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alignment

by illuminated

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1.
fork 04:25 video
I close my eyes to shut out the sun Every morning I awake face to face with a gun Temporarily relieved with sweet solace of sleep It's hard to find courage within constant retreat Do I have the ability, the capacity, allow me to flee? Permitting me to seize the key you dangled in front of me Your goals dropped on me only hold me back I found my path just to get knocked off track My life, my future. My right to chose It's my best interests in mind – it's not what's best for you Tried to shield me from mistakes, taking refuge from the truth I'm forced in a different direction to conform to your view I'm stuck in a rut. Held back and for what? Just because you decided I didn't make the cut? I don't need this. The light has been sighted No matter how hard you hide it, in time I'll still find it The life I seek is not based on a world that's mean So I conceive a another reality which I've only seen in my dreams I want to live a life filled with things that bring joy Not nine to five being played like a toy And I try so hard to cut the strings But fate steps in to remind me who's running things If no one other than me believes, What am I supposed to think? And if no one other than me can see, How am I supposed to succeed? If no one other than me believes, What am I supposed to think? And if no one other than me can see, How am I supposed to succeed? You preach your beliefs like the only choice to make Just how many of your lies did you think I would take? You use your life to inspire. You forgot I seen all you got You sold out to sloth, but I will not be bought No, dreams aren't meant to built tolerance for stress To settle for less, content enough to forget With all the possibilities, which path will you take? The one where I make my own mistakes! My journey has started, I hold the power now There is no to which I answer, cower, or bow I've earned this freedom so it won't be compromised Won't be the least bit surprised when you criticize Proudly I lead my future, no longer will I be led I leave you behind tangled in your web of distress I since gained sight. I just opened my eyes I can now succeed having broke free from your lies The road has split. Now you get sentimental? Decision instrumental. Result monumental I can rise new heights with feet planted I fly My roots are in place and I branch towards the light The smoke has ceased. The gun's steel grown cold Now free of it's hold, I seize control And it's hard to resist permanent peace eternal sleep With a new lease on life, my future's your history Life's constantly adding fuel to the fire Searing desires as it grows wider and higher It's the wounds in dire need that take the longest to treat Like night brings cold, dawn's light brings heat And with each day passed, you wish it had last But you took it for granted and abandoned your plants Did you bail cause your passions grew stale? It's the fact that you failed that led your train to derail If someone says they don't believe in me Who are you saying I can't reach my dreams? So if someone says you can't do that and succeed Look at you. Think I'd let that happen to me? If someone says they don't believe in me Who are you saying I can't reach my dreams? So if someone says you can't do that and succeed Look at you. Think I'd let that happen to me?
2.
H.C.M.P. The population inflates at exponential rates Which makes more space in the House for red states For the Earth's sake, can't you see what's at stake? Avoid the mistakes and choose to procreate Your eyes are kept averted by the way they got you herded By the loopholes they inserted into the ways our laws are worded Which get more contorted as the rich get more rewarded But do you read what's recorded? No! It's easier to ignore it The time has come for the resurgence of a new insurgence The reemergence of what's really important and urgent We've got to strive to break away from the hive Society thrives: yet you don't feel alive Mankind has the resolve to solve how the world revolves Yet some won't get involved to find from where we've evolved It's hard to conceive with the mixed signals we receive It's no wonder you concede when we all should secede Too ignorant to vote, too distracted to revolt How can we have hope when they can't reach for the remote? Feeding lies to the masses in an attempt to keep them passive If we just got off our asses we'd get the power back from the fascists Is life what it's supposed to be? Manifest your destiny Make life what is in your dreams Manifest that destiny Is life what it's supposed to be? Manifest: Destiny Make life what is in your dreams Manifest your destiny With so much wow in the constant now It's no wonder how new souls can't bow After the pow from works like the Tao Which brings out doubt of what our vows are about In the beginning, natural disaster was blamed on the sky When now we have entire sciences devoted to why So rely on the fiction, if that's what gets you by But we can't buy that it's the work of one guy It's a debauchery how you flock to these mockeries A spiritual lobotomy from all the dichotomies Break free of the monotony of the untaxed monopolies Cause your philosophy ought to be a result of autonomy Is your inability to discern behind your lack of concern? When others desperately yearn for something new to learn No U-turn from the fear that you'll burn Respect can't be given if it hasn't been earned Teens growing up without a privilege got a low self-image Would rather watch Sunday's scrimmage than hear a tale of pilgrimage With your kids held captive, attending church by habit Who would've known so much damage could come from an old adage be illuminated. Is life what it's supposed to be? Manifest your destiny Make life what is in your dreams Manifest that destiny Is life what it's supposed to be? Manifest: Destiny Make life what is in your dreams Manifest your destiny
