The title track of upcoming (slowly developing) album Reveal yourself 

Reveal yourself 

It could be much easier if you just say help me please
when you find yourself in a growing sense of unease. 
You might be better off learning how to say no
and to stay away from people who are not good for you. 

If you wanna scream it out
go ahead and shout out loud
but make it clear what it‘s about

Cool it down and appreciate the options you can choose
on what to do or to decline without excuse.
Get in to this groove, so you won’t be caught in a calm 
and let it clear your mind and make you move with aplomb.

It’s not about to scream it out.
You don‘t have to shout out loud.
Just don‘t let them leave you cowed
and clearly state what it is about.

Reveal yourself

If you wanna shout out loud
Go ahead and call it out
Just don‘t let them leave you bowed
Get it through their head what it’s all about. 

Reveal yourself
Reveal yourself

(Music and words by Mark Korthals)

Reveal yourself

A meme is an inheritable unit of culture as one follows the so called meme theory.. I wondered if there‘s something more ancient such as the origin of all ideas and feelings per se which nobody can remember of. but is a spooky, mysterious thing connecting all together. This song is a flow of images to create kind of a science fiction short film. Saying this I realize it might be inspired by Stanislaw Lem or Stanley Kubrick.

You will hear the song enwrought by different guitar tunes intermingling with an ocean drum and a Hungarian zither. Of course this track lives again from the beautiful additional voice of Lily of Snow ❤️. 

Somewhere hidden in white noise
there‘s a feeling inside
a hazy vibe in between the lines
waxed and waned by the turns of the tide. 

However we try to conceive it
We ain’t got no words for this
just a thought dispersing when you follow it
And all we talk is mourn the things we miss

Murmurs in the cosmic background
melancholia behind
encrypted somewhere beyond the void
it has always kept us entwined

However we try to behold it
We ain’t got no view for this
just a flash the moment when you blink your eyes
And all our talk is mourning for
And all we see is growing out of abyss 

It‘s the source but not the reason
It is all the doors standing ajar
It‘s the prospects but not the decision
You can evolve into whatever you are

However much we try to recall
we ain’t got no memes for this
just a dream that fades away when we awake
And all the talk is mourning for.      
(And all we talk is mourn the things we miss)
And all we sense is growing out 
(And all we see is growing out of abyss)
And all we do is fail to reminisce

But it’s a guide and not your leader
It‘s a map but it is not the course
It‘s a trip without a meter 
You can find a route and make it yours

And it is freedom without secession
It‘s the origin but not the fate
It‘s diversity but not dissociation     
Step in to whatever makes you resonate

Somewhere hidden in white noise
there‘s a feeling inside
a hazy vibe in between the lines
waxed and waned by the turns of the tide. 


(Words and music by Mark Korthals)

No memes for this

A call for courage, an unconventional kind of a psychedelic rock hymn, rolling and jumping through the circle of fiths and peaking in a choral and orchestral incantation. The second song by Roger Pancake lives from the congenial spirits of long-time fellow musicians Lautus (12-string, lead and solo guitar, string and brass arrangement) and Lily of snow (additional vocals).
(An alternative master mix which has a little more Wumms and is a little less schrill, you know, might be more pleasant for the ears). 

Courage

No guts, no glory!                          
Your personal credo.                     
Doughty and dauntless                
So unleash your boldness           
and show off your mettle!            

No sweat! No worries!
Puffed up bravado!
Full of vim and vigor
all piss and vinegar 
Will you grasp the nettle! 


Then take heart! You know that it calls
for growing a pair of balls.
For valour‘s sake,
admit your mistake
and summon up the spirit
to apologise for it!


No risk no reward.                        
Do you feel the moxie?               
Audacious and temerous,           
as valiant as hercules,                  
made for a daring deed.                

All-out effort
cause you‘re not a wussy!
As robust as iron,
as brave as a lion,
prepared for the glaring feat. 


So take heart! Do you have the guts?
Will you grow a pair of nuts?
Are you game enough
not just to play tough,
but instead pluck up the courage 
to surmount that muddy ditch.

Put your heart to the test!
All you need is a quest! 
But who do you really want to be impressed?
Or is it just to distract
from the essence of your dread?
I can‘t believe that you‘re like that.
Come, offer me some more respect! 

So, take the plunge and brave it out, Dude! 
C’mon, gimme some fortitude! 
You know what you did.
Now show me true grit
to bear responsibility              
for who you’re meant to be!

And take heart! ...(transpose to E and solo...)


(Words and music by Mark Korthals)

Courage

HOLLOW ON THE OUTSIDE

The power shortage in our house has blatantly disguised
What was lurking in the corner of our eyes
Just before we‘d make it right
Then to tell it was surmise

Abbreviated our driveway seems to be by now
Leads to the gambrel roof‘s capitulating bow
Just before we‘d known somehow
Now to tell it is surprise

The corner of our sanctuary
Does not proof refractory
Emerald green, efficiency
Touted fancy plasticine
We gilded borroughs on a landslide

A day ago we gathered at the bottom of the stairs
Regroup to face another day of night repairs
Just to be completely fair:
Never were we wise

What to tell you elderlies and children of the sun?
Before we knew it we did know what we begun
So much fun to be undone
Now to tell is our devise

The glower of our hymnary
Unimproved itinerary
Rare earth sheen, efficacy
Clouded, chancy, contravene
We builded hollow on the outside.

