15 June 2019

(SMS) Project Aegis - Angel in the Ashes


[Verse 1]
She caught a glimpse of those who wished to sail away
The spectre of a dream to chase a better day
The promise of a brand new start

And she always said the visions left a mark
The remnants of a stain tattooed upon her heart
She watched them as they moved together

[Bridge 1]
Formed in pain, spirits gone
Like armies slain, yet marching on
Legions grow, faces change
Yet after all the chaos, darkness still remains
She’s never the same...

[Chorus]
One more revolution turn
Watch the madhouse burn
Carry on, carry on
Rising angel in the ashes
Shimmer in the show
Shining in the afterglow
Fire falls from heaven down below

[Verse 2]
To gaze upon the ones she’d never seen
An architect of life repairing broken dreams
With nothing but the gift of time

She dared to be the first to cross the line
Reflections of a selfless way and altered mind
A past in shadow left so far behind

[Bridge 2]
Behind their eyes
Thrown away like wreckage for some other day
Compromised, to escape
Forgotten no more
Minds of millions wide awake
It’s never too late...

[Chorus]
One more revolution turn
Watch the madhouse burn
Carry on, carry on
Rising angel in the ashes
Shimmer in the show
Shining in the afterglow
Fire falls from heaven down below

[Part C]
Every life a choice to embrace
Either looking on or turning away
To extend a hand of mercy and grace
And to carry on
Hold the ones that the others denied
And to walk through ashes right by their side
And to be the angel, ever abide
As they carry on

[Solo]

[Chorus]
One more revolution turn
Watch the madhouse burn
Carry on, carry on
Rising angel in the ashes
Shimmer in the show
Shining in the afterglow
Fire falls from heaven down below


It's been a while since I last wrote on a request (and the list keeps growing). Looking at the order of requests, this one was the first and I couldn't be happier since I haven't heard this one for about some time.

Project Aegis, as the name suggests, is a project. A project of metal musicians like Rob Rock (solo, Impellitteri), Daísa Munhoz (Vandroya, Soulspell), Vasilis Georgiou (Sunburst, Black Fate), Leah McHenry (LEAH) Gus Drax (Sunburst, Black Fate), and Matt Smith (Theocracy). Aegis is a word that comes from both Latin and Greek, but its meaning is deeper into the Greek definition, which relates to physical protection. This project, at the time of its release, intended to help homeless and refugees’ families in Greece, which makes the name of this project perfect. According to Matt Smith, the composer, the idea of this song came after a chat with some friends of his, where they said every weekend they help feed the huge number of poor, homeless and refugee families in that area. “Angels in the Ashes” isn't the first song Matt conceived where the song’s revenue goes toward helping someone.

Talking about helping someone else, this is the song's subject. The song is about someone who took the first step into making a difference in someone’s life. It's about someone who didn’t look into her own self.

Our modern problem is ”the self”. We forget to look after others because we only want to take care of our own ego. Being selfish. Just me and me. Of course, we must take care of our health and needs, but this isn't the point. The biggest sacrifice for our lives was given. Someone who embraced the entire world by himself. Some said would follow him every time, and when he most needed, nobody was there. He denied his godly powers to give his life for all humankind. Jesus alone simplified access to God through his life. He taught us how to help each other, and still, we pretend we don’t need to help anybody.

When we help someone, we make him/her feel reborn, like a phoenix risen from the ashes. Be light in someone else’s life. Be the hope. Make someone feel the desire to carry on. Look after the ones denied by society. We were wreckages and still, Jesus gave us hope. He didn’t think about his divinity. He saved.