3.
Society, friends, family, TV, or money? What's important to you isn't necessarily for me Back up from the screen and the drama it brings To see there's more to life than just the material things Drop the negativity and treat all others proper Live positively and your life will prosper Meditate for the answers that many have sought for And you'll ascend to the full potential of what life has to offer Respect individuality: politically or religiously Diversity is the key to achieve community You might not agree with race or sexuality Yet treat others equally: just like how you'd like to be The propaganda you create only propagates hate Claiming heaven's gate only opens for your faith? Don't feed me your lines cause I'm doing just fine Knowing your grand design is billions of years behind mine Some have to be right - others want to get along Some have to fight - others want to belong I won’t judge what right or decide what’s wrong I’d rather pass this light so you can *** my **** Life's there one second and the next it's gone Without a warning, ya never know, ya might pass on So live every minute like it's the last one Cause when the time comes, what's done is done So that’s what you’re after: a little piece of rapture? An attempt to recapture your life before it’s fracture Now desensitized in an unrealized real life So sanitized that you've sacrificed your own rights You pack their pews when you got points to accrue To try to excuse what you would normally do And when a challenge ensues: you got no new views You assume to continue to follow their cues Physically catatonic from a mind that's embryonic Practically autonomic by your blind system of logic Living life myopic in world you feel’s chaotic But to dwell is psychotic- so let’s skip to the next topic: You regurgitate everything the media spews Can’t differentiate anything be it lies or truth After each program you got a new point of view Cause it came from the trusted anchor of live action news Just like your pastor preaching about another disaster The president’s more like an actor, whose party isn’t a factor So go wait in line with the other slaves to time Or cross the line to see for yourself what aligns Life's there one second and the next it's gone Without a warning, ya never know, ya might pass on So live every minute like it's the last one Cause when the time comes, what's done is done Life's there one second and the next it's gone Without a warning, ya never know, ya might pass on So live every minute like it's the last one Cause when the time comes, what's done is done
4.
incomplete 02:00
I feel incomplete from all our time apart the wound penetrated a hole in my heart did it really have to go and get this far- to know what I'd do if we had a fresh start? My friends and logic say it's for the best but my emotional limits have been put to the test and out of all the problems I've had to ingest this is one truth that I just can't digest You're too young to not to be free it's important to me that you are happy you deserve someone so much better than me but did it have come so suddenly Now isolated, and pushed to the side I look up to find no more sparks in your eyes I long for the days when we were fine where I'm not a monster that you despise But I understand...I truly do I'll eventually face the fact that we are through so go and enjoy life with someone new I just wrote to let you know that I love you
5.
SinKing 02:38
Sinking cause I swim in sin Like quicksand: this liquid life sucks you in The more I struggle: the deeper I go The further below, the pressure grows I can’t enjoy what’s mine with no time to unwind Confined, in a bind, trying to find piece of mind I need redemption from this collection of misconceptions Yet despite my best intentions – I still feel rejection Wrists in pain from the weight of the chains A shame I remain on my descent to the dark domain Being restricted I found it hard to resist it My mind became conflicted from the sickness it inflicted I hold on tight and keep all things in sight If I fight things just might turn out alright I’m out of my league in desperate need to break free My body begins to seize: shocked from the need to breathe Left to depths with deepest regrets A constant threat from the help I don’t get With how I am bound: how can I not drown? While sinking down, looked up and found a frown Sinking cause I swim in sin Like quicksand: this liquid life sucks you in The more I struggle: the deeper I go The further below, the pressure grows Stirred from the blur with a sudden surge The water begins to purge as I reemerge reassured Then a new light at night ignites the dark The sparks flare and arc as I start to take charge The storm breaks with the wake of the wave Thinning the haze, setting the stage for change The flood subsides as I turn the tide At sunrise, surprised, to see clear skies Engage: the constant in life is change Step to the plate and embrace the next stage Blaze in the rays of a bright new day Unafraid to face what gets in my way With the weight relieved, I can achieve what’s perceived And I won’t be at ease till this tease can be seized Once mired and tired – now inspired and rewired Upgraded and updated to set the world on fire Don’t relent once you begin dissent Reinvent the resent as focused intent Insist to exist: this life is a gift When in risk raise and lift clenched fists Begin ignition without inhibition And make vital revisions when you re-envision your decisions Envision a position upon your volition Initiating intuition bringing life into fruition