(Words & Music: Benjamin Lauterkorn)

Hollow On The Outside

Tonight

Thank you for sharing your grief
it’s breaking up the bitterness in me. 
When I can feel your pain
it kicks my morphine apathy. 

And I thank you for your candid hopes
they make me give up my illusions. 
And your sobriety cools me down 
to clear my confusions.

Thank you for depicting your fears
they elucidate my darkest nightmare.
And since I witnessed your anger
I learned to rein my rage of black despair. 

Thank you for the way you deeply care, 
now I can cease my fussy hyper-vigilance
And you taught me how to stumble
only without losing confidence. 

You give me your reality
And I appreciate your faith in me. 
All the struggling you avow
will make me get back to the here and now.

Thank you for your genuine self-esteem
when you found me as a self-destructive mess.
And you evince your admiration
for what I looked at with enviousness

Thank you for unveiling the beauty you are
You melt away my selfish vanity. 
’cause you‘re bestowing me yourself 
and I’m amending myself finally to be me.
And I‘m amending myself finally to be free. 



Music & Lyrics, by Mark Korthals
Performed, recorded and mixed: by Mark Korthals
Copyright 2024

Thank You For Sharing

Lyrics - Andreas Weschke
Music - Claudia Korthals
Vocals - Claudia Korthals
Production - Nico Flohr
Recorded 2008

Now You‘re Gone

One of my first attempts of writing and multi track recording own songs. Well, as the lyric consists of only one single word it’s actually an instrumental piece. Clapping, an accordion borrowed from a friend, a nylon string bought on a flea market for 15 marks - I still love that guitar, piano and bass: a tango and flamenco inspired waltz. It was a very passionate experience for me.

4 kisses

Is it pop, is it disco? I think sports nails it. It’s kind of a weird but honest love song, too. 


My demeanour is a bit daft in some way.
Oh Valentina,
I hope you don’t mind that I ‘m pretty silly today

You won’t always like what I do
or bear the nerdy thoughts I pursue.    
I never hide from you my mind skater skills,
they’re clumsy but enough for some thrills.

Maybe now and then I’m driving you nuts, 
watch my triple Lutz of a klutz!
You may patiently condone all these whims
or ask me to check out the gyms. 

And I say 
It feels like me when I’m with you 
The best rhyme on you is *Koo koo kachoo!
Well, you could love a weirdo, too. 
Love me do!

Although
my demeanour can be somewhat baroque.
Oh Valentina,
I hope you don’t mind sometimes I am an oddball bloke.

The other day I went way overboard.
I guess you were completely floored. 
So I took off that dress and cleaned up the mess
and owed you an excuse, I confess.

But then you did something quaint I can’t really tell
that made us both crack up like hell.
And I thought to myself O-M-G...
Sheesh, you are a muppet like me!

And I said instead
I feel like me when I’m with you
the best rhyme on you is (played with a kazoo)
Well, you could love a rum-dog, too. 
Love me do!

Because
my demeanour is a little peculiar. 
Oh Valentina
I hope you don’t mind that I’m just a goofy fool, yuh!(?)

My demeanour seems a mite too bright.
Oh Valentina,
I hope you don’t mind that I ‘m pretty silly tonight.




Words and music by Mark Korthals

All vocals and instruments sung, played, mixed and masterd by Mark Korthals

Pretty silly tonight

Dog and Cat

Jerry is a secretary - Violet is an airlplane pilot 
Christian is a beautician - Annik is a tank mechanic 

Lenny is a nanny now - Cleo is a CEO 
Whitaker’s a homemaker - Ada is exterminator 

She‘s a dog and he‘s a cat.
Came to know eachother in the internet
Well, they got their wires crossed in the chat
but fell in love the very day they met. 
I kid you not, that’s a fact
‘cause it‘s a fact.

Curtis is a nurse he is - Venus is a ship machinist
Peter is a meter maid - Columba is a smokejumper 

Tristan is dental assistant - Roisin an electrician
Jamey Jay is MTA - Jolunda aligator hunter 

Well, she’s a dog and he‘s a cat. 
When they come hold on to your hat
they’re in love but when they have a lovers’ spat
he‘s the bitch and she’s the prat. 
I kid you not, 
there’s nothing to rebut
’cause it‘s a fact, 
that earns respect. 
It‘s a fact 
that needs respect.

Conrade is a chamber maid - Grizelda is a coded welder
Misha is a nursery teacher - Melina is a crime scene cleaner 

Emit Clive is a midwife - Jirca is construction worker
Jean-Baptist is a sewing specialist - Anarose a Santa Clause 

Well, she’s a dog and he‘s a cat. 
Tell me who of you is loving like that
There should be lot of you around, I bet
Could not be any reason to regret. 
I kid you not


Words and music by Mark Korthals