21 Comments
User's avatar
The Rider's avatar

I’ve buried too many dreams.

Bled through too many battles.

Kissed the dirt so many fucking times I lost count.

But fear of falling? That shit died long ago.

Every time life tried to write my ending, I stood up and answered with the same word:

Amen.

The devil counts my scars.

God counts my stand-ups.

Life knocks you down? Get up.

Knocks you down again? Get up dancing, bloody teeth, broken bones, whatever’s left.

A soul that can still dance after a thousand battles is a soul darkness has never defeated.

I’ll meet you where the pain turns into rhythm and the fire still knows your name.

Keep standing.

Keep dancing.

Keep saying Amen with blood in your mouth.

We’re not done yet Terod Naej🔥☯️

AsukaHotaru's avatar

Honestly, I came in braced for heavy-life-update mode and somehow left wanting to dance through the mess with one grumpy knee and a tiny stubborn flame. Missing your kids, your mum recovering, the tatami being bossy, then all that beat-by-beat keep becoming energy… my face did the tiny okay fine, I’m listening thing. Also the Creole remix has dangerous shoulder-moving power, just saying.

Terod Naej's avatar

😂 “Dangerous shoulder-moving power” might be my favorite review yet! Thank you, my friend. Life has been throwing a few elbows lately, but I’ve learned that a grumpy knee doesn’t get the final vote… the rhythm does. And if the Creole remix got your shoulders moving, then the fire is doing its job. 🔥

The Ride continues. ❤️

Jay Allen Ford's avatar

Beautifully spoken. There is so much grace in deciding that hope deserves a rhythm, even in the middle of a storm. See you on the Ride, Terod!

Terod Naej's avatar

Thank you so much, Jay🙏🏾

“Hope deserves a rhythm” is such a beautiful way to say it. That’s the heart of Inner Fire: even in the storm, the soul can still find its beat.

See you on the Ride. 🔥

Jay Allen Ford's avatar

“If it keeps beating through the noise, then it’s doing its job. Grateful you felt that. See you on the Ride.”

Terod Naej's avatar

See you on the ride👊🏾🔥

Grace Beyond Scars By Sharon's avatar

There is always an 'Amen' hidden inside my setbacks. I welcome the pullbacks, because a setback is just the prelude to a powerful comeback. Today, I stand further ahead than ever like an arrow launched by a master warrior, where the deeper the pull, the greater the distance traveled.

Terod Naej's avatar

Amen soul rider🔥

Kelly Trost's avatar

Terod, I was trying to settle down from my days-long writing binge and get sleepy for bedtime, then made the mistake of listening to this just at the WRONG time. I am ready to dance!

Loved it!

But, also, it is deeply, deeply moving in a spiritual sense. I had to read through the lyrics a second time for the sheer pleasure.

You've outdone yourself, my friend. Though I'm more awake than I was before, I'm still glad to end my day this way.

Thank you for this.

Terod Naej's avatar

I have no word Kel… maybe a few🙂

You found the work… but the rhythm found you… And I’m so glad you’re here with us Soul rider🔥

Claudia B.'s avatar

Life has taught me some of my greatest lessons through storms and setbacks. I especially love the line, "There always seems to be an Amen hiding inside my step backs." There is so much hope woven through those words. See you on the Ride, Terod!

Terod Naej's avatar

We ride Claudia👊🏾🔥

Claudia B.'s avatar

Life has taught me some of my greatest lessons through storms and setbacks. I especially love the line, "There always seems to be an Amen hiding inside my step backs." There is so much hope woven through those words. See you on the Ride, Terod!

The Long Stand's avatar

I listened to your music, and something strange happened — the beat hit first, and then the script I’d skimmed earlier began to breathe. It was like watching a dry page take on water, then color, then life: a seed cracking open, turning into a grove before I realized it. My daughter loved it too; she said if it were on YouTube, she’d have downloaded it without blinking. That’s a kind of instinctive approval you can’t manufacture. You’ve got something real there. Keep vibing, keep growing.

Terod Naej's avatar

Your words mean more than you know. The image of a dry page taking on water, then color, then life… that’s exactly the kind of journey I hope these pieces can offer. And please thank your daughter for me. Knowing the music spoke to her so naturally is a gift no algorithm or statistic can measure. That’s the kind of connection I want to keep building, one soul at a time. Thank you for walking this road with me. The Ride continues.🔥

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGk9fObbJQzgjoMvAXRu9nWyULVbwGIFT&si=9V6FxeqsdGjDtGDe

Alicia's avatar

Setbacks... experienced a few. Having a big one right now. But gotta keep putting one foot forward. I loved your song, Terod!! Hopeful, delicate, beautiful. 🔥

Terod Naej's avatar

Honored here Alicia🙏🏾🔥

James (HVR)'s avatar

The amen in the step backs will stay with me for sure.

Terod Naej's avatar

And i'm grateful you're here HVR

Carole Roseland's avatar

Very nice!