Lyrics:
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows
And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows

Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen Cover)

This idea was one of those that you have to hurry up and hit record before the idea passes... so I did. The original recording received a lot of listens and feedback, but it was not a quality recording. The idea was there. I just did my best to salvage what was recorded and remix it into this one mix. 
~
I hope you enjoy it as much as the original version. 
Many Thanks for listening!!!

Passing Brain Storm

A Hare Named Holyfield

This is an older song idea I never fully finished or recorded, until recently. 
Thanks again to everyone that continues to listen and support. Much love!!!

Mustering Dreams

Lyrics:
It's not polite,
Stand there and stare.
Didn't I warn you already?
It's not the light,
Hands down don't fight.
Didn't I warn you already?
Didn't I do you a solid?
And, you think you own me.
It's not A.I.
States won't unite.
Didn't I warn you already?
It's not one side,
Turning the tide.
Didn't I warn you already?
Didn't I do you a solid?
And, you think you owe me.
Think that you do.
Writ and wrought with,
All these lies.
Didn't I warn you?
Already

Didn't I Warn You Already

Lyrics:
Told you what to do there,
You listen but you don't care.
Everyone's against you,
You try so hard but can't do,
Anything about it.
No one understands you,
Really they don't have to,
Anyway.
Why do we even bother?
Hindsight, pure gold,
Please don't go.
Not when I know you're not ready to go,
Anyway.
Listen in one more time,
A lot to learn in this life.
I promise it will be fine.
Focus on the thin line.
I love you so I won't quit,
There's no way to grasp it.
High or low, why do we even bother?
Hold onto each other.
Be with me the time is slipping,
Anyway.

Hindsight is Pure Gold

Might as Well

Cast of Characters:
cgmaness-- @user-419254289-15129531 –- Chris-- acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, composition
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)-- @josh-clary-1: – piano, lap slide
                                       
This song began with an acoustic guitar idea I recorded at the beginning of last summer. I passed it along to Josh, who added the piano and slide parts. Then I got it back and added the rhythm section of bass and drums, along with some electric accents. It's been a few months since we've released a collaboration together, not by choice, but because of our busy lives. We have been working on this one for about half a year, trying to add and cut other elements into it. We ended up deciding to put out a simpler version, which is what you hear here. It's been a long time coming, and is our final offering of 2023. It's been a great year of sharing music with all of you out there in SoundCloud land. I appreciate all of your ears, support, and sharing of your talents. We hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed making it. Happy new year 2024!

P.S. I'm adding a version with vocals that we weren't 100% sure about but I think it's worth having two versions up. The foundation of the musical idea is there already. 

Arbitrary Lyrics:
Static on the screen... what's departing, what's arriving?
Bad connections in the sky, no relation feels like dying.
Reflections of these mutating whims.
Solutions from a drama queen.
Is it all as it seems, in between stations?
In between stations.
White noise on the radio...
Who's here, who's going to and fro?
Same reaction in the night, 
old foundation, ancient tides.
Vague as a dream, reflections of these mutating whims.
Solutions from a drama queen.
All the while I'm in between stations.
In between stations.

Between Stations (with Entheogenic Psychonaught - Josh Clary) * Alternate Version

Lyrics:
Take'em out of their shell,
Break'em out if you will.
Run'em down the old hill,
Do with'em what you will.
As you watch them roll,
I hope you find a soul.
Somewhere on that pole,
It sure is getting cold.
Out with the old, Out with the old.
You should know to talk loud,
Wonder if you'd help out.
Oh what's the use?
You're impaired and obtuse.
As you watch it fall down,
Tell me what have you found?
Is there anything real?
Tell me what's the appeal? 
Out with the old, out with the old.
When will you see? 
I don't hear thee.
Break out, break free, 
come on it's easy.
Push hard you can, break through.
I've seen you do this more than once before.
I know you never meant, (to come back.)
Not to be here present, (You forget.)
Out with the old, (In with the New)
In with the New.

