs #IndieRockCountry #UndergroundHit
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[Verse 1
Been schooled by the black-top, taught by the dust,
Slept in the shadow of a diesel’s rust.
Thought I’d mastered the chapters of heartache and burn—
Turns out the hardest page is still waitin’ its turn.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.

Verse 2
I’ve bartered with barrooms, lied to the law,
Carved my confession in a tooth-marked drawl.
But the mirror keeps whisperin’, son, you ain’t through—
There’s a brand-new lesson hidin’ in the powder-keg blue.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.

Bridge
So light me a lantern of whiskey and sin,
Let the sparks spell the sermons I carry within.
If wisdom’s a bullet, I’m spinnin’ the drum—
Click after click till the final round comes.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.Verse 1
Been schooled by the black-top, taught by the dust,
Slept in the shadow of a diesel’s rust.
Thought I’d mastered the chapters of heartache and burn—
Turns out the hardest page is still waitin’ its turn.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.

Verse 2
I’ve bartered with barrooms, lied to the law,
Carved my confession in a tooth-marked drawl.
But the mirror keeps whisperin’, son, you ain’t through—
There’s a brand-new lesson hidin’ in the powder-keg blue.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.

Bridge
So light me a lantern of whiskey and sin,
Let the sparks spell the sermons I carry within.
If wisdom’s a bullet, I’m spinnin’ the drum—
Click after click till the final round comes.

Chorus
‘Cause every mile draws a line I ain’t crossed,
Every truth leaves another coin tossed.
Yeah, the more I ride, the more I learn
There’s always one more curve, one more bridge to burn.

One More Curve Ahead

So nice that my longtime collaborator friend @dough-factory has returned to SoundCloud after a break of a couple years! This is our first track working together since then and it came together in a really cool way. I was inspired by Ryan's electronic drums and bass to lay down some rhythm guitar as well as a few synth leads. Then he came up with some awesome lyrics/vocals that I think captures the vibe of this piece quite well.

Keep an eye out for more from us, we are thinking of pulling together a whole album or EP over the coming months.

Dive

[Verse]
You're only a kid
You're gonna fall in love with a boy who only wants what he can't have
You're gonna give yourself away
Then you're gonna find out the hard way
That they never stay

[Chorus]
Don't you cry
'Cause one day
You'll meet a boy who makes you feel alive
And he won't try to change a thing
He's gonna put a ring on your finger
So don't you cry

[Verse]
It's okay to say "no"
Even when it feels like you should let go of your boundaries
There's gonna be a friend you think will be there 'til the end
But it's not the end

[Chorus]
Don't you cry
You're gonna meet some friends who love you for your heart and mind
And they'll always have your back
You'll have all of that
So don't you cry

[Verse]
You're gonna make some mistakes
You're gonna find out that you love girls and that's okay
You're gonna wish you never did that
You're gonna lose the people that you love
And it will hurt
But you will learn from all of that

[Chorus]
Don't you cry
You're gonna find some happiness
You're gonna be alright
So please don't waste your tears
Everything will clear
Don't you cry

[Verse]
Every love was a lesson
A key and a blessing
Every person who left you
Was never really meant to
You spent your time
Dwellin' on lies
But soon you'll see
All the reasons they were in your life
Soon you can be happy
(Soon you'll be happy)

[Bridge]
If I could write a letter to my past
I'd tell myself to make the good times last
I wouldn't change the things I used to say
I'd tell myself to make the same mistakes
If I could write a letter to my past
I'd tell myself to make the good times last
I wouldn't change the things I used to say
I'd tell myself to make the same mistakes
Oh

[Outro]
Every heartbreak will be your healing
It'll reveal your deepest feelings
So thank every tear
That ever rolled down on your face
Be grateful for the space
'Cause it'll give you strength
To move on
And soon you'll see
The reason it wasn't meant to be


Letter to My Past

Schalter Off

Let’s not mince words here. Trump is the embodiment of corruption, greed, and incompetence. He’s a man who has spent his entire life looking out for himself, exploiting others, and leaving chaos in his wake. As De Niro so eloquently put it: *“He’s a dog. He’s a pig. He’s a con. He’s a bullsh*t artist. He’s a mutt who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”* This isn’t just about politics—it’s about morality. It’s about standing up to a man who has no respect for the rule of law, no respect for the truth, and no respect for the American people.  

Trump’s presidency was a disaster. He divided the country, emboldened hate, and failed to deliver on his promises. He’s a man who thrives on chaos, who lies with every breath, and who cares only about his own ego. As De Niro said: *“He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a mutt. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s an idiot. He’s a fool.”* And yet, here we are, facing the possibility of him returning to power. We cannot let that happen. We cannot allow this man to continue to poison our democracy.  

This is not just about Trump—it’s about the people who enable him. The sycophants, the cowards, and the opportunists who stand by his side and allow his corruption to flourish. They are just as guilty as he is. As De Niro said: *“They’re all scum. They’re all mutts. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”* We need to hold them accountable. We need to stand up and fight back.  

