Mind Verses

Produced by 25th Parallel: CFB Flobare, Jay Zhidao, Chen Qilin, NAT

Recorded & Mixed by Nat Boda
Mastered by Neil Matharoo in New York, NY
Sampled drums recorded by Cent at Cen+8 Studio in Taipei, Taiwan

Lyrics by 25th Parallel
Music by Nat Boda

Additional instrumentation & samples:
Delbert Ty: sampled guitar

Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.

LYRIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ZkZAqMkVY5s

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Lyrics:
a mind pinnacle, my climb subliminal
limits aligned to the line I'm living on
two-five parallel confined and standing still
stay until I get wise to time will tell
an island hop became asylum stop
no direction, regressions like a wild top
spinning, control giving in and
inundated with frustrated misgivings

the haze filling holes in my cerebral vortex
contorting my composure, cramping the bones in my neck
I’ve been told I’m always staring at the back of my head
I’ve gotten nowhere alone, maybe I’m better off led
into the rigid pyramid, a company of compartments
measuring success by the size of my apartment
nevertheless I’d be left with lesser than best
oppressing my needs stuck in a state of arrest

I'm living, I'm grateful, I got food on my plate
I guess I’m getting by, I'm doing good but not great
some kids sit wishing for a pot to piss in
and here I am bitching caught in a knot position
I got what I need, but if I ask for more, is that greed?
is this all that’s left in store for this seed?
to be or not to be? Is that really the question?
or to be or be more? the next step in the progression?
should I escape the box that I’m pressed in? a paralyzing oppression
this incessant obsession with impressing
caught up with what I’m dressed in, invested in the present
development arrested, avoiding pressing questions like
who am I? who am I trying to satisfy?
what’s the purpose? is it worth it? why do I try?
is it do or die? what am I meant to achieve?
it's a matter of time and what mind can conceive

I’m barely capable, my unshakable grief
is a chain around my neck with no release for relief
inner peace is long gone from my venomous vernacular
the voices in my head shout “you aren’t the act you were”
so back onto the stage, with no master for this puppet
with no strings attached, I’m sweating buckets so fuck it
internal struggles eternal, I push back with the force
do or do not, I got no other recourse

it’s been awhile since I’ve been focused on revival
my versatile reprisal is a constant trial
like my idols I got ideals but I’m idle
my ideas are confiscated by fears and denial
and though I know it I let it spiral
I put oceans between me and what is vital, survival
the way back to the top of the game
the path’s the same terrain that I left in flames

I got a devil on my shoulder pouring honey in my ear
saying to burn my life away ‘til I fade, disappear
cloaked in fear, maintain sane projection
dogs waiting to devour another victim of natural selection
if only the fittest survive
then quick the demise of those who aren’t fit to arise
I picture the prize, where the limit’s the skies,
better fix and revise, devise lines to baptize
whether antagonised by the dreams I’m not fulfilling
or the tormented sense I’m intent on concealing
when it feels like there’s always all to lose
needs and wants are easy to confuse
and abuse ‘til perspectives subjectively wrecked
an effect to connect with the years of neglect
a respect I collect for those with self control
always thought I'd know better by the time I got this old

I’m tired of second guessing
tired of inhibiting progression while my time is ever pressing
tired of investing all my effort when obsessed with the irrelevant
I’m contesting with myself a quest to rest within my element