“Cognitive Resonance”
Album (2025)
still in the making
1.
“At the Crossroads”
Lyrics
“At the Crossroads”
Two mountains rise in secret skies
Two cloisters hide their way
One speaks the truth the other lies
But I can’t tell today
I climbed until the paths were two
The silence pressed like stone
A monk was waiting in the blue
One question mine alone
Does he live in the house of truth
Or dwell where the liars meet
His word may be light or shadow’s sleight
A mask I can’t defeat
Here I stand where the crossroads run
One chance and only one
His lips will move his voice will fall
But I can’t read the sign
The answer may be none at all
Or perfect clear divine
If he is false or if he’s true
His face will never show
The burden lies in what I do
And which way I must go
Does he live in the house of truth
Or dwell where the liars meet
His word may be light or shadow’s sleight
A mask I can’t defeat
Here I stand where the crossroads run
One chance and only one
The weight of a single moment
The turn of a fragile breath
Between the omen and echo
I gamble with life and death
I asked my question and held my breath
His voice rang clear yet strange
I heard the path in his reply
And chose the other way
You’d like to know what I had asked
Well think it through yourself
Either monk would say the same
And so I found my way
Interpretation
At the Crossroads – On Truth, Decision, and Understanding
A wanderer climbs into the high Himalayas, where the air grows thin and the world turns silent. There, two paths lead to two monasteries: in one, the monks always tell the truth; in the other, they always lie. At the fork sits a solitary monk, and the traveler may ask him only one question.
This ancient logic puzzle – told in countless variations – forms the narrative frame of At the Crossroads.
Yet the song is not primarily about solving the riddle. It is about what lies behind its logic.
Yes, on the rational level, the puzzle has a clear solution: with the right question, one can find the true path.
But while logic may solve the problem, it cannot resolve the experience of uncertainty itself.
The song dwells in that tension — between the clarity of reason and the unease of choice.
The traveler’s struggle with the monk’s voice is not born of ignorance, but of recognition: the realization that every question about truth is also a question about trust.
The crossroad becomes a symbol of those moments when one must choose a direction, knowing that certainty is out of reach.
“Does he live in the house of truth, or dwell where the liars meet?”
The refrain is addressed not only to the monk, but to the world — to every source of authority that claims to know.
As in logic, so in life: truth and falsehood often wear the same face.
When the answer finally comes, it is not a victory of cleverness but of understanding.
In the line “I heard the path in his reply, and chose the other way,” the paradox unfolds: one finds truth only by seeing through illusion.
The riddle is solved, yet its meaning opens wider.
The closing words — “You’d like to know what I had asked? Well… think it through yourself” — turn the story back on the listener.
The puzzle is resolved, but its significance remains personal.
Logic reveals the way; reflection reveals why that way matters.
At the Crossroads thus transforms a classic riddle into a meditation on knowledge, trust, and self-awareness.
It unites intellect and emotion, certainty and humility.
The monk at the fork no longer stands for the opposition between truth and lies, but for the silence that follows understanding — the moment when knowing gives way to being.
2.
“What If”
Lyrics
“What If”
Dedicated to the pioneers of the unknown seas, to Rosa Parks, and to Mahatma Gandhi — with deepest respect and reverence.
They warned us softly: Don’t go far
The edge is waiting where the waters are
Beyond the line the world just ends
A drop into nothing no way back again
Yet still the sails were trembling with desire
The horizon whispered pulling higher
And every fear that kept us near
Was smaller than the wind we steered
What if the map was never true
And every road could lead us through
We’d never hear the song of the wind
If no one ever let it in
They told her: Move! This place’s not yours
A quiet body blocked their doors
No shout no fight no blade no flame
Just stillness tearing rules to shame
And in that pause the ground was split
A thousand voices rose from it
One seated spark so small so slight
Yet everything began that night
What if we all just stayed in line
Afraid to cross the do not sign
We’d never trip we’d never fly
We’d never taste the other side
They raised their fists their iron hand
Yet he stood still refused command
No sword no shield no hate no fight
Just silence burning twice as bright
The deeper strength was not to win
But free the enemy within
A barefoot path unarmed unshod
Yet every step was full of God
What if the answers hide in the unknown
And every step could build a world of our own
We’ll never know how far we can run
If no one dares to chase the sun
Every frontier starts inside
Where we choose to run or hide
Every “what if” is a key
Unlocking more of who we’ll be
What if we never dared to go
‘Cause everyone said “stay below”
We’d never find the place we’d be
If no one walked to see what we could see
What if the answers hide in the unknown
And every step could build a world of our own
We’ll never know how far we can run
Unless we rise to chase the sun
Interpretation
Interpretation: “What If” – The Courage to Cross the Horizon
The song “What If” is a meditation on courage, conscience, and the power of stepping beyond fear.
