EPISODE · Mar 17, 2022 · 3 MIN

7- Private Eden

from #StoriesAboutSongs · host RedefineHipHop

1)Devise a plan. Check. 2)Commit to said plan. Check. 3)Acknowledge challenges. Check. 4)Seek help. Check 5)Celebrate the small wins. Check. 6)Fully embrace who you are and who you are becoming. Check. That’s the album, song by song, thus far. Although that’s all happened in the span of six songs, it’s really a reflection of my life. More specifically, it’s a snapshot of my life since 2015, the time when things started taking that turn that eventually led to me deciding it was finally time to make some life changes, including therapy. When I decided to go to therapy, I took it very seriously. And like with anything I’m passionate about, research ensued; reading old journals, writing down memories, talking to family, and making extensive notes before each session. We only touched on a fraction of those things in sessions because it was also helpful to let the conversation go wherever it did naturally. However, the notes were still useful, because the work never was intended to start or end at therapy. To me, that was just like the rejuvenation station. I always felt like the work was on me, so I used those notes on my own. I haven’t thought of this exact terminology until this precise moment to be honest, but I guess I view this album a bit like an Opera…it’s musical theater to me, or my version of it. When you get to a key act in a play, sometimes there’s a flashback moment, or a review of the key central antagonist or challenge at hand. That’s what the start of “Private Eden” is. Also, important to note, when I started writing this, I had no idea where it was going. It really was starting out unintentionally being a continuation of “The Things I Often Ponder”, but once I noticed that, that is when I came up with the concept and a way to shift it somewhere else. “Private Eden” is a representation of a personal paradise that we all have access to, it’s just a matter if we are willing to brave the journey to get there. That’s what I’ve spent the last 6 songs (or 52 years…) preparing to do. It’s not a physical place, but I do recognize that sometimes a change of environment is just what we need to jumpstart some of those big changes. “Private Eden” is, simply put, finding peace of mind and comfort in who you are, and knowing what you want and what makes you happy. However, in the song, I’m describing it as a physical place, and at the “twist ending”, I’m skydiving out of an airplane to touchdown in my personal paradise. As I activate my parachute, I’m looking around at the environment.Then, the song ends as I reach the shoreline of this beautiful paradise. LYRICS: Far too often life is exhausting Plagued with problems And those who caused em Escape unscathed or play possum But I’m in tune frequencies beyond the five senses And I’m not into playing games or trying to ride fences Principled but sensible enough to know Black and white aren’t the primary colors of the status quo (No, No, No) Lines are blurred, so grey is the shade preferred Especially when you’re known to have a way with words And humankind can be so absurd So I’ll greet death with open arms when that day occurs Until then I’m building my strength to go the length, No matter how long it takes, I will win Or die trying, for my dreams vying , I’m not lying From my cold dead hands you will have to pry em And, I got fortitude and can’t afford to lose And know loss could come from any door I chose As far as motivation, I’ll give one reason Living life is so much more than simply breathing I refuse to live paralyzed by fear and lies Instead I chose skydiving into paradise Feel wind press against uncovered flesh Free fall then pull the cord across Your chest (YES!) All the while marveling at the scenery Clear water, lush flowers, endless greenery And once your feet touch down on the fertile ground... Peaceful silence is the only sound That’s the feeling of creative freedom Receiving your deed and a free crop of seeds to your private eden