A solo rendition of Khudhafiz performed and recorded by Usama at Mauerfall Kollektiv in Berlin, Germany. Mastered by Umair Dar at A for Aleph in Karachi, Pakistan.

Khudahafiz originally appeared as the second track on The D/A Method's sophomore album, 'The Desert Road'. 

Lyrics (Siddiq)

Oh God, please do explain
Why my hands are trembling as I lay in bed
I see a shrouded head and I’m feeling
So ashamed

Why should we say goodbye?
To you before it’s time for you to leave
With your beliefs, I feel there…
Was more to see (from you)

Why do I never learn?
They’ve left no stone unturned to plague my land
But I’m a selfish man, I’ve been fooled
That was not the plan

And now I sing for you 
A song that makes me blue
But I can’t pretend that you weren’t my friend
Even if I was the end (for you)

I’m tired of going through it all
In my head, this time, the world just falls right underneath
The surface of my skin
This love and hate just pulls me in

I wish for someone else
But I can only blame myself
Keep telling me I'm innocent
And why would I be born in sin?

I'm sorry but I don't believe
A single word you've said to me 
'Cause if we're being honest
This is not what I was promised 

In my simple words now I must tell you
All about the lies they sell you blindly 
You just soak them in
Expecting to be born again 

Born again

Khudahafiz (Usama Solo Version)

Brave (Katatonia Cover)

So far away from home 
Does anybody know me?
I'm travelling too far away I know 
Would anybody know me?

I'm wandering so far away from home 
Does anybody know me?
I'm travelling too far away I know 
Would anybody know me?

Baby we’re going down this time
It’s not what your heart needs but mine

Sanctuary

Those Who Once Wandered Insane

Well, how long must I wait?
I'm too old and it's too late 
For the season to change from summer to rain 
But when it all ends I'll be back here again 

To thank you for nothing 
But I'll smile when it's done
‘Cause I've circled the empire 
While you stared at the sun
And I'll bow down to no one 
Till I have run my course 
No rivers, no mountains
No one can oppose me I know 

Ooh Lord, don't let me go
To the depths that I know 
Ooh Lord, don't let me go
Just can't make it alone 

So just how long has it been?
‘Cause I feel like I’m ripped at my seams 
But with all said and done it feels like you've won 
Cause I'm tattered, I'm torn while you're having your fun
I'll leave it to you, this world that I’ve built 
What more do you want man I’m drowning in guilt I said 

Ooh Lord, don't let me go
To this hell that I know 
Ooh Lord, don't let me go
Just can't make it alone 
Ooh Lord, don't let me go
To the depths that I know 
Ooh Lord, don't let me go
You seem to just leave me alone 

When I was free I blurred my vision
The wise once told me but I did not listen
So as I fall down I seek redemption 
I know my flaws now but I can’t escape them

August's Song

Just brush me off 
Like the dust from the shelf 
No, you’re not wrong 
I’m beyond all your help 
Please hold your tongue  
And stop wasting your breath 
Leave me, I’m done 

You know I feel so alone, man 
But you doubt I can feel a thing 
Well, I’m not made of stone, man 

If I could tell you about all the times you’ve been too far away 
When the sun doesn’t set on this earth why’d you want me to stay?
Every time that I tried to escape, I fell into your hands 
Will my demons still taunt me?
They haunt me, they will to the end 

Just brush me off 
You don’t need me anymore 
No, you’re not wrong 
I'll just keep shutting the doors 
Please hold your tongue  
I think that I’ve heard enough 
Leave me, I’m done 

You know I feel so alone, man 
But you doubt I can feel a thing 
Well I’m not made of stone, man 

If I could tell you about all the times you were too far away 
When the sun doesn’t set on this earth why’d you want me to stay?
Every time that I tried to escape, I fell into your hands 
Will my demons still taunt me? 
They haunt me, they will to the end

The Lonely Man

Well it seems like we are here again 
Can I take your hand? 
I’m facing my fears again 
But assuming I can't 

Can I run to you?

Tell me why should I let you in my home? 
For you to use me until you’re off again to roam 
I think you know 

Why I run to you... 

And if I don’t want you to come back 
What would you have to say? 
You know I had a feeling you would ask 
I guess I’ll walk away 

If I can’t run to you...