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/track/628300732
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/42ZJWVUKr00vOUoYMAzXIU
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=zQRU4FGrkZk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3BLEFkQGpg


References:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aegis
https://ulteriumrecords.bandcamp.com/track/angel-in-the-ashes
https://whiplash.net/materias/news_791/242680-theocracy.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3BLEFkQGpg
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29 May 2019

(SMS) A Perfect Circle - Imagine

[Verse 1]
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today  

[Verse 2]
Imagine there are no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
No religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace  

[Chorus]
You may say
I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one 
(Imagine all the people sharing all the world)  

[Verse 3]
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world 

[Chorus]
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one



It’s funny how we all imagine a perfect world. Nothing like this or that. Imagine... imagine... John Lennon imagined and wrote this song. It would be perfect if everybody was into this idea but it won’t help. This is utopia!! And there comes A Perfect Circle’s version. 

What I like the most about Maynard Keenan, A Perfect Circle’s main writer, is how acid and critic he can be. Just look at the band’s name and its logo: it isn’t a perfect circle. He doesn’t deny a better future, but he isn’t daydreaming about it. He also does this with his other band, Tool, which is way harsher than A Perfect Circle. 

As you can see in the video clip and the song’s sombre tone, we’re all doomed. Somehow. No happiness, no hope, no future... Only consumerism, wars, theft, extremism, political or not, hunger... and if we don’t step up and do our part, little by little, starting in our homes, yes, I’ll have to agree with Maynard that our future isn’t going to be perfect. It'll be just another beautiful song of where people don't realise what they're singing and the meaning behind. Yes, I’ll also agree with the sombre tone, because we’ll be living a fake reality.

Be the change wherever you are. Be the hope for the lost one. Be the light within the darkness. Be a positive difference. And as the last lines say ”I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one”.

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13 May 2019

(SMS) Aerosmith - Dream On

[Verse 1]
Every time​ that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone, it went by like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way, everybody's got the dues in life to pay, yeah

[Interlude]
I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody sins
You got to lose to know how to win

[Verse 2]
Half my life's in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you

[Chorus]
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

[Bridge]
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on
Dream on, dream on
Dream on, dream on
Dream on

[Chorus]
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

[Chorus]
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away


When we were kids we always dreamt, imagined, and created worlds. We’ve dreamt of being astronauts, adventurers, explorers, firefighters... and as we’ve grown, we’ve lost our interest on the most simple things: we’ve lost interest in dreaming; in believing! What was the last thing you’ve dreamt about?

I know it’s hard sometimes to deal with our short time and to pursue our goals. Is that flame you had as a kid still burning? Fight for it. Have your winnings and failures put you down to the ground? We’ve all been through bad days. We’ve all shed some tears. But don’t ever lose your hope.

Keep on dreaming. Keep on pursuing your childhood’s desires. Sing, cry, dance... live your life while you can. You never know when you’ll depart. And who knows when our time on this planet will cease?

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21 April 2019

(SMS) As I Lay Dying - Redefined

[Intro: Tim Lambesis]

I refuse to let go of the memories
'Cause they've changed everything inside of me

[Verse 1: Tim Lambesis & Jake Luhrs]
If I could go back now to save myself the loss
Substanceless character brought back would be the cost
Agony today is tomorrow's strength
So don't run away 'cause misery is
Evolving into something that we can't see
Evolving and becoming, transforming
So don't run away

[Chorus: Josh Gilbert & Tim Lambesis]
The pain can never be erased
Remain and turn it into strength, turn it into strength

[Verse 2: Tim Lambesis & Jake Luhrs]
What do we value in the midst of complacency?
But in despair, we beg for something, anything
Even our mistakes can have the power
To light the way like a glaring tower

[Chorus: Josh Gilbert]
The pain can never be erased
Remain and turn it into strength
From our failures, we are refined
Replacing frailty, allowing us to be redefined
[Bridge: Tim Lambesis]
Healed scars can be stronger than skin
The wounds we have can be rewritten
Redefined, redefined, redefined
Agony today is tomorrow's strength, redefined
So don't run away

