Sobering Thoughts is the name I have given to my little compositions, which are mainly lyrical concepts. You'll note I use the term lyrical concepts rather than poetry. That's because I think poetry is just a lame method for people to collect their non-thoughts and put them off as art. Sobering Thoughts isn't that at all - it is more like an opportunity for me to "dribble shit" about my life, things around me, and other ideas and/or concepts. It was never about art - it was about me getting anguish, fear, and angst off my chest.
At least that's what it was in the beginning. Inspired by the writings of Henry Rollins and the lyrical skills of Phil Anselmo, Jon Crosby, and Devin Townsend, I begin scratching my own ideas for song lyrics down on paper. It became a means by which I could express that which I found difficulty in expressing to others. The paper became my victim, and the ink became its blood.
This little behavior eventually became a habit, and before too long, I had amassed volumes of binders full of old lyrical concepts. Some of them saw the light of day in the form of music, in bands I was involved with years ago... but most of them stayed tucked away in my binders.
Eventually, I began writing online. It generated some interesting responses. I opened a forum where people could post their own expressions, in between my own rants and dribbles. I created an alternative username, or online identity, which I named Magick Rogue, to post my concepts.
The name, Magick Rogue, came from a couple of sources related to my writing. Rogue was an identity I used in conjunction with an online friend to co-write compositions. The word Magick was given to me by my wife - she found it amazing that ideas just poured out of me quickly and ferociously when I wrote, so she called it my magic.
Under the pseudonym posts in the Sobering Thoughts forum, my writing generated more interesting responses. So, as a result, I opened a web site, where I could post my Sobering Thoughts. This evolved into the Sobering Thoughts books, which are compilations of lyrical concepts I have written from 1989 to now, and into the future. It is a collection of experiences, journeys, emotions, love, hate, darkness and isolation that has spanned over 10 years, 2 countries and a million memories.
If you get a copy of the books, or have a look in the preview section, what you will read is a vast range of experiences. You may pick up on a few threads or themes that pollute a variety of compositions. The truth is, aside from a few pieces that are "conceptual" in nature, a majority of the Sobering Thoughts are drawn from real experiences, real emotion and real pain. It may come across as pessimistic at times, but the Sobering Thoughts (for me anyway) are a symbol that one can rise above and beyond obstacles of pain through expression and determination.
Though I found writing lyrical concepts an effective way to unleash negative energy and get things off my chest, you will find that negativity is not the only focal point of many of the lyrical concepts. Some positive highlights from my life are represented here also, but I also move to note that these were the most difficult concepts to write. I do not know why, but I always found it much easier to express feelings, elements and experiences of negativity.
You will find that each lyrical concept has its own attitude, feel and voice. The collection, as a whole, is not necessarily a life philosophy or worldview or a documented evaluation of my values and/or beliefs, and really shouldn't be looked at in that way.
Instead, each concept is a snapshot of where I was and how I felt during one particular point in my life or another. Each composition could be a reflection of my emotions at one point, or a pure expression of human weakness. The books are, and will be, a collection of not necessarily "the best" of my writing - but more like a collection of Sobering Thoughts lyrical concepts that have generated the most reaction. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for checking it out.
The TrukstoP
Originally and proudly made in Perth, Australia
No aspect of the Sobering Thoughts webpage or its lyrical content may be reproduced or used in
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