Name: Don’t matter how much you try by Stephen Ignacio
Duration: 3 min 23 s
Description: … it’s okay to not be okay… take the ride and let there be a tomorrow ….

[Verse 1 ]
The paths just twist…
Turning across plains that no longer exist.
The sweeping winds roughen the skin…
Scraping the debris from the disease.
What will we find?
When the echoes of the past fade away.
A silent night with twinkling stars
But no sounds to remind us of our past.
[Chorus]
So what do you hope to gain
If that is what we gave
You can’t ask for redemption
Once all is gone
[crowd] (YOU ARE THE DISEASE!)
[crowd] (YOU NEED TO GO!)
[Verse 2]
The pot holes we left…
From all the ores we found…
What were their use?
When all that is left are holes on the ground.
You’ll have to walk past them…
Feeling the dust hanging above ’em.
Where nothing now grows…
And just the winds sweep
The scraps of the ores.
[Chorus]
So what do you hope to gain
If that is what we gave
You can’t ask for redemption
Once all is gone
[crowd] (YOU ARE THE DISEASE!)
[crowd] (YOU NEED TO GO!)
[Bridge – stripped back, chanting rhythm]
[singer – low, spoken] You will sense the heat coming…
Reminding you of the eternal fires you created…
And every day the dust becomes ash,
The colours fade to the dust,
And all you have left are the greys around you…
Across the plains that no longer exist.
[crowd] (YOU NEED TO GO!)
(YOU NEED TO GO!)
(YOU NEED TO GO!)
[Chorus – band and crowd together]
So what do you hope to gain
If that is what we gave
You can’t ask for redemption
Once all is gone
[crowd] (YOU ARE THE DISEASE!)
[crowd] (YOU NEED TO GO!)
[Final chorus – extended outro]
So what do you hope to gain
If that is what we gave
You can’t ask for redemption
Once all is gone
[crowd] (YOU ARE THE DISEASE!)
[crowd] (YOU NEED TO GO!)
[Band – hit one final sustained chord]
But there is no forgiveness to be given…
Eventually the dust will scrap away the disease…
[crowd] (THE DISEASE YOU ARE!)

You are the disease you need to go

One second please…
That’s all I ask.
One second please…
Comes the gasp.
Gasping for air;
There isn’t much.
Everything whirling,
Twirling,
Curling,
Swirling…
One second please…
That’s all I ask.
One second please…
Comes the gasp.
Here, there…
Go everywhere…
Stop,
pause,
go;
Pause,
go:
Here,
there…
Everywhere.
Stop, stop, stop.
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
That’s all I ask;
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
Not much to ask.
Have you started,
Have you finished.
Have you done it,
Can I have it,
I need it,
Is it finished,
I am hungry.
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
That’s all I ask.
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
Comes the gasp.
Where’s the air,
Breathe, just breathe.
I can’t,
I can’t.
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
Comes the gasp.
Silence,
silence.
It’s nighttime.
Not again, please.
I can’t relax.
Is it over?
Here it starts again,
It’s the nighttime,
Not again, please.
ONE SECOND PLEASE…
Not much to ask.
But who to?

Pressure pressure

[Intro – soft bass drone, minimal guitar]
A barrier stands between me
And that which I am
Pushing and shoving me
Even though I want to reach out
It’s not a simple barrier to disguise
It tightens inside
Curdles my spirit
Sending sorrow through my body
[Build – subtle percussion enters]
A sinking feeling every time the barrier acts
You know it’s not real
It’s fear
Fear of nothing which actually exists
Just your mind’s lies
But real enough —
At least for oneself
To remove who I am
[Low, distant guitar swells]
Peering eyes that don’t exist
Critical words that have not been spoken
And probably never will
But enough of a mindset
Pushing and shoving you away
Even though I want to reach out
[Hook – whispered, layered vocals]
(Pushing and shoving me…)
(Even though I want to reach out…)
[Verse – steady groove builds]
A thousand stories roam in the head
Each one needs to be told
Created from blank sheets
But few will be shown
For the barrier impedes me
It stills me
Guides me away
Pushing and shoving me
Even though I want to reach out
[Bridge – rising intensity, drums build]
The barrier came once upon a time
But I do not know when
It froze me to a standstill
And never thawed
It’s coldness dulling the warmth in myself
Ridiculing every thought
Dismissing all I know
Pushing and shoving me
Even though I want to reach out
[Breakdown – bass only, heartbeat pulse]
The barrier bounced me
Making me run
Distant from where I wished to be
And with its push
And its shoves
Kept me from reaching out anymore
[Outro – sparse, slow fade]
But maybe one day
The cold will go
The fears will fade
And the peering eyes will close
And the push and the shoves
Will no longer be there
Though you know
The critics will never go
[End – single bass note fades into silence]