[Interlude: Josh Gilbert]
The pain can never be erased

[Chorus: Josh Gilbert & Tim Lambesis]
The pain can never be erased
Remain and turn it into strength
The pain can never be erased
Remain and turn it into strength
From our failures, we are refined
Replacing frailty, allowing us to be redefined
From our failures we are refined
Replacing frailty, allowing us to be redefined

[Outro: Tim Lambesis]
Don't run away
Misery's evolving



Last year everyone's head exploded when As I Lay Dying released a new single. It was a release after a 5 year-hiatus of new releases, mainly beacause its lead singer, Tim Lambesis, was charged and found guilt while hiring a hitman to murder his ex-wife. The song is named "My Own Grave", and if you look deeply into it, you see his pointing his own mistakes. He's saying he's dug his own grave. I wrote about this song and you can revisit at ("My Own Grave", in Portuguese, for a while).

This song, Redefined, I see as an extension of "My Own Grave", but from a new perspective. He isn't denying his past. He isn't saying his innocent! He knows what he's done and, curiously, he doesn't want to forget. Though he points that he wouldn't do the same, even if he had the chance to. It was painful to face the consequences.

Every pain brings a new story. Every story is a new evolution. It can be for better or for worse. How will you deal with it? Are you living an evolution or involution? It is time to redefine.

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14 April 2019

(SMS) Shinedown - Simple Man

[Verse 1]
Well Mama told me when I was young
Said sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this, it'll help you some sunny day

[Verse 2]
Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman, and you'll find love
And don't forget that there is someone up above

[Chorus]
And be a simple kind of man
Oh be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?

[Verse 3]
Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need now is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

[Chorus]
And be a simple kind of man
Oh be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?

[Verse 4]
Oh, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart, and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

[Outro]
And be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?
So baby be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?




To start with... This is not an original song by Shinedown. It's a classic by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. This version was presented to me by a friend, back in 2011. I like this version for two reasons: it has an acoustic version, and it has a full band version. There's strength in this singer's voice. There's emotion.

Emotion. This is what this song brings. It also brings experience of someone who has been through a lot, and now wants to share with someone younger, so this person doesn't need to suffer, at least a bunch, with his or her life. It can be a grandparent or even a parent. 

Life's too short. We always try to do everything at the same time and in a hurry, and most of the time we forget ourselves. We want things to be complex. There's no need in this. I, myself, am learning this in the hardest way. We need to calm down. We need to rest. We need to be simple. We need to stare the skies, listen to the birds... We need to love! Love who we are and our neighbors as ourselves. We need to trust.

We all face problems, even if not now, they'll eventually show up. Everyone's been in it. It won't be different. What will be different is how you face it.

Be a simple kind of man.

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/br/album/simple-man-rock-version/321038193?i=321038562

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/track/3763276

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6WXdlIUbsqFSS6T63eCBxx?si=oENreVi4RN28jPPKAs4fyA

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8IF_aFuJ7MM

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8IF_aFuJ7MM
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1 April 2019

(SMS) David Phelps - Water

As the desert sun burned hot upon my face
While drawing water in the middle of the day
Please give me a drink (That stranger's speaking to me)
My child do you think you could spare
Me some water (He must want more than water)

But you have crossed the line between us, me and you
(She is afraid, she is so broken)
Why when you asked me for water like you do
(This is her chance, she's ready now)
Oh but if you only knew (He speaks with so much heart and)
Who it is that speaks to you
You would ask me for water (I wanna know more of this water)

There is a living stream flowing from the deep,
(How can it be free and eternal)
endless and eternal

Drink from the only spring where you take a drink and never thirst again.
(Can it set me free)
Let it set you free.

So this water is a gift that you can give
(Please take it now it costs you nothing)
But if you only knew the life that I have lived
(I know the life that you have lived)
You can be different than before
(But then you took the shame, forgotten)
You can go and sin no more
(So this is how it feels to be forgiven)
My child, be forgiven.

