Senior Project Lyrics

Intro - Vortex Furia

Song Info: I produced Vortex Furia at the beginning of last semester for a movie trailer music album entitled Solara Astralis for the film trailer label Megatrax. I produced 2 tracks for that particular album, but I felt like Vortex Furia was the most fitting to open the show. It is a bombastic and action-packed track, with extreme highs and lows to keep listeners hooked. There are moments of harrowing intensity contrasted with glimpses of anthemic triumph, culminating in a soaring, heroic climax!

You can hear other trailer tracks I have produced/performed on under Solara Astralis by Megatrax, and Apex and Machina under 11 One/Music on Spotify, Apple Music, and more!

Solara Atralis: https://www.megatrax.com/albums/al061

1. ALL HAIL THE KING!!! (Pride)

Song Info: The next three songs (All Hail the King!!!, Flowers, and Viper) are all going to be on my upcoming album, 70 x 7, a concept album about the 7 Deadly Sins. Before putting my ideas to music, I wrote poems about the 7 Deadly Sins and then reworked each of the poems into a song. Thus, each song is a combination of my personal and poetic take on that respective Sin. All Hail the King (AHTK) is the first song on the album, and it explores the sin of Pride. I used many different resources to study the sin of Pride, such as movies, books, and other music, but the character that seemed to embody Pride the most was Shakespeare's Macbeth. So, to pay homage to the Scottish Play, I interpolated various quotes into the song. The style of this song is also very pompous, reflected by the swaggering bassline and aggressive brass. Sing along if you know it!!! 1...2...3, ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

ALL HAIL THE KING!!! (Pride)

Verse 1

You always make me wonder how

You don’t know who it is you’re talking to right now

I used to wear a gilded crown

Now it’s fallen upside down

Heavy is my head…

I don’t like the way you look at me

It’s almost like you don’t know who it is you see

There’s a dagger in your smile

And your lips are now on trial

Heavy is my head…

Chorus 1

All things I gain in spite of your drought

The hail and rain both cease when I shout

I know your pain, don’t give me your doubt

Breathe it all in

Don’t you dare let it out

Don’t you dare let it out…

Hook

ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

Verse 2

I’m talking with myself too much

But you’re the only one who ever keeps in touch

Can we ever meet again?

You’ve no idea how it’s been

Living with the dead...

All hell is empty, don’t you know?

They let the devils out to put on a show!

And I can get it when I want it when I want to

That’s what I do now and then

You know what I said!

Chorus 2

You wanna fight me? I win every bout

You want the key? Show me you’re devout

Fool me once, shame on you

Fool me thrice? Strikeout!

You breathe it all in

Don’t you dare let it out…

Hook

ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

Chorus 3

Be honest with me, you think it’s unfair

That right where you stand, there’s a grief in the air

And at this very moment, you don’t have a prayer

Breathe it all in

Don’t you dare-

Hook

ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

All hail the…

Woah

2. Flowers (Greed)

Song Info: Flowers explores the sin of Greed. Musically, this song draws from many different genres, including hip-hop/rap, industrial rock, and EDM. The main inspiration for the beat was Kanye West's Black Skinhead, which has since shown up in many other songs, such as Bury a Friend by Billie Eilish. It's an aggressive, brooding beat, with distorted jungle drums driving the song forward. Lyrically, I wanted to capture the way that Greed can consume your soul so completely that you begin wanting things you know will be detrimental to your well-being. In the outro, I sample the lyrics from the song Ruiner by Nine Inch Nails to emphasize the fact that, once you are consumed by Greed, you cannot be reasoned with by any other force. Nothing can stop you now...

Flowers (Greed)

Verse 1

I want it all

I want it now

I want the sickness

I want the power

I want the witness

I want the cowards

I want pollution

I want the flowers

You want it all

You want it soon

You want the temple

You want the tomb

You want the water

You want the womb

You want the blood

When the flowers all bloom

But when the flowers die

You’re all doomed

And when the oceans dry

I’m immune

And when the temple falls

I’m exhumed

I’m outta my cage

I’m back in the room!

You’re all the same

You better crawl

I know your names

I hear em’ call

I know that pride cometh before the fall

But if beauty is pain, then I want it all!

AHHHH!!!

