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The Monomyth

by Dr Ted Nelson

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1.
2.
3.
Got that nine to five on a weekday Make you rushin’ out the door No need to feel overwhelmed You’ve been through this before It’s the same shit, different day On that grind until you drop Movin’ to the rhythm, ridin’ on your flow Got that groove that you can’t stop (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Uggghhh, clean up on isle five (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Price check for groceries please (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Ma’am, please don’t eat that. (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Workin’ hard or hardly workin? (So you livin’ that dream yet?) Oh my my, got my 15 in a minute (You smoke that weed and you’ll lose your head) Ha! Now tell me how I’m never trippin’ (Huh, your manager outta hear this) Ok boomer, I’m only a temp (Embrace the suck. It’ll make you a man) Sure, like I’m one shift closer to livin’ the dream Everyday brings a new vibration Take a curveball & make it swing Keep on livin’ in the light Burn ‘em up like little wing Don’t need no contemplation When we’re rockin’ in the dance hall Cause music is my meditation and Rhythm is my soul (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Oh god, I slept in again (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) I think I still got a little roach-o (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Welp, better have one for the road (livin’ the dream, livin’ the dream) Ahh, I got scoobed again! [Chorus]
4.
We’re getting closer, getting higher, Getting more than we asked for. Life’s getting tougher, going faster, Going further than we’ve been before. I’ll awaken from this dream and Seize this new reality While the moon wanes crescent It reflects past to present I’ll lift the black veil from my face And reconnect the human race While man poisons his waters The time it falters Please take a number, take a breather Take a moment for yourself I’m feeling anxious, feeling depressed Feelin’ like I wanna turn this around [Chorus] [Bridge] [Chorus]
5.
Schnoinked! 06:45
6.
Ogygia 05:21
Lost in a trance I see myself below, daydreaming Batteries drain, I’m fraying, decaying Lotus Eaters, Lotus Eaters Bathe me in sin My mind in stasis My body stands still Lotus Eaters, Lotus Eaters Is this a dream? I’m waking in cycles The needle, it skips (O-gy-gi-a) x6 I’ll say a prayer Staring at the mirror, for nothing Going nowhere I’m waiting, I’m staying Lotus Eaters, Lotus Eaters Give me a swig I don’t like the real world Please take me away. Lotus Eaters, Lotus Eaters I’m losing my head I’m thinking in circles The cycle must break (O-gy-gi-a) x6
7.
Tandavam 05:40
Tandavam The dance divine Samsara Must reach Moksha Feel the rain Absolve us Time is circular it blinds up Aum ॐ
8.
9.
When I wake up in the morning And my babe is still asleep I like to find my peace of mind In this tender humanity. And when she opens her eyes I feel the sun shining brighter Thinkin’ ‘bout lovin’, growin’, holdin’ on To this love between you and me And when the sun starts to set (Gonna feel that soft connection) The light from the moon shines in her eyes How I long for every moment Like smokin’ bowls into the sunset If only every minute could feel like it do When I'm here with you, roll one up for two Breathe, so tenderly Ground yourself I’m floating Girl I soar when I’m with you (Stratospheric) I groove when I’m with you (Funkadelic) Feel alive when I’m with you (Astronomic Love) Softly the sun rises on her face (Gonna take you to your happy place) I never wanna lose your love supreme I’m gonna love you everyday Feelin’ tender humanity

about

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”
~Joseph Campbell

The essence of life is growth. Throughout our lives we are met with events that require an immediate choice. These actions define our moral compass, and make up who we are. Naturally as humans, we do not always make the right choices in life, but it is in how we deal with the aftermath where we see an endless chasm for opportunity and growth. People can change for the worse or better. Ultimately, it is their responsibility to make an effort to change.
Coming from a background of moving around place to place, it was very difficult for me to establish my identity. Everytime I felt as if I was finally accepted by my surroundings, it was time to move somewhere else and start new. I had so many opportunities to reform and refine who I am as a person, and I find that we are all a result of our surroundings. We absorb culture like a sponge through art, music, slang, our environment, the ideologies of others, and a plethora of other factors. If we are exposed to a wide variety of different cultures, why not make the choice to absorb certain facets of each. Diversity is what makes life flourish.
While being contemplative on the past is very important, I find it is our duty to always be progressing- growing- our lives and culture to unlock our true potential. The trouble of progression is that sometimes we are so caught up in ourselves and our works that we may begin to feel isolated; an iconoclast to an obscure niche that “normal society” does not quite understand. Frank Zappa once said that “progress is not possible without deviation from the norm,” and it is my belief that we must take that leap of faith if we ever wish to see significant growth.
This album is my artistic statement. This is my utopian idea for what music can be. If diversity creates richer cultures, why not spice up our music with the very same diversity? Why not combine elements from rock, jazz, funk, EDM, and others into a multifaceted gem? I’m constantly inspired by hearing both new music and deep, vintage cuts. Trying to utilize elements of the past to shape the future is how history works, isn’t it?
Conceptually, this album is inspired by Joseph Campell’s theory of “The Monomyth” (also known as “The Hero’s Journey”). This idea encapsulates both the mythological sequence in all religions, fables, and cultures, as well as the secular quest of self-discovery for a fully realized life. The hero in myth (a projection of our subconscious) must endure this tumultuous journey in which they experience a separation from the familiar world, descent into the unknown, a grand ordeal, and eventually a return to their ordinary world. This quest is metaphorical, again, to our lives and how we deal with our fears, resistance, and insecurities. We must let go of what we know, and embrace the unknown. There is an opportunity for transformation in everyone, everywhere, at any time. It is up to us whether or not to “step out the front door” to cross the threshold and embark upon a journey both external and internal.

credits

released May 6, 2020

Co-engineered/Co-mixed/Mastered by: Aidan Sloppy
Artwork by: Olivia Deep

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Dr Ted Nelson Nashville, Tennessee

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