She won't let me stay the night 
What would you want me to say?
When you’re the one running away 
Leave me back here on my own 
I think that you've got me all wrong 
You trust me to not move an inch 
Is that why you seem so unhinged
I waited for you every day

Looking back at the things we'd left unsaid
Just ordinary lies 
You throw me out in the deep all by myself 
Now I'm swimming against the tide 
Just as I try to reach out for your neck 
We're breathing out of time 

And all my flaws are all I saw 
‘Cause all I see is what I've wanted to see 

You’re the one I want to hold
And I was waiting for your love 

Floating out to the sea I'm such a wreck 
Oh, what a time to be alive!
But if I'm out in the rain and soaking wet 
Can I really blame the sky? 
Just as I try to free you from my grip 
You're running from my eyes 

And all my flaws are all you saw 
‘Cause all I see is what I wanted to see 

You’re the one I want to hold
And I was waiting for your love 

You’re the one I want to hold
And I was waiting for your love 
But I'm still waiting for your love

Oh, What A Time To Be Alive!

You thought that was life, son
Well, let me tell you something else
You sure picked the wrong ones 
Every time I came to sell 

It pulls you deeper, deeper underground
The price is much steeper than what you would've found
Here…long ago 
Surrounded like once before 

And if you can hold your head so high
Why can’t you look me in the eyes?
It comes as no surprise to me
You’ve never learnt a thing at all 
That’s why your pride comes to its fall 
Don’t you see any longer? 

You know, I can see the forest but the trees are all gone
Just like my will it seems the birds, they chose to travel on
The wind beneath their wings, it used to give me flight 
Wherever will I sleep tonight?

And if you can hold your head so high
Why can’t you look me in the eyes?
It comes as no surprise to me
You’ve never learnt a thing at all 
That’s why your pride comes to its fall

Journey Through Disillusionment

You could tell me all you know 
But you won't ever reveal the things I want 
Never found someone before 
Who wanted to steal but not have more 

Hold up, is it safe to even talk?
I think I can hear them calling out 
They're coming after us all 
Get on up, it's time to take a walk
I think I can hear them closing down 
Why won't they leave us alone?

So If I tell you all I know 
Would you threaten to leave with all I hold?
Would you care then if I go
Or would you conceal the way back home? 

I might sail away to a different place
Is that what you fear or is it who I take?
Would I have done the same if I only knew
But is that my mistake or is it only you?

Hold up, is it safe to even talk?
I think I can hear them calling out 
They're coming after us all 
Get on up, it's time to take a walk
I think I can hear them closing down 
Why won't they leave us alone?

Witches' Sabbath

All alone 
I fought them off before
My sins atoned 
It hurts that we must call this place our home 

Whatever you wanted from me once before 
I lost it all to them 
This town keeps stealing from me all I've known
It never seems to change

What would you know when it's all in my head?

What's forgone? 
Our lives, our will
Our strengths, our fears have grown 
Alright, I know I've said these before 

Whatever you wanted from me long ago 
I gave it all to them 
I keep giving everything I own
It never seems to change 

What would you know when it's all in my head?

Valley Of Fear

If you could read my mind you'd know
It's not such a foolish crime to go down for 

With my back against the wall
So assured I’ll take the fall

Oh…

This time will pass us by
Lord knows I'll try

Not a second to lose
I find myself running away 
Was afraid that I'd leave you some day 

In the frenzy of flight
Well, my thinking’s just clearly not right
Trust my luck it’s another cloudy night

As I’m hearing you call
Nothing can faze me at all
I’m too tired to crawl

This time will pass us by
And all our hopes will die
I’ll find you in another life, I will 

Till the day that my faith's restored, you know 
You may leave but I'll never follow 
You’re asking me why I would leave so soon 
If you'd carry the weight I would stay 
But all you do is howl at the moon
Because I've got nothing to say

Hour Of The Wolf

Insurgentes (Steven Wilson Cover)

Alvida Live at Satellite Recording Studios

Featuring:
Umair Dar - Guitar
Talha Alvie - Guitar

With Special Guests:
Shahram Mazhari - Santoor
John Nipe - Keyboards

Mixed and Mastered by Satellite Recording Studios

Check out the accompanying Video at:
https://vimeo.com/109923941

Alvida (Live at Satellite Recording Studios)

'When you decide where you stand, the colour will return to your life'

Janissaries 
Dar/Alvie/Siddiq/Shah 

I walk into the setting sun 
My head is held high 
I don't know where I've come but 
I'm marching forward 
Into the void 

I pull my boot straps tight 
My pack is set 
I am the jannisary of today 

I'm off to war but 
You're in my way 

And I will come back 
But would you stay? 

So far away... 
Believe me when I say... 

See a field of endless green 
I can't explain the 
Space beyond this hate and ignorance 
Are these illusions? 
What have I done? 

