This song is a raw and intense reflection of my experience with Erin, a friend who turned out to be toxic and manipulative. The lyrics describe how she wore a mask of kindness, but beneath it, she was cruel and deceitful. She hurt me with poisonous words, played the victim, and twisted the truth. When I called out her behavior, she attacked me further and even tried to enlist a mutual friend to validate her false accusations. That friend saw the truth and also ended her friendship with Erin. This song is my way of processing the pain and betrayal I felt, and ultimately finding the strength to break free from the toxic dynamic. The music is dark, emotive, and haunting, with a focus on capturing the anger and hurt I felt. Through this song, I'm taking back control and rising above the pain, refusing to be fooled or manipulated any further.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. There will not be a third time. 


LYRICS: 

[Intro]
In the mirror's gaze, a reflection lies
A facade of friendship, a disguise 

[Verse 1]
I thought you were my shelter, my guiding light
But behind the mask, a monster took flight
Poisonous words, a venomous sting
You turned on me, and my heart took wing 

[Pre-Chorus]
You wore a cloak of kindness, but beneath the surface
Lurked a demon, fueled by malice and force
You played the victim, twisted the truth
But I saw through the lies, when the mask fell off, showing your uncouth 

[Chorus]
You're a shadow of betrayal, a whisper in the night
A promise broken, a heart turned cold as ice
You're a ghost of what we had, a memory that won't fade
A lesson learned, a bond that's been betrayed 

[Verse 2]
You apologized, with tears and regret
But the damage was done, the wound won't forget
You blamed it on pills, a temporary slip
But the pattern remained, a toxic grip 

[Pre-Chorus]
You wore a cloak of kindness, but beneath the surface
Lurked a demon, fueled by malice and force
You played the victim, twisted the truth
But I saw through the lies, when the mask fell off, showing your uncouth 

[Chorus]
You're a shadow of betrayal, a whisper in the night
A promise broken, a heart turned cold as ice
You're a ghost of what we had, a memory that won't fade
A lesson learned, a bond that's been betrayed 

[Bridge]
I'm done with the pain, done with the lies
I'm breaking free from the chains that bind
I'll rise up from the ashes, like a phoenix born
I'll find my strength, and I won't be torn 

[Verse 3]
You showed your true face, and it was cold
A stranger's eyes, a heart of gold turned old
You tried to manipulate, to twist and to blame
But I won't be fooled, I won't play the game 

[Chorus]
You're a shadow of betrayal, a whisper in the night
A promise broken, a heart turned cold as ice
You're a ghost of what we had, a memory that won't fade
A lesson learned, a bond that's been betrayed 

[Outro]
I'm free from the chains, I'm free from the pain
I'll find my way, I'll rise again
No more shadows, no more lies
I'll shine my light, and I'll survive.


A Lesson Learned

Hi. Thanks for listening. I’m a writer and producer who uses AI tools to turn my words into music. I’m open to collaborating with other artists. From broken bones to broken hearts to beautiful love (and loss). All these songs are written by me and deeply personal. If you like what you hear, please hit LIKE and REPOST. I don’t monetize my music but I do hope it can reach someone else out there going through life’s ups and downs. Thank you.-Nova J


Here is my music as I make it. Check out my latest mixtape, Rearranged: https://open.spotify.com/album/7sFQUJ5sNiGDXlxPUdZiFo?si=p-PofiBhT--D0BABF78tFA

NOVA J is a songwriter from the United States who has spent the last decade living and working abroad.

nova.j.artist@gmail.com

Genesis 1, Revelation 22 
 
From Beginning to End He is the One to comprehend all that has been done outside of the universe and underneath the sun. 

“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. “He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

Job 40:15-24

Our God is the God who made the heavens the land and the sea!



