1. |
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I am the canvas
Tattered and pale
Stretched across framing
Held taut by nails
I am an inmate
Leaving the jail
With all the hope of more chances
I’m refusing to fail
I am a convert
For the first time
Understanding confession
And the hope of new life
I am the rebel
Holding a flag
Who after years of oppression
Now stands on free land
We are the barren giving birth to a child
We are the captives set free in the wild
We are the addicts no longer enslaved
We are the stubborn finally swayed
Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul –
and sings the tunes
without the words –
and never stops at all. -(Emily Dickinson)
Our faith must be stronger than death, a hope that is firmer than flesh, and the spread of the Kingdom...more sublime and more captivating.
- (Dorothy Day)
Our hands must be the altars for our dreams
Our Feet must cross bridges and borders for the sake of our sons and our daughters
We are the soil
Under thick black concrete Generating new life
Through the cracks in the street
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2. |
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The World is a dying old man
With no one to lend him a hand
We stripped and we’ve beat him and left him to die in the sand
Quietly crying for aid
His breath and his soul slowly fade but
mass consumption, division, greed, and pretension remain
There’s a man who holds ideals in the palm of his hand
Giving answers to questions on relations between God and man
He sees the world as a hindrance, man as a tool,
No purpose or mandate to help out the fool
He passes by on the other side of the road….
Forgetting that this wretch is his home…
Carrying books on philosophy, science, technology, law
Comes an expert, a cynic, functioning schizophrenic bourgeois
He sings of grandeur perspectives on community and peace
Does his acts before people, sparks dissension with ease
He passes by on the other side of the road…
Knowing that this wretch is alone
Down the path comes a broken, confused, and unfocused young man
Filled with love filled with hate
Drags his feet through the slate and the sand
Questioning all his dreams and the answers he’s built into creeds
Knowing his values and thoughts never quite match up with his deeds
Has a heart for the world but doesn’t know how fix it
Has a passion for change but the path makes him homesick
He spots the man on the other side of the road….
And racing to his aid
He tells him, “Don’t be afraid…
Brother, you’re no longer alone…”
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3. |
War Pigs/Gently Weep
06:29
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4. |
All Along the Watchtower
03:40
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5. |
In the Halls of Valhalla
03:10
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In the halls of Valhalla
Down the path that lights the way
As you exit out of darkness
And the ending of your days
Though your life was stained by loneliness
From the world that you passed through
In the halls of Valhalla we will run, run to you
In the fervor of our welcome
You’ll remember distant shame
Though in life the eyes avoided yours
In here you’re called by name
You’re restored to highest honor
As you drop your cuffs and chains
In the home and friends surrounding you,
Our Humanity’s reclaimed
We will run to your arms
We will stand by your side
And our hearts will beat as one
And say that it is done…
You are sheltered from the winter
Protected from the rain
There is food that will sustain you
And words that do the same
No fear about tomorrow
Nor where you’ll rest your head
You will sleep without a worry
And welcome others home instead
They will run to your arms
We will stand by their side
And our hearts will beat as one
And say that it is done…
No longer doomed to wander
In search of meaning, life, and peace
These halls will give you answers
And set your heart at ease
You’ll find them in the stories
Through the work that we all share
A place for fallen warriors
Welcome home and grab a chair
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6. |
Three Little Birds
03:15
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7. |
In Wales
02:46
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I am alone
Nobody sees me
As I walk down this dark and dusty road
I am not home
This is not easy
Hoping there is meaning
Like Peter leaving prison
I’m invisible
While there’s still hope within my head…I will fly
While there’s still life within these ribs…I will thrive
Which way to go
The tables have turned
In pride and confidence I’m in this mess again
I lay it down
I’m looking for freedom
On my knees I’m blind
On this Damascus road
I had it wrong
While there’s still hope within my head…I will fly
While there’s still life within these ribs…I will thrive
I took a turn
Somewhere I ran
Surrendering to fear and defeat
I sailed the see
Searching for truth
Now in the belly of this whale
I find myself turning
Back to you
While there’s still hope within my head… I will fly
While there’s still life within these ribs… I will thrive
‘Cause I may run and I may hide…you will find
It’s your love that brings me back…every time
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8. |
Sometimes
08:23
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Sometimes
It gets a little bit easier
To fall in line
And though we fight
Over dreams and motives
Oh I’ll surrender mine
Cause I see clearly now
My actions have the best of you
No no no
Though I’ve weakened motivation
My love is still strong just don’t know how to show it at times
Together we go
Though it’s not as easy now
This need for control
Sometimes will let you down
I’ll strive to go with the flow
When things seem turned around
Babe you are my home
And you are all I need
Oh these words
Which used to heal
No long carry that much weight
I’ve used and abused
These expressions of my love
Now they seem so much harder to translate
When what you need is more than words
You want my friendship, my help, you want me near
We want perspective to return
Oh two ships heading toward the same pier
It’s easy I know
To not change a thing at all
And as we grow
not adapt but rather fall
But we said and it was so
We built a family and home
So all together let’s go
Dream a little more for me
We’ve weathered the storms this far
And we’ve gone through fall and winter
Celebrating the joys and the scars
Cause that’s what’s made us stronger
We’re standing on our feet, and you saved me again!
Full life
Four kids
You’ve held us all together
Dedicated, You’re our center
You’re the best mom
You’re my best friend
10 years within my shadow
Time we cultivate your dreams now
You’ve been broken
And you’ve struggled
I wasn’t always there for you
And wrestled with how to fix it too
I’m Sorry
I love you
As my ideals come crashing down
I’m learning how to listen now
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Paul Keim Oakland, California
Paul Keim is a songwriter and community organizer who has been living, performing, and working in and around the East Bay for most of his life. His unique approach to songwriting comes from his appreciation for many different forms and styles of music, along with his passion for justice and social change. ... more
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