Chorus

(Instrumental)

Verse 2

He wants it all

She wants it whenever

Look out for the wall

If you think you’re so clever

Give it to me

I’m not waiting forever

If you give it to them

I’m pulling the lever

I’m living wherever I hide in the shade

I’ll cut you a deal, I’ll make you a trade

I’m gonna pay half of the price that you paid

If I am the omen, you should be afraid…

Gimme the world

Gimme a sign

Gimme the pearls

Gimme the swine

Gimme the dream and the nightmare combined

Give it a rest

And gimme what’s mine

We want it all

We wanted it then

We aim to appall

We get what we win

It all ain’t enough

It’ll always burn up

We want the Amen

Let Heaven corrupt...

Chorus

They want it all

That is the goal

They wanna start

Taking the toll

They want the art

Give back what you stole

They want your heart

They want your soul

They want your - !

Nobody knows

When my time is up

The hourglass flowing

Right into my cup

My cup overflows

It’s never enough

Will I be enough?

Is it enough?

Interlude

Hey! (X8)

Outro - (Lyrics sampled from Ruiner by Nine Inch Nails)

You didn't hurt me

Nothing can hurt me

You didn't hurt me

Nothing can stop me now...

(X3)

3. Viper (Envy)

Song Info: Viper explores the sin of Envy. Many biblical stories deal with the sin of Envy, such as the Fall in the Garden of Eden, where Satan lured Adam and Eve into envying God's knowledge and power, and the story of Cain and Abel, where Envy between brothers turned deadly. I put a poetic spin on these stories and wanted to show the underlying rage and devastation that comes with giving in to Envy. The music is very much inspired by Middle-Eastern music, and the main riff (played by guitar and sitar) alludes to the tune a Snake Charmer might play to lure a snake out of hiding. We are all lured into wanting what rightfully belongs to someone else. But why did you think you were the chosen one?

Viper (Envy)

Verse 1

Reach out to take fruit from the tree

You whisper lies I love to me

No one relies on subtlety

When in your company

Crush all the flowers, sow the seeds

Watch them growing wild and spread disease

Sink your fangs into the hand that feeds

But it bleeds, and it bleeds...

Chorus

Why did you think you were the chosen one?

I wear that crown better than anyone.

You can’t deny

If you’re holy, so am I

Did you think you’d be the chosen one?

Interlude

Do you remember when the water turned to wine?

When the grapes fell off the vine?

When your faces looked like mine…

Verse 2

Burn on the altar of the skies

As I’m looking on with emerald eyes

Lying in wait with jagged knives

So unwise, so unwise

You said my soul would last the days

If I surrender to the haze

I’m left with this unrequited praise

While my soul wastes away

Chorus

Why do you have to be the chosen one?

I will be here when all is said and done

Why even try?

If you’re holy, get in line

Did you think you’d be the chosen one?

Verse 3

I’m guided by the Morning Star

Shining down on this glorious scar

Burn bright, for I know what you are

Yes, I know what you are

I gave you all you are and more

Consume this wretched, rotten core

I don’t want this knowledge anymore

You swore, yeah, you swore...

Chorus

You! Yeah, you swore you were the chosen one

You wear that crown better than anyone.

You can’t deny

If you’re holy, so am I

Breakdown

Did you think you’d be the chosen one?

Are you the chosen one?

Did you think you’d be the chosen one?

Thy will be done…

But did you think you’d be the chosen one?

Outro

Haunted by vanity and greed

I live as a rose among the weeds

I know that you have all that I need

Yes, you are what I need…

4. In Heaven

Song Info: This is the only cover song on my setlist. I wanted to pay homage to the late great director, David Lynch (1946-2025), who passed away earlier this year. His works, especially Eraserhead and The Elephant Man, have left a tremendous impact on me, and many others who have had the opportunity to see his creative genius at work. In Heaven was featured in his film Eraserhead, where The Lady in the Radiator sings it as a way to show the serenity of the void because In Heaven, Everything is Fine...

RIP DAVID LYNCH (1946-2025)

In Heaven (by David Lynch and Peter Ivers, Arranged by Aris Howsepian)

Verse 1

In Heaven, everything is fine

In Heaven, it’s all fine

In Heaven, everything is fine

You got your good things

And I got mine

Verse 2

In Heaven, everything is fine

In Heaven, it’s all fine

In Heaven, everything is fine

You got your good thing

And you got mine

Verse 3

In Heaven, everything is fine

In Heaven, it’s all fine

In Heaven, everything is fine

You got your good thing

And I got mine

You got your good thing

And YOU got mine…

6. Justice is Blind

Song Info: I wrote this song because I was given a very unique songwriting prompt. My songwriting teacher told me to create three fictional characters and give them a detailed biography. Then, once the characters were established, I was charged with writing a song based on one of the characters. I chose to write a song based on my character, Cyrus Tarvey, who was inspired by Lennie Small from Of Mice and Men, Judge Holden from Blood Meridian, and Karl "Madman" Mundt from Barton Fink:

