1. |
Brother's Keeper
02:53
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I was raised a farmer. I bring fruit forth from the ground.
My baby brother was a shepherd. He mostly just sat around.
I always raced to harvest the very best bushels of wheat
Before they landed in the stomachs of Abel’s hungry sheep.
I kept an eye upon my fields and on those fat sheep, too,
But was I my brother’s keeper? I’ll leave that up to you.
Each harvest, for a sacrifice, I brought G-d damned good grain
And Abel brought the very best sheep, fattened by the wheat of Cain.
Abel found favor in the good Lord’s eye, to me G-d just said, “Fair,
But surely you can give as good as your brother over their.
Mortal sin crouches at your door and its aim is toward you true.”
Was I my brother’s keeper? I’ll leave that up to you.
I made a choice to sacrifice: cut my bro from the equation.
I saw a lazy shepherd boy as the object of my frustration.
I slew him and I hid him, still inside me lies a beast.
The mark upon me, killer, I was banished to the East.
But I found myself a bride and she bore me children, too.
So, am I my brother’s keeper? I’ll leave that up to you.
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2. |
Blade of Iron
04:33
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Get you a blade of iron,
Get you a fire stone,
Load your ass with good, dry timber,
Take the boy you call your own
And you’ll climb up on the mountainside
While the moon is bright,
Waiting for the break of day
With a boy to sacrifice.
Build you an alter of hickory.
Hide the truth with smiles.
Tears won’t do you any good
When you’re tying down your child.
You’ll just climb up on the mountainside
While the moon is bright,
Waiting for the break of day
With a boy to sacrifice.
Daddy, I see the firewood,
Flint, and a good knife, too,
But I don’t hear no bleating sheep,
So tell me what you gonna do?
We’ll just climb up on the mountainside
While the moon is bright,
Waiting for the break of day,
Praying for a sacrifice.
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3. |
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I like to think that I’m a good man.
My record ain’t half bad.
I saved a pair of vagabonds
From a crowd so raving mad.
They would have defiled those strangers,
Who were angels, I surmised,
So I offered up my daughters.
Seemed a decent compromise.
If you can’t spare the people of this town
From the hellfire you’re preparin’ to rain down,
You’d better burn it all right to the ground,
Cause I’m just like a cockroach:
I’ll always be around.
The angels gave me warning:
Told me, “Trouble’s on the way.
Gather your wife and kids, my man,
And simply walk away.
Take what you can carry
In a bedroll or a pack,
And just you keep a-movin’
Don’t even think of lookin’ back.”
Two daughters and a good wife,
They followed me ‘cross the plain,
Leavin’ all we had behind:
A lifetime down the drain.
I told my wife, “What’s done is done,”
So it surely ain’t my fault
That one last glimpse, it turned her
To a statue made of salt.
In a cave up in the mountains,
It was just me and my girls,
Thinkin’ we were all that’s left
In this great, big, mean, old world.
The future of the planet
Was awful hard to see
As they plied me with good liquor
And they had their way with me.
I know that you can make it rain.
You can wash away my home.
You can level it unto the ground
With fire and brimstone,
But you’d best make sure you kill us all
Or ask to call a truce,
Cause you may be all-powerful,
But we can reproduce!
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4. |
Line of Kings
04:09
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When I’s a girl I married Ur,
A big, old six-foot bruiser.
He wasn’t much to look at,
Just a rabble-rousin’ boozer.
The good Lord tried to help me
Cut that big man down:
Put him in a pine box
Buried six feet ‘neath the ground.
But I always did believe, in my heart the truth did sing.
Yes, I always did believe I’d be the mother to a line of kings.
Ur’s brother was no better.
He was a selfish git.
He lived for his inheritance
And he just liked to get it wet.
He teased me to no end,
Nearly drove me wild!
But Onan never gave me
What I wanted most:
A child.
But I always did believe, in my heart the truth did sing.
Yes, I always did believe I’d be the mother to a line of kings.