Running Away From Oneself

Lyrics

[slow, low voice]
Disguised in the words from men of peace
The ashes will fall upon the innocent
Draping their world
Cluttering their existence
[pause – soft echo of title]
(And from the ashes…)
[rising voice, drawn out]
Of the fires that rage across the horizons
Where no man will venture to
Will come the rebirth
Of the souls that never perished
But whose spirits were torn
[measured pace]
Disguised in the words of men of peace
Those who remain will linger
Aimlessly pondering where to go
Across the grey strewn ash-filled plains
Of extinguished fires
And crumbling rubbles
[gentle, almost whispered]
A child clasped in their arms
A toy held tightly
A doll a sole reminder of a past
[crowd – chant-like]
Disguised in the words of men of peace
[voice heavier, sharper]
The ashes will fall among us
No colour of skin
No continent to protect us
[slow, intense rhythm]
The fires will rage
The waters will no longer quench thirst
Books now turned to ash
Keyboards melted
Screens blank
And only reminders of the past
[crowd chant, louder]
Disguised in the words of men of peace
[voice softening, hopeful tone]
The ashes will fall
And only when the rains fall
When futures grow
And when the souls emerge from the fires
Will humanity once again emerge
[outro – whispered]
(And from the ashes shall come…)

And from the ashes shall come

[soft, reflective tone. slow pacing. background ambient/drone begins]

Yes… three minutes.
Is it much to ask for? [pause]
That is the time I’m asking you to spend,
to listen to what I have to say.

Just three minutes.
Is it too much to ask for?
Can you spare… just three minutes? [pause]

I understand if you can’t.
Nobody seems able to spend just three minutes.
Everyone tells me:
“Later. I’ll listen later.” [pause]
And I keep on asking myself…
when exactly is later?
Because it never seems to come.

[slightly firmer, but still calm]
Just three minutes.
I’m not asking much.
It’s not even having to stop,
to exercise your eyes and mind —
although you can.

But no.
I’m just asking you to listen,
for three minutes.

You can continue doing what you are doing.
Continue with what you have.
You can even just let me be… in your background,
not really listening.

But I am asking…
can you listen,
for just three minutes? [pause]

[slightly softer, confiding]
I know I’m not a trend.
Nor am I what others listen to.
But I am asking you —
yes… you.
Can you give me just three minutes of your time?

It’s not a test.
It’s not a challenge.
You don’t have to give me your three minutes.
You don’t have to listen.
And with this, I know you won’t now.
You’ll tell me:
“Later, I will.”

But I am asking still.
Can I have… just your three minutes?

[slight rise in intensity]
You know…
in those three minutes,
you will learn a lot of what a lifetime is.
And maybe understand better
who you have allowed to hear.

And maybe you will realise…
you never did listen before,
if you never gave me those three minutes,
but left me for “later.”

[lower, thoughtful tone]
Luckily for you,
I am still here to ask.
But maybe… I wouldn’t have been.

Is three minutes too much? [pause]

[soft, almost fading now]
I know there are so many three minutes you are asked for,
that it’s easier to say “later” —
especially to those you know…
and who won’t ask you again.

And if they do…
it won’t feel like a demand.

[fade out. silence lingers.]

3mins

1. The Seas Roughen
A cinematic instrumental journey led by bagpipes, Basque pipes, and Japanese flutes. Beginning with a calm shoreline breeze, the music swells into storm and battle before softening into rain and finally sunlight — a tale of nature’s fury and calm.

#cinematic #instrumental #soundtrack #orchestral #bagpipes #shakuhachi #worldmusic #epic #atmospheric #storm #instrumentalmusic #nature #epicmusic

The Seas Roughen

2. The Seas Roughen – The Siren’s Call
A haunting vocal soundscape with no words, only voices. From gentle hums and ethereal choirs to storm-like cries and whispers of rain, the piece mirrors the rise and fall of the sea. A siren’s presence is felt in every breath and harmony.

#cinematic #vocal #choir #haunting #atmospheric #soundscape #ethereal #mythic #epic #voices #ambient #storm #vocalmusic

The Seas Roughen – The Siren’s Call

3. The Seas Roughen – The Story Told of a Siren’s Lament
A spoken-word narration of myth and mystery. The tale of a siren who warns, mourns, and protects sailors across the centuries — her beauty unseen, her voice mistaken for a curse, her song forever carried in the waves.