Inspired by the Swiss poet Kurt Marti’s reflection
“Where would we go if everyone said, where would we go, and no one went to see where we would go if we went?”
the lyrics trace a timeless journey of human bravery: from the first explorers who sailed beyond the edge of the known world, to Rosa Parks, to Mahatma Gandhi.
It is a song about those who dared to walk where no one else would — and by doing so, expanded what was possible for us all.
The Explorers – Into the Unknown
The opening verses recall the first seafarers, warned not to go too far:
“They warned us softly: Don’t go far, the edge is waiting where the waters are…”
Yet they set sail anyway, driven by wonder and the longing for discovery.
Their voyage symbolizes every act of human courage — the willingness to cross the line between safety and possibility, to prove that the world does not end at the horizon.
Rosa Parks – The Quiet Power of Defiance
The song then moves from oceans to streets:
“They told her: Move! This place’s not yours… Just stillness tearing rules to shame.”
This verse evokes Rosa Parks, whose simple refusal to give up her seat became a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.
Her silence, her calm, her dignity — these became weapons stronger than violence.
Through her, the song reminds us that stillness can shake an empire, and that moral courage often begins with one quiet “no.”
Mahatma Gandhi – Strength Without Violence
Later, the lyrics portray a man who resists with no sword, no hate, no shield:
“Just silence burning twice as bright.”
This figure recalls Mahatma Gandhi, who transformed the world through nonviolent resistance.
The song honors his conviction that real victory lies not in defeating others, but in freeing the enemy within — overcoming hatred, fear, and the will to dominate.
“A barefoot path unarmed unshod, yet every step was full of God.”
Each step becomes a sacred act of courage, a gesture of peace made powerful through faith.
The Universal Message – Every Frontier Begins Within
The repeated question “What if…” is the heart of the song.
It challenges the listener to imagine what might happen if no one dared, if everyone stayed behind the lines drawn by fear and habit.
“Every frontier starts inside, where we choose to run or hide.”
The message is clear: the greatest boundaries are not on maps but in the human heart.
The unknown — whether a distant horizon or a moral stand — becomes the place where we discover who we are meant to be.
Conclusion – The Song of the Brave
“What If” spans centuries and continents, connecting explorers, activists, and visionaries in one unbroken story of courage.
It reminds us that every great journey — across oceans, across injustice, across the limits of the self — begins with one question: What if I go?
If no one had set sail, defied the rules, or walked in peace against power, the world would still be smaller — not only on the map, but in our hearts.
The song’s final message echoes Marti’s vision:
Only those who walk will ever know where the road can lead.
Feedback
Hey folks, want to hear the perfect song? Yes, there may be a few, but What If by aimaze is one of them. Definitely!
Short, snappy—perfect. A stunningly confident voice that delivers sophisticated lyrics so well that you can completely lose yourself in them. Add to that a rhythm that seems to come from deep within, rock, jazz, soul — all combined, irresistible.
So, I can’t get enough of it, but I limit myself to six energizing sessions a day. Since then, I don’t need anything else. 😉
Feel free to disagree if you dare!
Nils C., 2025-10-06
3.
“The Same Air”
Lyrics
“The Same Air”
I have eyes that open to the morning light
You do too
I have hands that tremble when the night is long
You do too
I breathe in the same air that carries you
I have fears that whisper in the dark
You do too
I have dreams that climb beyond the stars
You do too
And when silence falls, we can listen through
Who am I, who are you?
In the stillness I can hear the song of you
Look at me, look at you
We are rooted in the same ground too
I have oceans rising in my chest
You do too
I have constellations hidden in my rest
You do too
The earth beneath my feet is holding you
Maybe we are mirrors, facing one another
Pieces of a puzzle, falling into color
Every broken shard is shining through
Who am I, who are you?
In the stillness I can hear the song of you
Look at me, look at you
Every joy returns to where it grew
We all, we all, we all have eyes
That open to the morning light…
Interpretation
“The Same Air”
“The Same Air” is a poetic meditation on human connection — a quiet reflection on how, beneath all differences, we share the same breath, the same fears, and the same dreams.
Through simple yet intimate parallels — “I have eyes that open to the morning light / You do too” — the song dissolves the boundary between “I” and “you.” It invites the listener to recognize the shared pulse that moves through every living being.
The recurring question, “Who am I, who are you?”, doesn’t seek separation but unity. It’s a moment of awareness — a reminder that identity, in its truest sense, arises from relationship, not isolation.
As the song unfolds, the imagery expands from the personal to the cosmic: oceans rising in the chest, constellations hidden in rest, the earth holding both “you” and “me”. These metaphors weave a vision of profound interconnection — physical, emotional, and spiritual.
By its end, the refrain “We all have eyes that open to the morning light” becomes a gentle affirmation of hope — a recognition that every human experience, no matter how solitary, resonates within a shared field of life.
4.
“The Quiet Light”
Lyrics
“The Quiet Light”
A hand in the dust,
a whisper in the noise.