There is a living stream flowing from the deep, endless and eternal
Drink from the only spring where you take a drink and never thirst again.
Let it set you free.
(Let it set you free)

My whole life has been in chains, a prisoner to this world
(My child, now go and tell)
Now at last this living water sets me free
(How at last this living water set you free)

There is a living stream flowing from the deep, endless and eternal
Drink from the only spring where you take a drink and never thirst again.
Let it set you free.
(Let it set me free)

Let it set you free.
(Let it set me free)




This song was requested by Andréia, a cousin of mine (2nd degree). Through her son, Vini, who already made a request which was already attended (Joey Landreth, Forgiveness), she kept on asking me when it would come (I have got a funny printscreen of this), and here it is!

The first thing that hooked my attention in this song was the conversation. The whole song is a conversation between a man and a woman. The woman has her doubts, while the man has the answers. I love these duets, though sometimes we get confused while trying to listen to both parts at the same time hahaha. Also, I see a connection with the excerpt found in John 4 in the Bible.

Our lives have been surrounded by dilemmas. We all have committed mistakes. We sometimes presume that we do not deserve any kind of mercy and with this burden on our backs, we avoid any chat regarding our past, afraid of remembering and crying over everything made us unhappy.

This is not true! We all deserve forgiveness. Our past means can be transformed into experience if we seek for a change of life. If we seek to satisfy our thirst. Past is rememberance of what we did wrong and must change. There is someone who can help us change. He can give us endless and eternal water, which heal our pain, free us from what brings us down. His name is Jesus. He is gentle and only will enter your life if you give permission.

Drink for the water He can give.

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/br/album/water-feat-maggie-beth-phelps-live/1083704131?i=1083705161
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/track/119872388
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Kfiyb2QzB3E8JbhfmvbTG?si=c6J8musaS8-_MwWaaMHPqA
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGRo_SJOL0
YouTube: https://youtu.be/cPcg-SBsOnY
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17 March 2019

(SMS) August Burns Red - Midnight

Everyone has their own battles to fight
Even the darkest places can't hide the light
Life goes on when part of you dies
We're all alone and wondering, wondering why

We're all alone and wondering, wondering who'll save us
We're all alone and wondering, wondering who'll save us

   We're all singing the same song
   I need a good word
   We're all singing the same song
   Someone to come along the way
   We're too busy running wild

You stopped to help
Yeah
You took me in
Now, listen to my voice

I want to sit and hear you out
I want to understand your pain
I want your pain
Everyone has their own battles to fight
To win, invite each other in
Invite each other in
We'll hear you out (Invite each other in, invite each other in)
Come join us now

Everyone has their own battles to fight
Even the darkest places can't hide the light
Life goes on when part of you dies
We're not alone and wondering, seek and you will find

We're not alone and wondering, wondering who'll save us (Save us)
We're not alone and wondering, wondering who'll save us (Save us)
Save us (Save us)
Save us (Save us)

Image by MickiF from Pixabay

  Midnight. It can be the apex  of many and biggest emotions. It can be apex of positivism or negativism. There’s a huge mysticism regarding this time. The apex of night. The apex of emotions.
  Emotions. There’s much to discuss about it. I myself have written tons on this topic. Topic that is important to talk and talk again, since anxiety, anorexia nervosa, post-traumatic stress and, mainly, depression, are considered the diseases of our century. I have queued a song particularly about depression, and two others in mind.
  God is good, though all failures, mistakes and human judgements we try to put in Him, a divine being. He chooses people who live with us, fondly nicknamed as angels, which are always up to listen, which feel our pain and bring light when darkness prevails. People that are support and uplift to our battles. These people, in other hand, they can’t substitute your search for a mental or physical health professional.
  We don’t need to imagine who can save us. We don’t need to go far beyond a simple conversation with God. A life with God won’t take your pain away, but you’ll have support and won’t walk alone through the night. We won’t be alone. We are not alone! And have some faith, for every tunnel has its light at the end. 

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