Out With The Old

Lyrics:
......................................
Take these little seeds,
Water them please.
Upon the window sill.
Are you still asleep?
Roots need the dark,
Digging down deep.
Soaking up the light,
So we can be leaves.
So... We can believe.
So... We shall be.
💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Shaking brittle trees,
In the breeze.
Were once big and strong.
Now they fall with ease.
All of these demands,
Blood red hands,
Grab ahold of life,
Soiling all the land.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
All these evil men,
Selling you sin,
You try to turn the dial,
They control the wind.
🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Oh so many ways,
Burning through the days,
Harvesting your time,
Leaving you dismayed.
We... Made to lay down.
Sow... All you have now.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Lyrics:
This is it,
Swallow your selfishness.
And with that,
We can pass and want for nothing, at all.
Little ego, names called obsolete.
"Look around open eyes",
the nature speaks.
There's no riddle, 
the ego overthinks.
Out there defining, controlling and labelling.
Making a mountain out of a molehill.
Little ego,
You can't stand in the way.
A mighty river rushes through, you.
Pushing the little ego out of the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weight lifted, clouds parted, light hearted.
So wonderful, elating.
A breath of fresh air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is it we filter it out?
All this opportunity, potential...
Consequentially, I'm floating.
Floating downstream.

Foregone

Lyrics:
Of all the things I've been hearing,
Hazy dreams somehow clearing.
I'll just keep doing what I'm doing,
Regardless of your past indiscretions.
Amazing things, not all are seen.
Some are meant to be confusing.
My Darling Little Monster.
Got your claws deep inside the cookie jar.
I can hear you raising the bar.
I can see you, you're not far away.
Might even be, closer than I think.
Might even hide, somewhere inside.
Above it all the piper keeps on playing.
The perfect notes, a songful soothsaying.
Lining up the mice and men are trailing,
Plans of pleasing, meaningful attaining.
Cunning visions blindly led sleepwalking.
Revealing goals, bemused they keep talking.
Much like you My darling little Starling.
Oh the songs you sing. 
Leaving your disease the fruit has fallen down.

My Darling Little Starling

Lyrics:
Adjusting the aim, changing the mind. 🎯
Serving the dream, seeking to find. 🔑
Transmuting views, a genius, the bond. 🪢
Messiah, a muse, divine fools. (fools abscond) 🐟
Swan song release, the pearl and the wave. 🦢
The throng and disease, Wheel of life and nave.(wheel of life) 🎡
The eye of the storm, fighting illusion. 🌀
The shadow of form, the hermit seclusion.🐚
Occlusions that seal, cover the eyes. 🙈
A cycle reveals, a giant surprise. 📡

Divine Fools

It's All Over Now - (Dylan Cover)

This started out as a simple acoustic idea that I recorded a while back and shared with eddyoffline for a collaboration. I sent eddyoffline a few ideas and told him to do whatever he wanted with these and there’s no rush on any of these. Eddyoffline added a sweet bass line to this idea we call “No Rush.” Then eddyoffline asked “TexMex Shaman” to collaborate on this track with us. Having collaborated via the Eclectic Collective on some previous song ideas with Stephen, aka TexMex Shaman, I definitely wanted to get him involved on this idea. Stephen recorded some amazing guitar, added some percussive elements, synth and fx, and Stephen mixed the whole thing! 
Having it all start with an acoustic idea and then hearing the transformations provided by amazingly talented and willing musicians such as eddyoffline and Stephen, well… I’m blown away at the final result and very appreciate for every single opportunity to work with these gentlemen. Thank You guys!!! I love these little projects!

eddyoffline: Bass  
https://on.soundcloud.com/Z6sGbjtVrSUHBbyR8

TexMex Shaman: Lead Electric Guitar, Percussive Elements, FX, Synth, Post Production Mix
https://on.soundcloud.com/AZ7YW1jRGHZeN71MA

cgmaness: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Lyrics



"No Rush"
Lyrics:
I don’t know where we went wrong.
Did we ever get off?
As the train moves along,
I’ll sing my railway song.
There’s no time to rush,
Should we get out and push?
No hungry mouths to hush.
I’m done hiding in the woods.
No rush, take your time.
There’s underdogs on the mainline.
No need to heed the signs.
We roll slow on this grind.
No rush, I’ll say it again.
You river rats that cooled my hand.
A blank stare and a grifters grin.
“You’re just bluffing” said the drifter's friend.

No Rush *feat. (eddyoffline & TexMex Shaman)

Lyrics:
Keep yourself busy,
It's all you can do.
Forgive us for turning,
our back on you.
I've cast for a future.
The rains coming down.
Who could surrender underneath these clouds?
Under this sky,
It's always been you and I.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep your head steady.
Take in the view.
This we are yearning,
A lack of truth.
Die-cast Heart and Suture.
Pain by the pound.
Do you surrender now?
Wondering why, 
this always is do or die?
It's always been you and I.

