In this week's episode, Paul, Aaron, and Gunnar welcome Mike Kellar to the Big Idea podcast to close out the Spiritual Friendship Series with a discussion on Covenant Friendship.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, press play, and join the conversation.

Episode 009: The Big Idea Podcast - Spiritual Friendship Series  (Covenant Friendship)

🎶 "Still Standin’" is a deep and uncompromising anthem about street survival, where every day is a battle. 

However, the song is also a powerful plea for hope and resilience. It emphasizes the essential role of real friendship (Homies) and the search for inner peace (symbolized by marijuana) as a mental coping mechanism to keep pushing forward. It is a dedication to everyone fighting daily, yet still "Still Standin’" and searching for their way to the light.


Artist Page: Sound Around The World
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sound-around-the-world

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sound_sround_the_world


🎶 Song: Still Standin’
Genre: Hip Hop / Rap/ Soulful / Hopeful / Storytelling
Release: 2025


🎧 Lyrics:
[Intro]  
Life in the streets ain’t easy, nah.  
Every sunrise feel like another test.  
But we keep breathin’, keep dreamin’,  
'Cause we still standin’.  

[Hook]  
It’s a hard life on these streets, every day I pray,  
Tryna make it out alive, in my own damn way.  
Roll one up, take the pain away,  
Still breathin’, still dreamin’, yeah I’m here today.  
Good friends by my side, we gon’ find that light,  
Even in the dark nights, we gon’ be alright.  
Keep my faith in the sky, hope in my lungs,  
Still standin’, still strong, till the pain is done.  

[Verse 1]  
Woke up to sirens singin’, that city blues,  
Mama workin’ two jobs, still payin’ dues.  
Bills on the table, dreams on hold,  
Heart made of struggle, soul made of gold.  

Police lights flash, but I keep my cool,  
Learned more on the block than I did in school.  
Every scar on my skin, that’s a story told,  
About survival, loyalty, and broken souls.  

Smoke risin’ up, yeah, calm my head,  
That green keep me balanced when I’m close to the edge.  
I ain’t glorifyin’ pain, I’m just speakin’ truth,  
Every puff another prayer to the ones I knew.  

[Hook – repeat]  
It’s a hard life on these streets, every day I pray,  
Tryna make it out alive, in my own damn way.  
Roll one up, take the pain away,  
Still breathin’, still dreamin’, yeah I’m here today.  
Good friends by my side, we gon’ find that light,  
Even in the dark nights, we gon’ be alright.  
Keep my faith in the sky, hope in my lungs,  
Still standin’, still strong, till the pain is done.  

[Verse 2]  
Lost some brothers to the game, some to the pen,  
Some found peace, never came back again.  
But I still see their faces when I light that flame,  
Say a prayer to the sky, whisper out their names.  

Life’s heavy like chains, but we keep movin’,  
Street symphony playin’, hearts keep groovin’.  
Every setback just another reason to rise,  
Every tear that I cried made me open my eyes.  

Got my homies by my side, we share the same scars,  
Same dreams of better days and faster cars.  
But it ain’t the money that define my fate,  
It’s the love that I give, the truth I state.  

[Bridge]  
If you know the pain, then you know the fight,  
If you lost your way, you can find your light.  
It’s cold out here, but I keep my flame,  
Still thank God that I ain’t the same.  

We rise from the dirt, turn pain into art,  
Turn a broken past to a brand new start.  
They can take what’s mine, but not my soul,  
Still standin’ tall, still in control.  

[Hook]  
It’s a hard life on these streets, every day I pray,  
Tryna make it out alive, in my own damn way.  
Roll one up, take the pain away,  
Still breathin’, still dreamin’, yeah I’m here today.  

Good friends by my side, we gon’ find that light,  
Even in the dark nights, we gon’ be alright.  
Keep my faith in the sky, hope in my lungs,  
Still standin’, still strong, till the pain is done.  

Still standin’… (yeah)  
Still standin’… (uh)  
Still standin’… day by day.  

[Outro – Spoken softly]  
To all my people still fightin’…  
Keep your head high,  
Keep your circle tight,  
And never forget —  
Hope’s the real hustle.  