Their father thought me cursed,
So he forced me from his sight,
Though to bear a child by his third son
Was legally my right.
The years went by in the blink of an eye
Like grain runs through the mill,
And though I yearned to bear a child,
That dream went unfulfilled.
But I always did believe, in my heart the truth did sing.
Yes, I always did believe I’d be the mother to a line of kings.
One night I played the harlot
On the make for just some guy,
Ripe to give my body up
When the father happened by.
He didn’t know just who I was.
His eyes chose not to see.
As collateral for payment,
He left his staff with me
And I always did believe, in my heart the truth did sing.
Yes, I always did believe I’d be the mother to a line of kings.
Judah gave me twin boys
Who brought brightness to my life,
And I never really wanted
To be anybody’s wife.
Some say I stole from Judah.
I just took what he owed me,
And deception runs deep in the roots
Of King David’s family tree.
You know, I always did believe, in my heart the truth did sing.
Yes, I always did believe I’d be the mother to a line of kings.
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5. |
Prince on the Run
03:55
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I was walkin’ my way, one lazy day,
In the burnin’ hot desert sun,
When I saw a man beating on his slave
Like a soul, he didn’t have one.
I took his neck, broke it like a twig.
Slave looked me in the eye,
Then I went to Ethiopia straight away,
With no time for goodbyes.
I was a prince on the run,
Running from the pharaoh, gonna run away far.
I was a prince on the run,
But there ain’t no runnin’ away from God.
Down in Ethiopia, life was good.
I had a wife, two kids, and a house of wood.
I was big in the community, a well known guy.
Everybody said, “Hello!” when I passed by.
I had a backyard, as nice as you please,
With beautiful grass and shrubs and trees.
I was hangin’ in the backyard, swingin’ from a tire,
When this bush started talkin’ and burst into fire!
I was a prince on the run,
Running from the pharaoh, gonna run away far.
I was a prince on the run,
But there ain’t no runnin’ away from God.
This bush said to me, “Hey, Moses, you must
Go right back to Egypt.”
“But my life there’s gone bust!
Besides, I’ve a wife and kids here in need!”
Says the bush, “I command you: set your people free!”
Well, I told my wife about the bush in flames
And I knew she must be thinkin’ her man’s insane,
But I got up early the very next day
And I rode my ass yonder Egypt way.
I was a prince on the run,
Running from the pharaoh, gonna run away far.
I was a prince on the run,
But there ain’t no runnin’ away from God.
I said, “Hey, Pharaoh, I’ll give you one chance to be
The man who put an end to Jewish slavery.”
Well, Pharaoh, he just couldn’t help but laugh
Until God made a serpent out of my staff.
It took ten plagues, but Pharaoh caved in.
With God on our side, we were bound to win.
We made our way across the Red, Red Sea
And down into the pages of history.
I was a prince on the run,
Running from the pharaoh, gonna run away far.
I was a prince on the run,
But there ain’t no runnin’ away from God.
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6. |
Nachshon
03:37
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I’m just a man, the same as you.
I ain’t no different from the rest of the crew.
I can work the fields, put an ax to wood.
I do my job just like the rest:
I try to do it good.
One day we were slaves, the next we were free,
On the run from a king, with no place to be,
No food to sustain us in the hot desert sun.
We were draggin’ all our asses,
Lord, it wasn’t no fun.
Now the soldiers, they were coming
And we didn’t know what to do.
As they advanced, the Red Sea shoreline
Came on into view.
Everybody stopped there
And the eyes within their heads
Showed a look of disappointment
Make you think that they were dead.
I’m just a man, someone’s child,
And to see this indecision, well it drive me wild!
Big old soldier, big old sea:
I’ll drown before some soldier
Take my head from me!
I looked at the water, jumped right in.
Ain’t no slave like me ever learned to swim.
“There’s a first for everything.” That’s just what I said
As the cold Red Sea water,
Well, it covered my head.
My nose was filled with water
And my eyes they could not see,
And everyone was stopped their
Shouting, “Lunatic!” at me.
