Original song by Coral. A song about the illusion of a social ladder.

Cover art by Coral (inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat)

Climbing a step you’re on your knees
You hold on a corpse you crush its skull
And you believe, you’re innocent

Holding your breath you compliment
The ones that you hate you lick their feet
And you believe, you’re innocent

You see them all rats so meaningless
The folk that you praised to gain their votes
And still you climb, your pride is high

All what you have what they don’t have
You stuff with some treat till you can’t eat
But still you climb, your pride is high

You know that your time is money worth
You rest on your slave who cleans your mess
And you believe, you’re satisfied

The prize you deserve is what you see
No nut for the ape who’s begging you
And you believe, you’re satisfied

The first time you meet you put a tag
No high school degree this dude is dull
And you believe, you reached a top

You act like you were the finest breed
Your god is the one and only one
And you believe you reached a top
And you believe

It seem like a crown it’s shinning gold
It suits to your head you’re feeling proud
Still you believe, you reached a top

(but) There ain’t any class or any mount
There ain’t any social ladder too
Still you believe, you are on top 
Still you believe…
(you’re innocent)

Innocent

My Faith Has Abandoned Me

Sinister Serenade begins with a haunting minor feel, immediately setting a tone of melancholy and quiet despair. The track features a combination of electric guitar, ukulele, subbass, claps, choral pads, Rhodes piano, and additional piano layers, creating a rich but sorrowful soundscape.

At a tempo of 105.63 BPM and in 4/4 time, the track moves steadily, evoking the image of walking through cold, rain-soaked streets of New York on an autumn night. The third section of the piece introduces a cool arpeggiated guitar figure, panned to create a sense of movement and depth. Although the track maintains a single, melancholy emotion throughout, a shift in the middle introduces a hint of something more sinister, with subtle magical harmonies lifting the mood before returning to the somber melody.

The longing melody, which bookends the track, reinforces the feeling of solitude and contemplation, making Sinister Serenade an ideal choice for cinematic scenes that require a blend of sadness, quiet tension, and a touch of the supernatural.

Sinister Serenade

Words and music written by Bartley Charles Mastin
Performance by Bartley Charles Mastin
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Lyrics:
Don't want to be a rose
You want to be a wildflower
Never mind the sun
You want to take a moon shower

Half a mile from here we'll disappear aboard the midnight train

You say you're getting old
You say you've reached a milestone mama
You're tired of being sold
You're tired of all the hometown drama

Half a mile from here we'll disappear aboard the midnight train

I love the way the moon glows
I love the way the wind blows
When it goes
Through your hair

Gonna be a wild ride mama
Gonna be a rodeo
Gonna be an LA drama
Gonna have to rope me down

Half a mile from here we'll disappear aboard the midnight train

Half A Mile From Here

- Piano Sketch 19 A fleeting dream - Utakata 

Improvisation (Spring 2024) + polished it up a bit (02-14-2025)

Piano Sketch 19 A Fleeting Dream - Utakata

For this the Moog Spectravox had my attention, I was having problems in my studio and something wasn't quite right with this unit. Fearing I had a faulty machine I removed from the rack and tested from my desk. The problem was discovered to be the cable from the synth to the mixer. A much less expensive fix. It can be heard very clear at the end of this piece.

Valentine Menagerie

Gray Morning

Hope In Dark Places

LYRIC VIDEO :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlcw1ud7BXo
This is a song that came to me quite in Full on the evening of Christmas Day 2024 which was also the First Nite of Hanukkah 2024 at just around 11pm, Just like Magic. 
~ I do believe my beautiful late Mom may have had something to do with it ~ I've never had a song write itself practically in entirety so easily ~ Hope It Brings Hope ~~ & Yes ~ Magic !  
© 2025

The City of Magically

Repetition In The Brain

Here’s another old favorite song of mine, written by Baker Knight in the 50’s and recorded by many folks before and after Elvis’ most famous version, released in 1970. Once again, this is one of my stripped down recordings taken from an i-phone voice memo and transplanted to GarageBand for this final mix I threw together in homage to The King. Interestingly, Baker apparently originally wrote this as a gospel song, about the true King, but I think by now we all just read it as a simple and emotive love song, one of many done so masterfully by Elvis. I hope some folks will enjoy this quick take on it.
🥳This goes out as a special happy birthday wish to my dear friend and partner in all things musical, Nat Daniels. Thanks for all your support and inspiration.🤠