Cyrus Tarvey was a hulking, hairless contradiction of a man, who stalked the remnants of the Wild West, embodying the fist of justice. On one hand, he would crush a man for crossing him in any way, no matter how small, but on the other hand, he treated even the smallest animal with the utmost respect. His mind was limited, and he knew few words to express his emotions, but he definitely knew how to convey his thoughts through his immense actions. His choice of transportation was a horse-drawn chariot, adorned with a gold bust of Lady Justice, as well as two golden eyes, one on each side of the chariot. He had a small band of loyal followers who heeded his every word and carried out his orders to the letter, no matter how few letters there were. Tarvey led the gang, known as “THE IRON GAVEL,” with a literal massive iron gavel in hand as his choice of weapon, bringing order to the chaos. He deemed himself the “hands and fists of God.” When he encountered any sort of wrongdoing (according to him), Cyrus would approach the perpetrator and give him a choice. On one side of the gavel was an inscription of the verse Ezekiel 25:17-21:

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”

On the other side of the gavel was a soft pillow wrapped around the end. He would give them a minute to decide which side they wanted to experience. The pillow became worn with use.

Justice is Blind

Verse 1

Heard you been doing some hard time

‘fraid that they’re gonna catch you

If you’re gonna lead a life of crime

You should be free 

Been on the run on a long time

Sooner or later they’ll snatch you

Up from the depths of coal mines

Best come with me…

Chorus

I treat the devil the same as a shell on the shore

The Iron Gavel don’t care ‘bout what you done before

As the sun hangs low in the sky

And you look death right in the eye

Justice is blind, what matters is who’s at the door

Verse 2

Heaven’s a hell to sinners

They wont accept a savior

Better to serve in hell than

Get out on good behavior

I’m not one to argue

Mercy’s not one of my virtues

If you cross me or a fellow man

Better be ready to fall!!!

Chorus

I treat the devil the same as a shell on the shore

The Iron Gavel don’t care ‘bout what you done before

As the sun hangs low in the sky

And you look death right in the eye

Justice is blind, what matters is who’s at the door

Bridge

Blessed is he who rides on and looks for sin

Blessed is he who lost love and looks within

Blessed is he who strikes them with an iron fist

But cursed is he who strikes them in vain!

Chorus

I treat the devil the same as a shell on the shore

The Iron Gavel don’t care ‘bout what you done before

As the sun hangs low in the sky

And you look death right in the eye

Justice is blind, what matters is who’s at the door

Justice is blind, what matters is who’s at the door…

7. Keep Your Friends Close...(But Your Enemies Closer)

Song Info: This is one of the oldest songs on the set. I wrote it and produced it in my dorm during my freshman year here at CUI. In fact, I had challenged myself to fully complete a song from start to finish in less than 24 hours, and this is the result. Musically, this is very much inspired by the resurgence of 80s Disco and pop sounds, similar to artists like Charlie Puth and Dua Lipa. Lyrically, I was inspired by a prompt I saw encouraging songwriters to write an original song based on an idiom or turn of phrase. The phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" is often attributed to Sun Tzu from his book The Art of War. And, as we all know, all is fair in Love and War...

Keep Your Friends Close...(But Your Enemies Closer)

Verse 1

I walked in silence back to you

Eyes to the ground

Eyes to the ground

Unspoken violence filled the room

Without a sound

Release the hounds…

Chorus

Tell me all the things I need to know

You try to hide your hate, but it shows

Whisper your transgressions to me real slow

Keep your friends close

But your enemies closer

Verse 2

Why all the sudden mystery?

Please talk to me

Talk to me

I don’t know why you’re angry

When all I do is for you

Don’t talk to me…

Chorus

Tell me all the things I need to know

You try to hide your hate, but it shows

Whisper your transgressions to me real slow

Keep your friends close

But your enemies closer

Interlude

Keep ‘em -  close!

Bridge

When I was wondering what to do

All I wanted was the truth

All I wanted was the truth

When I asked if you loved me too

All I wanted was the truth

All I wanted was the truth...

Chorus

Tell me all the things I need to know

You try to hide your hate, but it shows

Whisper your transgressions to me real slow

Keep your friends close

But your enemies closer

Outro

Keep ‘em -  close!

(~)