#spokenword #narration #storytelling #cinematic #myth #legend #siren #voiceover #dramatic #ocean #narrative #audiobookstyle #atmospheric

The Seas Roughen – The Story Told of a Siren’s Lament

… it’s okay to not be okay… take the ride and let there be a tomorrow ….

Don’t matter how much you try

I’ve known sadness;
   Without tears.
I’ve known madness;
   Without fears;
Schools of scholars;
  Without knowledge.
Packs of politicians;
  Sharing ideas.

But never have I known;
   You.

I’ve seen zoos;
  Without cages.
Simple minds;
  Debating.
I’ve seen dogs;
  With a purr.
And preachers;
 Dressed in slurs.

But never have I seen you.

But never have I seen you.

I’ve known bravery
  Immersed with fear;
Battle hardened soldiers,
 Crying with real tears.
I’ve seen criminals;
 Helping old ladies.
Bankers going crazy.

But I’ve never heard of you

But I’ve never heard of you

So what makes you different?
  Is it the tales you will be telling?
Is it the promises you’ll make?
Or the cons from which you’ll fake?

I’ve known sadness;
   Without tears.
I’ve known madness;
   Without fears;
Schools of scholars;
  Without knowledge.
Packs of politicians;
  Sharing ideas.

But never have I known; You.

I’ve known liars tell truths,
But never have I seen anything like you.

[outro]
Never have I seen anything like you.

Nothing Stranger than you

Don’t be fooled I’m no musician or singer, far from it I cannot sing since age of 12 since my voice broke and I had to leave the school choir. But I am a creative, and artist, better known for my drawings and illustrations than any other part of my art. 

However, my art is about communicating ideas, ideologies, thoughts, emotions and from drawing to installations, to sound I will delve through it and produce as I go. 

Word and sound have been two constants but never found a delivery vehicle through which I could reach a wider audience, particularly with my word art. I’m not into putting myself out and at the forefront, I am more the one at the back of the crowd. 

So delivery was always an issue. And then I found AI, not to create my art but to deliver. 
Original word art transformed into song tracks by having a voice and finding the right genres, styles, fusions of different styles and language.

Every piece is my original word art, for you that would translate to Lyrics, but it has a wider context for me. And AI assisted in creating the track.

So this is just one of my projects.

Importantly to me is bringing my word art into the public arena for once is a completion of successfully navigating past one of the biggest obstacles in my life. In school whilst I was not in the lower classes, yes tier systems suck, I was considered as someone who would fail English. If told enough times you will, so I did. It took a teacher I will never forget to pick me up and show me that others were wrong and he showed me I could do it. But the scars were always to stay. So language has always been my inferiority complex. Ironically my art took me to become a reporter although  always very much never believing my worth, and also hiding my written word art from the public, even the family. Things changed when at my later years I’m realising I have nothing to be ashamed of as I have achieved a lot and it’s time to take a plunge and let the words flow out into the public arena.

I have a voice, it speaks all day and like all my work I have stories to tell or wish to tell. Thoughts I wish to discuss, ideas I wish to have others debate, emotions I wish to describe, protests I wish to scream out, sounds I wish others to hear, whispers I want to send into the breeze, joy and play I wish to share.

As a follower of cybernetics art I believe I am just the delivery vehicle, original source, the prospect that others could use the sound and take it further is something which has not gone past me, hence this now becomes a collaborative work.

Sharing to make the art develop, grow, mature and spread wider than its original intent of putting words together to express something.

Maybe there are human singers out there who will use my words, or visualisers who will push the visuals further. All I ask is for the authorship of the original words and their composition to be respected and rewarded as deserved, respecting their origins. 

But take it on and take it forward if you wish and let me know where and how it’s gone so the connection and link is maintained.

On the simpler level I hope the words find an audience and provide something for someone, even if it’s just one person.

As I say I am not a singer or a musician just a creative doing his art. A whole lot of respect to those who have their own voices and talents in music, my words are mine and I use AI trying to find you with that talent to take my words on. Not out of disrespect. But Ai gives me a chance to reach out where I have not had a chance, and hopefully connect with others by offering my word art. 

You will find I’m one who stands behind the crowds, and I intend to stay there as that’s were I feel safe.

Don’t matter how much you try

Stephen Ignacio

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