Space between my fear and love 
My soul is aching 
Have to find my way back up to you 

My disillusion 
Has nearly killed me 

My retribution 
Nearly... 

Jan nissar hai tujh pe jannisaarie 
Ke kal hum sar utha ke chalain 
Jan nissar hai tujh pe jannisaarie 
Apne khuda ki janib 
Koi to jawab le ke chalain 

Wasn't meant to be this way 
Deluding myself another day 

A walked a path that was set for me 
But, didn't realise that my soul is free 

I must confess now that it's all over 
I'm just left with doubt. 
You don't believe me? 
Well, can't you see my mind is almost as foggy as the clouds? 
That hover over, 
to cast a shadow right across the mountains and the rivers of my land. 

And then she tells me 
Just who I am x2 

The light within is already gone 
I don't feel It's pull any more 
How much further 
do you want me to go? 

And now I see the sky open up right in front of me 
The rain falls down and... 
Washes away all of the pain that I feel 
I hear your voice and... 
It's calling me as I run forward through the fields 
I was a janissary 
But having seen the light I just know that I am free 
I am free

Janissaries

Second single from our upcoming release The Great Disillusion

Written, performed, and produced by The D/A Method

A wicked smile 
Kept in a vile 
Sewn on his face 
Disguise 

He stands in a room 
So full of light 
Behind the curtain 
There is evil inside 

Packed hopes and dreams 
Sent in exile 
A familiar place
The sky 

His time will come 
So full of lies 
Now I am certain 
He dies 

This place is worth so much 
More than you'll ever know 
So leave us be and take your place 
The wax museum

The Wax Museum

Third single from our debut album The Great Disillusion. 

Written, performed, and produced by The D/A Method

Here we stand
Beneath this orange glow
So far away from home

No my love
Don't hang your head now
There's still hope

I gave it all
For your abode
Still I died alone

You took my heart
Ripped my soul apart
Pushed me into the void

This hope lives upon all my broken dreams
I carry it in my heart, can't you see?

I've made my peace with all my pieces of pain
You know I just took them all and rearranged

This fire has burnt away my self delusion
And I am left with my soul's reflection 

This hope lives upon all our broken dreams
We carry it in our hearts, endlessly

Hope Lives

Track 5 from Pakistani progressive rock band The D/A Method's debut album The Great Disillusion. 

(Dar/Alvie/Iqbal/Ajaz)

Ghoom darvaish ghoom
Paani kay hazaron boondh
Aur aatish ki noor
Mein mil kar ghoom

Ghoom darvaish ghoom
Tera ishq zamanay mein mushhoor
Tera imaan mazboot
Mere sapnon mein…

Ghoom
Mere mann mein
Ghoom

Mullah kee nazar
Noor-e-firasat se khalee hai
Darvaish to…
Rooh-e-nafasat par jhoomta hai

Is kaum mein magar
Muddat se who darvaish nayaab hai
Dhoondun to milay
Mere dil mein…

Ghoom
Mere mann mein
Ghoom
Mere tann mein ghoom

D solo

D/A solo

A solo

Translation:
Whirl darvaish whirl
In thousands of drops of water
And the light of fire
Merge and whirl

Whirl darvaish whirl
Your love – legendary through the ages
Your faith – strong
In my dreams…

Whirl
In my mind
Whirl

The Mullah’s sight
Has lost the light of penetrative vision
But the darvaish…
Dances to a refined frequency

In this nation
For ages the darvaish has been scarce
If I search I’ll find him
In my heart…

Whirl
In my mind
Whirl
In my body, whirl

Darvaish

Track 6 from Pakistani progressive rock band The D/A Method's debut album The Great Disillusion. 

(Dar/Alvie)

Goodbye

Alvida

Track 8 from Pakistani progressive rock band The D/A Method's debut album The Great Disillusion. 

(Dar/Alvie)

I can’t see the forest for the trees
I don’t know what it all means for me
There is no evidence
No reason to defend
This life ain’t good enough for me

I used to hold my head up high
I used to walk with kings, look through their eyes
But then a day came
When something changed inside
I don’t know what’s become of my life

I can’t see the light
Only darkness
I can’t hear the beat
Any longer
I just feel the pain
When everything falls away
Everything falls away

D solo

I heard a voice calling from the trees
Didn’t know what it all meant for me
A stranger needing help
I did just what I felt
And that changed everything for me

And I see the light
Burning brighter
And I hear the songs
So much clearer
And I feel alive
And I feel the hope

A solo

Disillusion

Track 10 from Pakistani progressive rock band The D/A Method's debut album The Great Disillusion. 