Still Standin’🥦 - SOULFUL Lo-Fi Trap Song (EMOTIONAL STORYTELLING)

Brotherhood 

I never thought that it would come to this
The years keep fading just to diminish
But we refused and held on to the bliss
Always believed in you
Cuz this is brotherhood

We met where worlds collide and freedom strives
We walked along the edges of divide
Surrounding brightness as we stood and smiled
A single firm handshake
A friendship forged in the flames

The world seems to get in the way
We reach beyond and have our say
Don’t let me go today, I’m hurt and astray
We swore time and again, we’re here to stay

Pick up the pieces and refuse to die
It doesn’t matter they believe their lie
I’ll meet you at the turning of the sky
We’ll see the coast again
And walk the sands to remain

The world seems to get in the way
We reach beyond and have our say
Don’t let me go today, I’m hurt and astray
We swore time and again, we’re here to stay

Neo天行
Brotherhood
©2024
Original Song 原創曲 
Pierre Keyork Neo 倚天行 
All Rights Reserved


Brotherhood (Demo)

it's about everything I went through with high school and past friends that ended up being fake and mean 

There will never be a loving day, but could we find another way? You could always be my friend...

YOU COULD ALWAYS

"Again" is a swingy jazzy song that takes you on a woman's mental transition from thinking she is done with relationships to an inexcapable desire to give love another try. She starts out railing against relationships, but then she sees "a handsome stranger sitting there, attractive to be sure," in the coffee shop, and so she decides to "let this new friend in" and try again.

This song turned out to be the most challenging I've ever written! On this recording, I sing and my husband Tom and I play all the instruments, including my accordion and also some synthesized instrumentals, sometimes using my midi accordion and digital audio workstation to compose. This adventure in songwriting stretched my capabilities, which may be why I am so happily singing in this video. So, enjoy my jazzy composition and please like and subscribe for more original music. Thanks for watching.  -- Mary Kay Aufrance

Lyrics: "Again"
by Mary Kay Aufrance
performed with Tom Aufrance

I wake up all alone each day, no one to call my own,
I've got my precious freedom back, and like to be alone!
Ah Boyfriends! Let them come and go, like seasons ebb and flow,
'Cause I can dance my own tempo. 

I don't need any groupie, and no way do I need cheer,
I'll be my own cheerleader, and I'll shout it loud and clear.
Hey life! Throw me your curveballs, and I'll merely swing and bend,
'Cause I can be my own best friend.

So here I go again.

I'll take myself for coffee, with just me and my own thoughts,
Discussing dreams and fears and plots, unraveling life's knots.
And I can laugh at my own jokes. And skip through any rain,
'Cause I'll stick with me 'til the end. 

Don't ask me if my laughter's just an echo in my room!
What if my song is just a solo in that big vacuum?
I've mastered self-sufficiency, but oh the irony,
I'm longing for connection, in this lonely harmony.

So here I go again.
So here I go again. 

When in this coffee shop I see a vision of allure, 
A handsome stranger sitting there, attractive to be sure.
His eyes meet mine, my heart goes tweet! My fortress fears defeat. 
My coldness melts. My knees shake, and my tough stance takes a seat! 

So, maybe friendship isn't weakness, but instead a strength,
Is vulnerability a flaw, or a bow to his wavelength?
He sips his latte, and I wonder if he'd stay or go,
Could he turn my gray skies to May, or will I never know?

So here I go again again again again again. 

Now, I am really torn between my sole self-love unending,
Yunno, am I my own compass? Or is my compass bending?
And now as he approaches, oh, my heart it starts to spin,
And now just maybe, maybe, I can let this new friend in.

So here I go again, my friend
I want my heart to mend.
So here I go again. 

Again

Das ist für Dich - mein Freund

Manchmal braucht es keine großen Worte, um verstanden zu werden.
„Ein Stück von Dir“ ist ein stilles Gespräch zwischen zwei Menschen, die dieselbe Sprache fühlen – ehrlich, direkt und ohne Maske.
Es ist der Moment, in dem Dankbarkeit und Vertrauen ineinanderfließen.
Ein Lied über Freundschaft, Resonanz und die Gewissheit, dass die Stärke des anderen auch in einem selbst weiterlebt.
Kein Abschied, kein Pathos – nur Wahrheit.
Ein stilles Nicken zwischen Seelen, die wissen, dass sie sich gefunden haben.

Ein Stück von Dir

Es gibt Verbindungen, die tiefer reichen als Worte.
„Ein Herz aus Wurzeln“ erzählt von dieser stillen Kraft,
die uns miteinander verbindet — auch wenn wir es nicht immer sehen.
Wie Wurzeln unter der Erde tragen wir einander,
teilen Kraft, Halt und Hoffnung.
Was oben blüht, lebt von dem, was unten hält.
Ein Lied über Zusammenhalt, Vertrauen und das Wissen,
dass aus jedem Sturm neues Leben wächst.
Nicht laut, nicht fordernd — einfach wahr.