The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines. This is about the soul of our nation. It’s about protecting our democracy, our values, and our future. We cannot afford to let Trump and his enablers win. We must vote, we must organize, and we must make our voices heard. As De Niro said: *“We’re gonna fight back. We’re gonna fight back with everything we’ve got.”*  

So let’s do this. Let’s come together and defeat Trump once and for all. Let’s show the world that we are better than this. That we will not tolerate corruption, lies, and hate. That we will stand up for what’s right. As De Niro said: *“We’re gonna win. We’re gonna win because we have to.”*  

This is our moment. This is our fight. Let’s get to work.  

#DefeatTrump #VoteHimOut #NotMyPresident #DeNiroWasRigh

He's in the Files

Giving and Taking (open invitation for a collaboration from IPG1) 
https://soundcloud.com/ipg1/giving-and-taking-vox-90-bpm
Paploviante: E-Bass, Music, Composing, Arrangement, Mix and Mastering
Lyrics IPG1:
Cloud Stepping (Chorus) Life is relative, 
to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, 
to giving and taking it 
Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few 
we have can nearly fit
(Verse1) 
If we knew it all, and all, and all 
Then nothing would matter It’s all a puzzle to be solved 
We have always been the answer 
The plan of god without reward 
Evolves in different ways 
We are all awake in different dreams 
To let the devil play
(Verse2)
 Who amongst us hear the screams 
Of millions of lives lost,  and don’t look on it as savagery
 And wonder what’s the cost 
What’s the worth, and what’s the cost 
Are we listening or not 
Are we listening or not
(Chorus)
 Life is relative, to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, to giving and taking it Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few we have can nearly fit

Giving And Taking IPG1 and Paploviante

Cool Funky backing track provided by Freddie Edwards ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cs1NwbZp2w
Inspired by the following presentation ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nwdRIXGjc
POVERTY FOR PROFIT WHORES
You got your section-eight slumlords
Payday loans nobody can afford
IRS tax return skimmers
Corp’rate middleman breadwinners 
Gettin’ rich off the poor, poverty for profit whores

CHORUS
They gotcha payin’ more for a low credit score
Get behind on your bills, get charged more
Gettin’ rich off the poor
Poverty for profit whores

Yeah, they’ll get you by any means
They be keepin’ people on kidney machines
Foster children funds stolen by the state
Privatization schemes at your gate
Gettin’ rich off the poor, poverty for profit whores, oh

CHORUS
Payin’ more for a low credit score
Get behind on your bills, get charged more
Gettin’ rich off the poor
Poverty for Profit whores

[Music/adlib]

Oh, and the bigger the monopolies grow
The higher food prices go
They gotcha financing groceries at the Walmart checkout
Miss one payment the usury leaves you flat-out
Gettin’ rich off the poor, poverty for profit whores

So, when you take a look around the USA
All that poverty is somebody’s payday
And you’re one paycheck from livin’ in your car
Jude stole it all from your, your cookie jar
Gettin’ rich off the poor, poverty for profit whores

CHORUS
Gotcha payin’ more for a low credit score
Get behind on your bills, get f*cked more
Gettin’ rich off the poor
Poverty for profit whores

We gotta eat the rich to save the poor 
We gotta eat the rich to save the poor
Needin’ more pitchforks than never before
Gettin’ rich off the poor, poverty for profit whores
Poverty for profit
Poverty for profit whores
Poverty for profit
Poverty for profit whores
Gettin’ rich off the poor
Poverty For Profit Whores.

© 2025 Renee La Chapelle – All Rights Reserved

POVERTY FOR PROFIT WHORES

The Middle of Nowhere 

Holding hands through native lands 
Just south of Oklahoma
Open road ahead and your face is red 
from the taillights of a Tacoma

We’re passing signs and passing time 
with a Bob Dylan CD
When I nearly choke laughing at your joke
‘bout how he can’t stay on key

Then right there on the highway 
you turn and look my way 
and there’s no place I’d rather be

I swear I don’t care
How fast we get there
So long as you’re here
In the middle of nowhere with me

Route 66, blue Pixy Sticks, 
and old school road trip games
Nothing to do, but look at you, 
the landscape’s all the same

License plates from fifty states
You say, “Let’s skip Hawaii”
Go to Idaho, but I tell you no
Taking forever’s fine by me

And right there in the moment, 
the feeling’s so potent, 
and there’s no place I’d rather be

I swear I don’t care
How fast we get there
So long as you’re here
In the middle of nowhere with me

Darling, I swear
God answered my prayers
when he put you right here
In the middle of nowhere with me

We could just drive
For the rest of our lives
If we never arrive
That’d be just fine

I swear I don’t care
How fast we get there
So long as you’re here
In the middle of nowhere with me

Darling, I swear
God answered my prayers
when he put you right here
In the middle of nowhere with me

Holding hands through frozen lands 
Somewhere north of New York City
Open road ahead and my face is red 
when you tell me I look so pretty 

We’re passing signs and passing time 
with a Bob Dylan CD
When I nearly choke at that same old joke
‘bout how he can’t stay on key

Dear Diary

the middle of nowhere

Default mode on

You are better off without me. 