Alibi: The Rose that grew from concrete...  
Born in Edmonton, Alberta; raised in the Jane/finch area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
This Singer/Songwriter has been exposed to the elements of the environment, as well as the elements of Life. Influenced by the 90s Era of music and Life experiences; yet keeping a current ear makes her music Timeless. This Artist is of another Caliber. 
Armed with a unique style of writing and delivery; Combined with an Amazing Voice which soulfully reaches your deepest emotions. Alibi’s voice is described as “Seasoned and Hypnotic”; referred Distinctly as “The Alibi Sound”. 
Having appreciation & respect for all Genres of music; Alibi gives her music a positive influence with motivation to the Listener. Mainly concerned with making great music & spreading a positive light, by simply being simple. So much more in store for this Gifted Earth-Angel. God Bless...
“What’s your alibi…?” #WhatsYourAlibi💋



https://www.instagram.com/simply_alibi?igsh=MTl5Y3NsZWN3bjNvcg==

https://www.snapchat.com/add/simplyalibi1?share_id=27K0-ZIjaxI&locale=en-CA

https://www.tiktok.com/@simply_alibi?_t=8kns6SO7pGH&_r=1

Multi-genre composer. Mostly old school, but lately also with ML. Influenced by Beethoven to Queen. Radar System Engineer by profession, but music is my alternative life. Hope you enjoy! 
LINK TO MY REPOSTS:

These Guitars Say Sorry is the banner for a diverse range of artists, from UK singer-songwriter These Guitars Say Sorry to classical composer Jeremias Langsämmer along with his ensemble, Icelandic post-rock band Laxá with the Heima Kvartett, ambient artist Siegfried Jünger, and Doom Jazz ensemble The Dark Messiahs. Founded by Jez Stephen, who incepted all the projects, the label has released over 30 albums, crafting a unique sonic identity across genres.

Since 2021, These Guitars Say Sorry has released a track every week, later compiling them into albums available on all major platforms. Explore the catalog on Bandcamp: https://theseguitarssaysorry.bandcamp.com/ and support the work for as little as $1 a month on Patreon: www.patreon.com/tgss.

Songwriting has been a lifelong passion for me, dating back to elementary school when I first began crafting stories, poems, and eventually lyrics. As a former drummer in various bands, I always relied on others to bring my words to life musically. However, after a long hiatus from drumming, I decided to take the leap and learn to compose music to accompany my lyrics. Through classes and dedication, I've embarked on a new journey, breathing fresh life into old lyrics and penning new ones. You'll find a mix of older and newer works here, for the lyrics. 

Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is being completely entranced by 'The Little Drummer Boy' as a very young child. There was something about the rhythm and the melody that just captivated me. I must have played it a thousand times, wearing the record out, and from that moment on, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a drummer and to create that magic for others. 

But I was too young then, and of course, I couldn't afford a drum set just yet. So, I turned to writing as a way to express myself. As I mentioned above, I started with stories, then poems, and eventually, lyrics. I found that writing was not only a way to tap into my creativity, but also a way to process my emotions and experiences. 

As I grew older, my love for music only deepened. I realized that music has this incredible power to transport us to different times and places, to evoke emotions and memories that we thought were long forgotten. It's a universal language that can bring people together like nothing else can. 

For me, writing lyrics is a cathartic experience. It's a way for me to tap into my emotions, to process the world around me, and to create something that I hope will resonate with others. And when I hear my words come to life in a song, it's truly magical. It's a feeling that never gets old, and it's what keeps me coming back to music time and time again. 

I love many genres of music and artists of many genres. And if you listen to some of my songs, you will find that I like to make songs of different genres as well as mix different genres into each song. One of my all-time favorite bands is Evanescence, and I have made a lot of songs where I have tried my best to emulate that sound. 

Now, I have recently started experimenting with new sounds. I never heard of glitch beats before I took music classes, and now I'm fascinated with the sound, so I have been experimenting with glitch beats recently. 

I hope you enjoy some of my songs. And thanks so much to everyone who has been listening so far. I truly appreciate it. I welcome constructive feedback to help me grow as an artist, and I appreciate your support. ❤️

BTW if you follow me, I will ALWAYS follow back. If I like your music, I will follow you, but if you don't follow me back within a week or so I will probably unfollow. The same goes with when I see someone listening to my music, I WILL follow, however, if they don't follow me back within a week or so, I'll unfollow, because I'd like to even out my follows versus followers numbers. I'm following way more than I'm being followed back. 😢 Hope that makes sense? 😘













Template Legato, also known as Hirotaka Kato, is a songwriter & composer based in Sendai, Japan.

A Lesson Learned

VickStiX