6.
Alarm! 04:44
We need a real leader We need a real leader Random Reveal Roots Revolution Tandem Repeal Truth’s Evolution I feel the need to release, I will no longer suppress You got to accept I inherent the effects of your neglect I expect you give if you intend to get respect But I suspect you'll regret when nothings left So what is it that your trying to say to me? You think you know who I'm supposed to be Don't you know I can see through all that deception I know it's a mere reflection - just your clouded perceptions A stray you remain unless you assimilate I only strayed to retain a name with this face You may see a gate but all I see is a cage You wasted you life away and still choose to stay This institution's left you where you can't even think for yourself Try to think for me but when did I ask for your help? I think for myself so I discontinue the tradition Welcome to my world where your out of jurisdiction Do what I told you Don't mind what I do Alarm! Don't you know that I learned it from you Do what I tell you Don't mind what you do Wake! And you know that you learned it once too Do what I told you Don't mind what I do Alarm! Don't you know that I learned it from you Do what I tell you Don't mind what you do Wake! And you know I won't teach it like you Why does it seem like life's always this way Forced down a path from which we should not stray You want me to wake up and open my eyes to see That you haven't changed - the finger's still aimed at me You think we need a grip on reality? When you the one that lives a life based on what others think If the world's black and white, who set's the gauge? Who dictates my place within all the shades of grey? I won't fight. I won't myself lower myself like you do I'm using the potential - not how you want me to I see why you fight to object to my ways You're just afraid I'll make the same mistakes you made But when will you realize that who you see Couldn’t be any further from who you've unleashed? While you daydream of the past - I dream of things to be I've lived your life - now witness my reality Do what I told you Don't mind what I do Alarm! Don't you know that I learned it from you Do what I tell you Don't mind what you do Wake! And you know that you learned it once too Do what I told you Don't mind what I do Alarm! Don't you know that I learned it from you Do what I tell you Don't mind what you do Wake! And you know I won't teach it like you Random Reveal Roots Revolution Tandem Repeal Truth’s Evolution Random Reveal Roots Revolution Tandem Repeal Truth’s Evolution Random Reveal Roots Revolution Tandem Repeal Truth’s Evolution We need a real leader We need a real leader We need a real leader We need a real leader
7.
third eye 02:47
The dawn of eternity Has seen many species able to see Able to be in a state of being To abandon the eyes of subjectivity to see clearly When I view the world, I try to remain subjective Imprisoned by logic, how can you stand this and accept it Am I the only one who’s forced this perspective? From a source we suspect is our foretold objective Do you think? No. No one knows how it goes Let's stop. There was a time when all was sacrificed to maintain the state Technologies advanced just to pacify the race Ambition discarded with mountains of material waste Numbed to displace seeds from celestial space The stars effect life like the moon changes tide All its seeds will bud given food, light, and time Will power come from this body of mine? Think maybe it's the energy which resides inside? Or does it come down the family tree To be set free as the predisposed genes in me? Does it really matter how I got the key? No, not religion: it was spirituality This clueless boy birthed far from home Grew into a holy man filled with holes A spirit or electromagnetic-biochemical soul? No individual knows what's supposed to unfold Upon the opening of my third eye: I realized It came time to sever my ties to the lies I need some consistency from the chaos in life Cause sometimes I find it hard to keep a grip on time There’s so much more than what the eyes may see It’s all here just tune in to a different frequency The same ideas and stories repeat throughout history Arrive in all culture yet taught differently The psychological mythological symbols inside Unite us all within a universal mind I see cryptic things in my dreams - but why? And what’s it mean if it’s scenes from another life? There’s got to be more to this thing we call time: Cause the future can’t be seen if time’s a straight line So combine the sight of instinct and wisdom's eyes To roll with the lows and highs of this ride we call life

credits

released October 1, 2021

Music written and produced by Wayne Hays
Vocals and Lyrics by Zen
Recorded at Scarlet Studios
Cover Art and Photography by Mark Beachum
Logo by Jamilyn K. Parks


Zen dedicates Track 2 to the memory of PoeticJules RIP
and gives special thanks to JBS and Fallout.

Wayne dedicates the album to Ashleigh Cole,
for the support to make this possible.

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illuminated Long Beach, California

A Long Beach music duo formed in 2012 composed of Wayne and Zen whose goal is to open minds through enlightened lyrics over diverse musical approaches. Illuminated is produced by comic book company H.C.M.P. High Concept Media Properties.

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