Then the one who made this world,
God, generous and true,
She parted all the waters
For my people to pass through.
When the world’s at your back
And you come to the sea,
Only one thing to do, baby,
Take it from me:
Drop everything, jump right in,
Cause the Lord don’t part no water ‘less you try to swim.
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7. |
King Saul's Blues
03:34
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Saul said, “David, sing me a song!
I need to relax, so please make it long.
Weave me a tale, not just something for the sake of the sound.
My head is aflame and I know not if I swim or drown!”
David said, “Saul, I’m just a shepherd boy.
Ain’t a tale I could tell that could bring you joy
Or the sliver of peace that your broken mind so clearly desires,
But I’ll always tell the truth, despite the fact you find me playin’ a lyre.”
Saul sent David to the battlefield.
Time and again, each victory revealed
David was safe in the loving hands of Adonai.
His star was ascending. David was a popular guy.
Saul wanted to see his life story penned
Explainin’ David’s demise at his great spear’s end,
But he lacked the skill of puttin’ his emotions aside.
He had the tendency of aimin’ just a little too wide.
Saul faced an army of Philistines,
Lost his head to a blade so keen.
It was David’s time to ride in and take over the land,
From Hermon in the north to the hot Judean desert sand.
They say Saul was a tall man. He looked like a king,
But listen close and I’ll tell you something.
It’s an honest truth by which this dude so humbly abides:
It’s not the size of a king that leaves a nation satisfied.
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8. |
Grandma's Song
02:28
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When I said goodbye to you,
You looked so small.
Where once was life,
Hardly anything at all.
I hope you can forgive me
For pretending that you’re gone.
Despite the pain of losing you,
I needed to move on:
I am still young.
You gave my father life.
That’s God’s best gift.
And as yours is taken from you,
You’re giving me what’s left.
I can’t say thank you
Enough to make amends,
But I’ll make it up to you
Somewhere around the bend:
My song ain’t sung.
Sometimes I wonder,
Where did all your flesh fall?
But it makes me feel good to think
It’s a part of the Wailing Wall:
Offered up to God
Like a prayer from your soul,
A little piece of paper
Tightly wedged inside a hole
Facing the sun,
So special, yet the same as everyone,
For eventually, we all must come undone.
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9. |
Jerusalem
03:51
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How can I tell you who I am?
Why would you want to know?
Of course I dream that you might give a damn,
But if you feel the need, then go.
I’ve traveled far, I’m sure to some avail.
A richer man within my heart.
Jerusalem, your memory’s growing stale
Since time and space set us apart.
I walk, alone, through memories never past,
And many see me on my way.
Some stay, but briefly, some friendships seem to last.
They get me by from day to day.
I’ve traveled far, I’m sure to some avail.
A richer man within my heart.
Jerusalem, your memory’s growing stale
Since time and space set us apart.
I sleep my way through cold and restless nights.
In rueful times, I weep and moan.
The moment’s gone, and then I feel all right.
My life is here. This is my home.
I’ve traveled far, I’m sure to some avail.
A richer man within my heart.
Jerusalem, your memory’s growing stale
Since time and space set us apart.
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10. |
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I been workin’ in the sun,
‘Neath the avocado tree,
And I just don’t know
If I’ve any energy.
I been workin’ it slow,
But the heat’s a pourin’ down.
Suspicion overwhelmin’ me:
In the sun I’m gonna drown
But you know that it’s all worthwhile.
Yes, I flew 8,000 miles
Just to witness this piece of history:
You and me and the Sea of Galilee.
Take your time, old man,
And take a look at the sun.
You’re at the end of the trail
And I’ve only just begun.
But I can sit beside you here
And we can share a friendly breath,
Watch the sun goin’ down,
Not give a care about death.
Friday night is fun:
Kick back and have a few drinks.
Melt together in time
And watch the big sun sink.
And when the settin’ is done,
We throw a few more down.
We dance around until dawn
And fall asleep on the ground.