(Dar/Alvie/Siddiq)

And I've reached these dizzy heights
A thousand miles away
The echoes are all I hear and I'm
Standing on my own

Where do I start
When the sky looks down on me
With miles to go
There is no end that I see

I take a step
And the rocks crumble beneath
But I take a breath
And begin this climb

I carry my weight up to the sun
It's hard to let go of all I've said and done
Despite the harshness of the cold
I won't surrender until I've found my home
Lord, just give me the strength to climb this peak
And I will gladly face what awaits for me

Karakoram

Track 11 from Pakistani progressive rock band The D/A Method's debut album The Great Disillusion. 

(Dar/Alvie)

A tribute to the martyr

Aitzaz

Angels & Djinn performed live at Alliance Francais Karachi.
13 February 2016.

The D/A Method
Umair Dar
Talha Alvie
Usama Siddiq
Istvan Csabai
Daniel Arthur Panjwaneey

Watch the Video at:
https://vimeo.com/185184395

Live Engineering and Recording by Bilal Iftikhar
Mixed & Mastered by Umair Dar
Produced by The D/A Method

Angels & Djinn (Live in Karachi)

The Desert Journey
The first single from the band’s forthcoming album The Desert Road. 
Written, Engineered and Produced by The D/A Method
Co-Produced and Mixed by Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief, Wisdom of Crowds)
Mastered by Mats 'Limpan' Lindfors at The Cutting Room

Watch the accompanying Music Video
https://youtu.be/AooVMA8YADM
https://vimeo.com/thedamethod/thedesertjourney


Lyrics

Last night I lost my head
A quarter after ten
I wish I could tell someone
Exactly how that felt

But in this desert land
Nothing will be know
For in this desert sand
Nothing can be sown

That's how I lost my head
A quarter after ten
I wish I could show you all
These demons and regrets

But in this desert sand
Nothing should be sown
For in this desert land
Nothing can be known

The Desert Road

The Desert Journey

Alvida performed live at Alliance Francais Karachi.
13 February 2016.

The D/A Method
Umair Dar
Talha Alvie
Usama Siddiq
Istvan Csabai
Daniel Arthur Panjwaneey

Watch the Video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5ZsTROqSFA

Live Engineering and Recording by Bilal Iftikhar
Mixed & Mastered by Umair Dar
Produced by The D/A Method

Alvida (Live In Karachi)

The second single from our second album, The Desert Road. 
Featuring Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief, Wisdom of Crowds) and Sohail Ajaz on guest vocals.

Co-produced and mixed by Bruce Soord
Mastered by Mats 'Limpan' Lindfors (1957-2017)

Produced by The D/A Method
Umair Dar
Talha Alvie
Usama Siddiq
Istvan Csabai
Daniel Arthur Panjwaneey 

Dream Sequence
(Alvie/Siddiq)

There’s so many things I can’t deliver
Even if I try I just need to hide…
Behind closed doors, I might forgive her
But each time I try she just hurts my pride

“Show it off” you told me, “never”
But even when I want, I have nothing to flaunt

Look what it’s done to me (I can’t believe it)
A blackened reality (I can’t believe it)
It’s right in front of me (I can’t believe it)
The freak everyone can see

As the sun comes up I start to shiver
Just as they foretold, is how things unfold
When I was young I was so clever
But I sure as hell was not... a belated thought

I’m a liar, I’m a sinner
I am any one of them
Face me at my worst how can you
Say you are my fucking friend

Look what it’s done to me (I can’t believe it)
A blackened reality (I can’t believe it)
It’s right in front of me (I can’t believe it)
The freak everyone can see

I feel it, it’s happening again
This feedback in my head
(I’m barely moving, I am consumed)
I feel it, it’s happening again
This feedback in my head
(I’m barely breathing, I’m so confused)
I feel it, it’s happening again
This feedback in my head

Dream Sequence

The third single from our second album, The Desert Road. 
Featuring Shahram Mazhari on the santur and Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief, Wisdom of Crowds)on guest vocals.

Co-produced and mixed by Bruce Soord
Mastered by Mats 'Limpan' Lindfors (1957-2017)

Produced by The D/A Method
Umair Dar
Talha Alvie
Usama Siddiq
Istvan Csabai
Daniel Arthur Panjwaneey

Khudahafiz
(Alvie/Siddiq)

Oh God, please do explain
Why my hands are trembling as I lay in bed
I see a shrouded head and I’m feeling
So ashamed

Why should we say goodbye? (say goodbye)
To you before it’s time for you to leave
With your beliefs, I feel there…
Was more to see (from you)

Why do I never learn?
They’ve left no stone unturned to plague my land
But I’m a selfish man, I’ve been fooled
That was not the plan

And now I sing for you (sing for you)
A song that makes me blue
But I can’t pretend that you weren’t my friend
Even if I was the end (for you)

Oh, I’m tired of going through it all
In my head, this time, the world just falls…
Beneath the surface of my skin
This love and hate just pulls me in

I wish this was somebody else
But I can only blame myself
‘Cause were we not made innocent
Or do they say we’re born in sin?

