INTO THE FURTHER:
         "
This song has been previously released as a solo act song. It is the opening track on my 2019 solo release titled "No need to panic." It as well is probably the most misinterpreted song I've written. This one frequently gets interpreted as a suicide contemplation type song. Which it actually is about knowing you are going to die and are mostly okay' with it happening but still slightly afraid of it happening, because of what is beyond this life (aka: "The Further.").  As a large amount of humans, to various degrees, fear death. I found myself in the situation to where an amount of tests revealed a possibility of having pancreatic cancer. And this was written while waiting for the test results that were ran while having a near fatal bout of complications involving my permanent and progressive pancreatic illness. Later it did reveal that the find was a benign situation although. The album cover for "No need to panic" is a picture of the building outside of the window of the hospital room I spent an entire month in that year, 2019. The building photo is on this page as well. I was, as usual when I am having a serious bout of this illness requiring hospitalization, rendered so weak at that time, it was the only view I saw for weeks. I was in the condition that it was very difficult to even walk to that window that was only a matter of 10 or so foot steps away. The song resembles a first person point of view type depiction with the concept being the likeness with a critically wounded soldier, that is saying to his higher power (a god) to "Carry me over you again." For the knowledge it is the time to go. But also asking "This time, am I forgiven?" So that's the story of "Into the Further." Derek Lynn gets a shout out for his continued composing and performing of bass as well as credit in the final mix with the entire recording of the album version. A funny behind the scenes fact is that the ending few notes of his are improvised due to the shoulder strap giving out and him literally dropping the bass guitar. As it fit with things still so we saw no need to edit it out.
--JOSH

BREAK THE SILENCE:
         It has been known by some, that there are certain ways I try to keep consistent in my lyric writing. The first is I have always kept it to a minimum with any song containing profanity. I, also, usually have no direct references to sex and drug/alcohol use. The subtle references remain true because "Break the Silence" is actually about getting high and getting with a prostitute. I have done the first in the previous sentence, but despite popular belief I have never gotten with a prostitute in my entire life. Or shall I rephrase it as a "so called friend" to "Break the Silence" with.
--JOSH

INTO THE LIGHT:

If you notice after the song title in parentheses, it does say for Mom/Tina. Obviously it is for my mother, who passed away not long after we released the 2021 EP. And this is the song that I wrote regarding losing her. As it is to the best of my knowledge the most optimistic song I've ever written. As it has been known with a lot of my lyrics to be the other way around. An ominous, pessimistic type way of lyric writing. As after it happened, while devastated, I happen to just do a scroll through social media posts. A post from my friend soon was revealed. Him and his wife were expecting and it was a picture of him and their baby boy that had been born. He was smiling and happy of course. And that's what inspired what ended up being this song. The optimistic line of "Love will always ignite," came about being the first for the chorus. As that had lyrics of hope about love and life starting and always going on. This seems to be the most positive outcome ever with what happened for me. I will always be uncertain how.
--JOSH

SLEEP THE DARK AWAY:
         Although this may be a simple song to possibly figure out what is being expressed. It is a total opposition to any country invading and engaging conflict or all out war without provocation. (And, every nation on this Earth has been guilty of it at some point in history.) It was actually written out of anger when Ukraine was recently invaded at full scale unprovoked. And as of this writing, the conflict is still happening after the initial invasion over two years ago. I was skeptical on releasing the song for it is possibly the most pessimistic, vengeful and aggressive songs I have ever written. Unlike the summary of the previous song above this one. As well as the only one I have ever written under Remaining Neutral that contains any lyrics that are classified as profanity. However mild compared to some artists, the line states "The burn in hell is hopeful fate." and examples of pessimistic lines include expressing how a god is entirely nonexistent, (Verse two first states "Can your god help? Maybe theirs? I have my doubts as all seem fake.") as well as the chorus contains "No time to pray the pain away." Despite being skeptical, it has had a surprising response from audiences when played live thus far. It was intended for a full ensemble version to be recorded and further produced but we never did get to all of the composing of for bass and drums, so it was decided to keep it at an acoustic only for the final cut.
--JOSH

FAIL:
         This was the most played and requested song I had with the solo work I did from 2007-2020. It is my personal point of view towards my struggles with drug addiction. The entire song is expressing towards the disease of addiction. Any "you" or "you're" type words are talking towards the disease and only that. With the fact that I, in the past "Every time I fail," have resorted to what I frequently call "Self medicating" (AKA, basically getting high). As everyone may interpret song lyrics in a different way, the line stating "I know you're watching me, every time I fail, over and over again," is referring to the disease watching over me. Some have frequently assumed it was a god I was referring to watching over me. In a way since I relied so desperately on substances to self medicate at one time, due to the addiction, the substance of choice did actually become "a god, of my understanding," that I relied on. As that would be what I am actually expressing that is a bit darker than what others may have thought.
--JOSH

A FIGHT WITHIN:
This song is based on and inspired by the third step in the self help recovery fellowships I'm familiar with. Primarily both AA and NA. Mostly regarding caught up in the grips of addiction and the seeking of help. As the pre chorus line "Show me how to live," is that ask out of desperation for a power greater than yourself to do exactly that. That can be any higher power that you can have faith in to help you. Many know that I am open regarding agnostic beliefs as well, where all the time I have actually used the tangible fellowship of loving and caring people as the power greater than myself to help me recover life long. As I am never certain what is beyond this life but I do know what I can physically embrace to help and guide me on how.