Ein Herz aus Wurzeln

„Unter der gleichen Sonne“ ist kein Abschied, sondern eine Heimkehr.
Der Löwenzahn steht wieder – nicht mehr im Kampf, sondern im Frieden.
Ein Lied über Verbundenheit, Zuversicht und das Wissen,
dass wir alle aus demselben Licht geboren sind.

Unter der gleichen Sonne

„Aus einer Wurzel“ ist ein Lied über Beständigkeit, Vertrauen und das, was trägt, wenn Worte fehlen.
Zwei Menschen, die aus derselben Erde wachsen – verbunden durch Zielstrebigkeit, Zuversicht und Herz.
Der Löwenzahn bleibt ihr Zeichen: nicht laut, nicht leicht – aber ewig standhaft.
Und am Ende bleibt die Wahrheit einfach:
Wir brechen nicht – wir gehen trotzdem … und wachsen.

Aus einer Wurzel

Ich schreibe, was ich denke, fühle und erlebe. Schreiben hilft mir, Erinnerungen einzuordnen und ihnen Klarheit zu geben. Wenn Gefühle eine Melodie bekommen, entsteht etwas Wunderbares – eine Botschaft, die direkt ins Herz geht.

Für mich ist es ein Ausgleich, ein Stück Selbsttherapie. Die Texte sind ehrlich und frisch aus dem Herzen. Und wenn ich damit jemanden berühre, der genauso fühlt wie ich, freut es mich umso mehr.

Da ich selbst nicht gut singen kann, nutze ich KI für die Melodie und die Stimme. Ich bin dankbar für diese Möglichkeit, meinen Gefühlen Ausdruck zu verleihen.

Viel Freude beim Hören 🥰

Gruß, Marco Memory

PS: Ehrliche Kommentare sind willkommen – aber bitte keine Angebote, ich kaufe nichts.



I write what I think, feel, and experience. Writing helps me sort out memories and bring them clarity. When feelings find a melody, something wonderful is created – a message that speaks straight to the heart.

For me, it’s a balance, a bit of self-therapy. The lyrics are honest and straight from the heart. And if they touch someone who feels the same way I do, it makes me even happier.

Since I can’t sing well myself, I use AI for the melody and voice. I’m grateful for this opportunity to give my feelings a voice.

Enjoy listening 🥰

Best, Marco Memory

PS: Honest comments are always welcome – but please no offers, I’m not looking to buy anything.

Musician, singer-songwriter based in Canada and Taiwan. I compose in English, Chinese and French. I hope you enjoy my creations, these are my recordings, performances, collaborations and current demos I'm working on. Thank you for your support!
我是一位居住在加拿大和台灣的音樂家、創作歌手。我會用英文、中文和法文創作歌曲。希望你們喜歡我的作品，這些是我的錄音、演出,合作作品以及我正在製作的Demo。感謝你們的支持！
Neo天行

Hello i'm WolfieGirl and I wrote these songs they are mine I hope you like my music and check out my Youtube Channel link below www.youtube.com/@WolfieGirl-p1m2y

Welcome to a safe place to hear a life-changing message.

We've been musical travelers throughout time, from our choral days singing Midieval, Renaissance and Music Theater, to performances as Celtic Band Gairin and Slim & Minnie Out West. Lately we have branched out into more current genres of Jazz and Singer-Songwriter performing our own originals. Travel the music with us, and enjoy!

Kei was born and bred in Southampton, a city in the south of England Uk. Most famous as a port for cruise ships. 
Kei trained as a Mechanical Fitter at the Esso refinery near Southampton and went on to study for higher qualifications in engineering and management.
He enjoyed writing many short stories in his spare time. His book Tales with a Twist is available on Kindle. He won competition prizes for his writing.
He became an engineering draughtsman, then a product Development Engineer before setting up a successful online business retailing bathroom and kitchen brassware in the early days of the Internet.
Still maintaining an interest in music, Kei dabbled with keyboards and guitars in his limited spare time.
Always a short story writer throughout his life, Kei turned his attention to singer/song writing full-time after finishing his Internet retail days.
With plenty of free time now at his disposal Kei knuckled down on the guitar and he continues to write and record original songs with vigour.
His songs are available on all the streaming platforms. A quick search on Google for "Kei R Woods" will throw up many links to his music

New tracks tagged #friendship