ū & ℹ︎

Solace in the Apocalypse

Lyrics:
Coffin nail tooth and bone,
Refurbished lives we rent to own,
Tweedle Dee's Tweedle Clones,
Snow-White witches throwing stones,
Jadis seized everything she's owed.
Pretentious dreams, so grandiose.
Adios, Adios my friend.
You're very close,
So very close to being real.
Painted face mask & clown,
Jaded Joker's smoking out,
Nothing sells finder's fee,
10% spread equally,
a third of that give to me,
sit atop the pyrenees.
Pretentious dreams, so grandiose.
Adios, Adios my friend.
You're very close, 
So very close to being human.....................................
........................................................................................................

Adios

Cast of Characters:
 
Cgmaness – @user-419254289-15129531 – Chris – foundational acoustic guitar and seed idea
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- organ, electric piano, lyrics, and vocals
Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – electric guitar
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken– drums and percussion 
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – four string fretless bass
The Eclectic Collective — composition and mix

 This is the second song in a row that The Eclectic Collective is releasing in as many weeks that was written by Chris. We love working on his songs, and all jumped at the chance to play with this one, as well. He wrote it on an acoustic guitar, onto which he also put some heavy reverb, giving it an ethereal, chordal sound. To that bare bones, Josh fist added his four-string fretless bass to a click track, of all things. Luckily, Ken swooped in soon after and gave it a proper beat with his lively percussion performance.
Once the rhythm section was complete, Tez added his melodic, golden-tone guiar in there. Then, it was JJ's turn. He added not only the piano and synth, but wrote the lyrics and sang it, as well.
This song was actually mixed by the group, as we all added our parts, although Ken did some final adjustments, too.
JJ's lyrics tell the story of the first people to reach Easter Island, millenia ago. The wonder of the journey and the discovery of a new home, while using the materials available to survive. Here are his original lyrics.

Original Lyrics by J.J. Terrell:

Through the eyes of the gentle rain
Monuments raised where the Lapwings stay
All the sand, the hourglass of man sifts here
A traveling band of gypsies in this land appear
Crowd the fire as the night sets in
Listen for tales of enlightenment
Until dawn
The flowered down of a bird so true
Pure as heaven, the chosen few
It's all waiting for the night

"Unabashed" (The Eclectic Collective)

Lyrics:
A mystery to me,
is how you move,
through the flames,
so easily, it seems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mystery to you,
is how you move,
through the flames,
so easily, it seems.

It Seems

Lyrics:
Everybody breathe, and be easy.
Everybody breathe, and no cheating.
Everybody Breathe
Don't take it lightly,
Don't take it at all.
Don't even mind me,
Baby on Board.

Everybody Breathe

Cast of Characters:

Cgmaness – @user-419254289-15129531 – Chris – bass,  acoustic guitar, drums, and composition
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–  mix, production, and mastering
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – mandolin and lap steel

This song began as an idea that Chris came up with on his acoustic guitar, and shared with Josh. Josh, loving everything that Chris writes, jumped at the opportunity to work on it. 
  Josh first added the melodic lap steel you hear throughout. Then, in the same session, came up with and recorded the mandolin track. He believes Rick Rubin's mantra, when it's flowing, keep it going. This song was the first of about half a dozen that Chris shared with the Eclectic Collective back at the beginning of summer. So, it sat dormant for about five months, until Chris revived it by adding the impressive rhythm section of bass and drums to complete it. Chirs is always a multi talented part of the team. 
  When it was all in the can, we asked Stephen to mix it for us, because his mixes are always so pro sounding. He also mastered it for us, too. 
  This is the fist song that Chris and Josh have recorded as a duo in almost a year. However, they love recording together and feel this is a great way to start the New Year with some magical music. We all hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Dance of the Tryptophans (with Josh Clary, produced by Texmex Shaman & cgmaness)

Rosewood & Main

One Last Look

Lyrics:
I fell down a rabbit hole,
while looking for someone with soul,
but no luck. 
I'm here stuck holding a rabbit's foot.
Well, good luck.
Well, good luck.
Well, good luck.
I fell down into a well,
a voice said, "welcome to hell."
But the word is law,
He began to crawl, 
clutching a human foot.
Well, good luck
Well, good luck.
~~~~~~~~
I fell down a rabbit hole,
while looking for someone with soul,
but no luck. 
I'm here stuck holding a rabbit's foot.
Well, good luck.................

Good Luck

It’s all one big experiment, a work in progress… 
❤️♾️❤️
cgmaness@gmail.com

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