Born in sin
Born in sin

La-la-la

Khudahafiz

The fourth single from our second album, The Desert Road.
Featuring Sohail Ajaz on guest vocals.

Co-produced and mixed by Bruce Soord
Mastered by Mats 'Limpan' Lindfors (1957-2017)

Produced by The D/A Method
Umair Dar
Talha Alvie
Usama Siddiq
Istvan Csabai
Daniel Arthur Panjwaneey

Solitude
(Alvie)

Hello again
     I thought you had gone
I wish that I had
     But I'd be alone
Is that what you want?
     Sorry, you first
I'm just trying to say
     I'm sorry it hurts

So you're still here
     Just as I was
I need some time
     Won't you take a pause
You just don't get it
     I don't know I try
I just want to be in solitude 

Just leave me alone (I don't want to be alone)

Solitude

The Tree of Life
(Dar/Siddiq/Csabai)

Here I am to receive what you’ve promised me 
Was tricked into belief until I could not see
Don’t know what’s in store I believe your claims
Think I’ve been here before, I can hear my name
Called out through the dunes, carried by the winds
I feel like I’m in tune so my search begins
At the end of this road with each path I choose
I cannot withhold, I just seek my truth

Don’t start pushing me away
(I barely got here)
Don’t lead me too far astray
(You know that’s not fair)
All this time for you, I’ve prayed
(I have been waiting for you)

Until we’re together

Oh, I was so wrong to assume the worst
When we each had a stone but I’ve cast mine first
And all these things just dawn on me
(Now I’m feeling)
That every time you want to leave
(I keep you waiting for me)

Until we’re together 

How could I blame you when it’s not your fault?

From the Epic of Gilgamesh: 
“Gilgamesh, what you seek you will never find
For when the gods created man they let death be his lot
Eternal life they withheld 
Let your every day be full of joy
Love the child that holds your hand
Let your wife delight in your embrace
For these alone are the concerns of humanity”

The Tree of Life

Confluence 
(Dar/Alvie)

Spoken passage from Remember by Christina Rossetti:
“Remember me when I am gone away, 
Gone far away into the silent land; 
When you can no more hold me by the hand, 
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. 
Remember me when no more day by day 
You tell me of our future that you planned 
Only remember me, you understand 

It will be late to counsel then or pray. 
Yet if you should forget me for a while 
And afterwards remember, do not grieve: 
For if the darkness and corruption leave 
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, 
Better by far you should forget and smile 
Than that you should remember and be sad.”

Confluence

A Night in September
(Dar/Alvie)

Sirens cry into the night
When darkness falls
Violent days are up ahead
There is no hope

There’s an evil all around
These hearts of stone
Fires rage, the city breaks
We need a home

There’s still time to change it all
A brand new start
Colours fade to green and white
The flags of our fathers

Throw your chains, stand on your own
A dream not far
Turning back the clock again
A brand new heart

I don’t want to walk away (don’t look back)
Walk away (don’t look back)
There is nothing in the black
Running through (world unknown)
I’m running through (this world unknown)
Will we ever find our home?

A Night in September

The first-ever live performance of The Desert Journey recorded at Alliance Francais, Karachi on 13 February 2016. 

Last night I lost my head
A quarter after ten
I wish I could tell someone
Exactly how that felt
But in this desert land
Nothing will be know
For in this desert sand
Nothing can be sown

That's how I lost my head
A quarter after ten
I wish I could show you all
These demons and regrets
But in this desert sand
Nothing should be sown
For in this desert land
Nothing can be known

Guest musicians in this performance - 
Waqas Hussain: Sitar
Gul Muhammad: Sarangi
Zohaib Hussain: Tabla

Mixed and mastered by Umair Dar at A for Aleph
Artwork by Talha Alvie

The Desert Journey (Live in Karachi)

The D/A Method was a progressive rock band from Pakistan. Over their ten year career, the band released three full-length albums 'The Great Disillusion' (2015), 'The Desert Road' (2017), and 'Sanctuary' (2022) along with several EPs and singles.

The D/A Method

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