Verse 1: 

I'll never forget that last day I kissed your cheek. I never imagined that from that afternoon on I'd never see you again.

Verse 2: 

Everything clouded over in my heart. You were a part of my life, and in your absence, everything was lost. I cried trying to understand why you were leaving. Until I understood that I deserved it.

Bridge: 

Now I see clearly. I respect your distance. I even confess that it's fare what happened.

Chorus: 

You're better off without me. Your friends tell me so. That your lips smile more and you look fuller. You're better off without me. I saw it in your photographs. Your eyes shine brighter, and you even look more beautiful. I only pray for you every day, convinced that I loved you very much, but I didn't understand the meaning. And now that you're gone, I faint from your absence, and in my loneliness, for all I've done wrong, I beg for mercy. 

Verse 3: 

I remember your words, your laughter, your silences. Everything that made me happy, now everything is uncertain. I wonder if you'll ever think of me, or if I'm dead to you.
 
I wonder if you'll ever think of me, if you'll remember my name... and my existence


Español 

Estás mejor sin mi. 

Verso 1: 

"Jamás olvidaré, ese último día que tu mejilla besé.
 Nunca imaginé, que desde esa tarde ya no te vería otra vez"

 Verso 2: 

"Todo se nubló en mi corazón, 
eras parte de mi vida 
y en tu ausencia 
todo se perdió. 

Lloraba intentando comprender por qué te ibas. 
Hasta que entendí, que eso me lo merecía"

 Puente: 

"Ahora veo claro, respeto tu distancia, incluso te confieso que fue justo lo que pasa"

Coro: 

 "Estás mejor sin mí, me lo dicen tus amigas, 
que sonríen más tus labios y te ves más rellenita 
 Estás mejor sin mí
lo vi en tus fotografías, 
tus ojos brillan más
 y se te ve hasta más bonita.

Yo sólo rezo por ti todos los días convencido, 
de que te quise mucho 
pero no supe el sentido. 
Y ahora que no estás, 
desfallezco por tu ausencia, 
y en mi soledad, 
por todo lo que hice mal, 
te pido clemencia.


Verso 3:

 "Recuerdo tus palabras, tus risas, tus silencios. 
Todo lo que me hacía feliz, 
ahora todo es incierto. 
Me pregunto si alguna vez pensarás en mí, o si para ti estoy muerto."

Coro: 

"Estás mejor sin mi, 
me lo dicen tus amigas, 
que sonríen más tus labios y te ves más rellenita. 

Estás mejor sin mi, 
lo vi en tus fotografías,
 tus ojos brillan más, 
y se te ve hasta más bonita.

 Yo sólo rezo por ti, 
 todos los días convencido, 
de que te quise mucho
 pero no supe el sentido. 
Y ahora que no estás, 
desfallezco por tu ausencia, 
y en mi soledad, 
por todo lo que hice mal, 
te pido clemencia.

Me pregunto si alguna vez pensarás en mí, si recordarás mi nombre...y mi existencia.. 

Letra: Miguel Ángel Botello

D'mendo Boteli. Todos los derechos reservados D'mendo Boteli ©1994 ©2020 ©2021 ©2022 ©2025



Estás mejor sin mi - D'mendo Boteli.mp3

Xak Stahl: Alchemist of Sound, Architect of Emotion

Xak Stahl is a genre-blurring music artist, sonic storyteller, and relentless experimenter. Every track he creates is a new world—a kaleidoscope of indie folk, alt-pop, electronica, and global flavors—infused with raw emotion and boundless curiosity. Xak’s music isn’t just heard; it’s felt.

From Shadow to Spotlight

For Xak, music is metamorphosis. His journey began in the shadows, transmuting heartbreak and struggle into songs that glow with hope. Early anthems like “Neon Dreams” and “Rising Through the Darkness” invite listeners to find their own light. His newest project, Major Arcana, channels the mysteries of the Tarot—each song an archetype, each lyric a step along the path from the Fool’s first leap to the wisdom of The World.

More Than Music: A Multisensory Universe

But Xak isn’t confined to sound. As a visual artist and writer, he crafts immersive stories that spill across genres and languages—sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always honest. Whether he’s conjuring lush soundscapes, weaving bilingual lyrics, or creating striking visuals, Xak’s art dares you to feel deeper and dream wilder.

An Invitation to Transformation

Join Xak Stahl on a sonic odyssey that blurs borders—between genres, between artforms, between you and the music. Each release is an invitation to explore, to heal, to become. For Xak, every song is a spell, every album a universe. The only question is: are you ready to step inside?

Shawn

XAK STAHL