RICH ALLEN MUSIC

The Ghost We keep! THE ALBUM

This album stands as a contemplative voyage through the labyrinth of the human soul, a collection of songs that probe the delicate interplay between memory and forgetting, love and loss, pride and humility. Each piece is a mirror reflecting our innermost struggles, hopes, and the eternal quest to find truth amid the illusions of life.  

“Shadows and Stones”

Opening this odyssey is an invocation to the silent witnesses of our history, the stones beneath our feet that hold stories of resilience, pain, and lessons unspoken. The stones symbolize the weight of collective memory, those enduring remnants of past lives, mistakes, and triumphs that shape our present identity. The song urges us to listen to the silent voices of history, to forgive ourselves and others, and to acknowledge that true growth arises from humility and acknowledgment of our roots. It’s a reminder that history is not just a record of the past but a living force that continues to influence our consciousness, guiding us toward wisdom or blindness, depending on our awareness.  

“The History of Yesterday”

Following, this reflection deepens the meditation on impermanence and the cyclical nature of time. Love, like the seasons, blooms briefly, spring’s promise fading into winter’s cold. Yet, within this transience lies the infinite, the eternal imprint of our choices, mistakes, and memories. It explores how yesterday’s love, pain, and joy become part of our internal landscape, living, breathing echoes that shape our current self. The song invites us to see that our personal history is not static but an active, ongoing dialogue between the past and present, urging us to learn from it and carry its lessons with humility.  

“Foolish Pride” 

This visceral confession exposes the destructive power of ego, how pride can distort perception, blind us to the truth, and lead us into the abyss. The vivid imagery of waking in cold sweats, haunted by visions of flowers and knives, symbolizes the internal battle between innocence and temptation, vulnerability and hubris. The song questions whether life is a nightmare or a dream, an existential inquiry into the nature of reality and illusion. It acknowledges that we stumble toward the divine, often tripping over our own arrogance, and that foolish pride is a barrier to authentic connection and self-awareness. It’s a reminder that humility is a path to enlightenment, and that acknowledging our flaws is essential for growth.  

“Facing the Ghost”

This poignant reflection examines roots, loss, and the inevitable decay of what we once cherished. The cold wind on that March afternoon symbolizes the passage of time, how seasons of life erode the familiar, how childhood sanctuaries become hollowed grounds. The song probes the bittersweet reality of progress, how societal change often destroys the landmarks of our past, and questions whether the longing for home is an innate human desire or an illusion. It reminds us that even as landscapes and memories fade, the heart’s yearning for connection and belonging remains eternal. The imagery of dreams, love, and the crumbling of innocence emphasizes that true home is not just a place but an internal sanctuary rooted in memory and longing.  

“You Kept My Name”

Layered with symbolic significance, this song explores the paradox of holding onto love’s remnants, particularly the name as a vessel of identity and memory. It questions whether attachment to a name is an act of love or an unconscious clinging to the past, a defense mechanism against the chaos of change. The act of keeping a name becomes a metaphor for preserving the essence of love and self, even when the physical presence has faded. It underscores that some bonds leave an indelible mark, shaping our sense of self long after we part ways.  

“A Little Bruised”

This song is an ode to vulnerability, the small, often unnoticed wounds love leaves behind. It invites us to see scars not as signs of weakness but as symbols of resilience and growth. The bruises are metaphors for emotional exposure, reminding us that to love fully is to risk pain. Healing is nonlinear; scars fade, but their memory persists, shaping our understanding of ourselves and others. The song encourages embracing vulnerability as a path to authenticity and deeper connection.  

“The Ghost We Keep”

This haunting piece confronts the invisible spirits that linger within, the ghosts of love, regret, and unspoken truths. These spirits are woven into the fabric of our consciousness, whispering of what was lost and lessons unlearned. The ghost becomes a symbol of unresolved longing, a reminder that some parts of us refuse to be released. The song asks whether we can truly find peace with these specters or if they will forever shape our perceptions and choices, urging us to accept and integrate our ghosts rather than deny or suppress them.  

“Proper Goodbye”

A heartfelt plea for closure, this song recognizes that some loves require a sacred farewell. It’s an acknowledgment that honesty, respect, and dignity are essential in parting, allowing love to rest peacefully. The song confronts the pain of letting go, emphasizing that love’s true strength lies in its capacity for grace and acceptance. It’s about honoring what was, acknowledging the hurt, and finding peace in the act of saying goodbye, an act of reverence for the love that once was.  

This collection is an intricate philosophical tapestry—each song a thread woven with vulnerability, insight, and the profound human pursuit of understanding. It invites us to confront our ghosts, embrace our scars, and acknowledge the power of humility and forgiveness. It reveals that life’s paradox is that in accepting our wounds, our history, and our pride, we discover wholeness and transcendence.  

The journey is eternal, a dance between memory and forgetting, love and loss, pride and humility. The true wisdom lies in our willingness to face ourselves honestly, to listen to the stones, to say a proper goodbye, and to walk forward with open hearts. Because in that sacred act of acceptance, we find true resilience, an ongoing quest to love more deeply, forgive more freely, and live more fully amid life’s beautiful, fleeting mystery.