The sky folds inward,
listening.
Someone says: it’s too late.
Someone else lights a match.
I stand between them,
holding an invisible seed.
I plant what cannot be measured,
I trust what cannot be named.
The world won’t wait for permission,
it turns,
it breathes,
it forgives.
Every motion leaves a trace.
Even silence carries weight.
I will move,
though no one sees.
Beneath all plans and numbers
runs a river that remembers.
It hums in the roots of trees,
it hums in me.
I do not own its current.
I only open my palms,
and let it pass through.
What if faith
is simply breathing,
when there’s no air left to borrow?
What if grace
is doing what must be done,
and not asking who will follow?
I will do the work,
and let the wind decide.
Somewhere unseen,
the tide remembers its way home.
The stars lean close,
and bless the hands that try.
I am not the harvest,
I am the soil that waits.
I am the candle’s breath,
tracing light through air.
There is no ending here,
only the soft return.
The quiet light remembers
every kindness left unspoken.
I walk on,
without reward,
without regret,
and bless what I can’t know.
Interpretation
The Quiet Light – A Song About Acting in Trust
Some songs need to shout to be heard — others shine precisely because they remain quiet.
The Quiet Light belongs to the latter kind.
It is not a call to arms, not a manifesto or a sermon.
It is a conversation with the soul — about responsibility, trust, and the power of small, unseen actions.
The song begins with a simple image: someone planting what cannot be measured.
No visible fruit, no tangible success — only a gesture that carries meaning within.
“I plant what cannot be measured.”
It is the voice of a person who chooses to act without knowing if their actions will ever make a difference.
That kind of courage is rare — not the courage to assert, but the courage to surrender to life.
Beneath all human plans and numbers, the song says, runs a hidden current — a force that remembers and connects.
It represents something larger than will or reason:
the quiet rhythm that moves through all things.
“I only open my palms, and let it pass through.”
That is not resignation — it is consent.
A deliberate yes to the flow of things.
At the heart of the song lies perhaps its softest line:
“What if faith is simply breathing, when there’s no air left to borrow?”
Faith here is not belief as conviction, but belief as movement — the act of continuing when all reasons have dissolved.
It is the trust that meaning need not be visible to be real.
As the song unfolds, this insight becomes a form of quiet awakening.
The world begins to answer:
The tide remembers its way home, the wind recalls its name, the stars incline again.
And the one who at first was searching realizes they are not a witness, not a victim, not a hero —
but part of the whole:
“I am not the harvest — I am the soil that waits.”
The ending brings no crescendo, only a soft return.
“There is no ending here, only the soft return.”
The “quiet light” is not an outer radiance, but the inner awareness that rises when we act without seeking reward.
It is the light of humility, of presence, of silent trust.
The Quiet Light reminds us that not every fire must roar to give warmth —
that the world is also changed by those who simply do what must be done,
without certainty, yet with an open heart.
5.
“The Task Ahead”
Lyrics
“The Task Ahead”
You say: What difference could I make?
The river’s wide, your hands are small.
You fear your step will change not all,
Yet mountains wear by grains of sand.
You search for signs in other eyes,
To see if they will start before.
But waiting builds another wall
Between your will and what you prize.
The task ahead is never wide,
When courage walks beside your name.
The power behind you burns the same —
A quiet fire deep inside.
No crown awaits, no easy win,
No trumpet calls the work you do.
But something vast is born through you —
Each act a seed, each loss a kin.
So lift your hand though skies are dim,
Though no one cheers the path you tread.
The world moves on by those who’ve said:
“The storm is great — I’ll still begin.”
The task ahead is never wide,
When faith is stronger than the fear.
You’re not alone — the truth is near:
The power behind’s your guide.
When you walk on, don’t count the ground,
Nor weigh the miles, nor doubt the thread.
The work begins where trust is found —
You are the task ahead.
Interpretation
The Task Ahead – A Song Against Powerlessness
We live in a time when the challenges before us seem almost too vast to face —
climate change, division, conflict, a growing loss of meaning and trust.
Many people quietly ask: What could I possibly do?
And so, they do nothing — not out of indifference, but out of disbelief that their actions could matter.
The Task Ahead is a song against that paralysis.
It reminds us that real change rarely begins with noise, but with one small, deliberate step.
“You say: What difference could I make? / The river’s wide, your hands are small.”
And the answer comes like a whisper of truth:
“Yet mountains wear by grains of sand.”
Even what seems immovable can be reshaped — through patience, persistence, and countless acts of quiet courage.
This song is meant to restore faith — not the loud kind, but the steady trust that every action counts, that meaning unfolds through doing, and that the power behind us is greater than the scale of the task.
It closes with a gentle reminder:
We are not bystanders in this world — we are part of its healing.
“The work begins where faith is found — you are the task ahead.”
It’s not a command — it’s an invitation.