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11. |
Just Another Job
02:59
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I lived well with all my money
In a land of milk and honey.
I had lovers, I had friends,
And a house to call my own.
Til the devil said to God,
“Let’s make this man’s life hard,”
Now it’s round the world I roam.
But there’s people just like me
All around the globe.
I am just another Job.
When I try to explain,
Well, it only cause me pain,
How my children and my wife,
Of a fever they did die.
The contagion wasn’t right,
For it let me live that night,
And I just can’t help but cry.
But there’s people just like me
All around the globe.
I am just another Job.
Then a storm it come one day
And it blowed my home away.
I was left without a place
For to hang my ragged clothes.
Then a banker approached me,
Took the deed to my property.
He said there was money that I owed.
But there’s people just like me
All around the globe.
I am just another Job.
Now my soul is worn and bruised
And I’m feeling kind of used,
And an honest day of work,
Well it hardly draws a smile.
But we’re all in our own bind.
Inner peace is hard to find,
So I’ll just watch the clouds awhile.
Cause there’s people just like me
All around the globe.
I am just another Job.
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12. |
Guilty, Guilty
04:37
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I understand some think it’s a must,
That the people always gonna fight over dust.
You might be talkin’ about India, Colombia, or Israel,
But in the end, all I can see?
Human attraction to Hell.
And we be guilty, guilty, guilty.
I just as guilty as you.
Guilty, guilty, guilty!
What we gonna do?
There’s people knowing all too well
How to carry a grudge.
They could watch their own children die,
And still, they won’t budge
To reach out with open arms
To all the people in need.
No, instead we do them harm
And then we watch them bleed.
We watch it all on TV!
And we be guilty, guilty, guilty.
I just as guilty as you.
Guilty, guilty, guilty!
What we gonna do?
You might be a rastafarian,
You might be muslim, too.
You could be the Buddha,
And you might be a Jew,
But this rage that’s in your heart?
It’s only making you blind.
And if it should have its way,
We’ll see the end of Mankind.
And we be guilty, guilty, guilty.
I just as guilty as you.
Guilty, guilty, guilty!
What we gonna do?
Each and every night I pray
Before I bed down,
That tomorrow’s gonna be the day
That we put our guns into the ground.
But it won’t happen on its own,
No, we got to decide
That holding hands is easier
Than holding grudges and picking sides.
Then we’d be guilty, guilty, guilty
Of causing bloodshed to cease,
Guilty guilty, guilty!
Guilty of waging peace!
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13. |
Worse Than Me
02:31
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Sometimes I get so weary,
I wanna lie beneath the ground
In hopes that I won’t have to hear
The fuhrer’s hoofbeats bound.
How I wish that life would spare me
All its cruel uncertainty!
But I know that there’s a couple folks
Who got it worse than me.
I fear that my religion
Will betray me one day.
Although I’m not observant,
It could make me someone’s prey.
I wish that life would spare me
All its cruel uncertainty!
But I can think of a hundred folks
Who got it worse than me.
My skin is like a whitewash:
It covers up my flaws.
But bloodhounds don’t see skin tones
When they got you in their jaws.
How I wish that life would spare me
All its cruel uncertainty!
But I can name a thousand folks
Who got it worse than me.
My body is a temple.
I’m so thankful that it’s mine.
But who’s to say the government
Won’t find its way inside?
I wish that life would spare me
All its cruel uncertainty!
But there’s about a million folks
Who got it worse than me.
Outside their’s wars a-ragin’
But I am safe in here
With my universal remote
And my cheap domestic beer.
I wish that life would spare me
All its cruel uncertainty!
But their must be a billion folks
Who got it worse than me.
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14. |
Zion
03:04
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I know when I die
They can throw my ashes off Sinai.
I’ll float in the morning dew,
Then up to the clouds for a better view.
Up their in the blue sky,
The breezes, they begin to dispel I.
Spread out molecules of me:
Red Sea, Dead Sea, Mediterranean Sea.
I floating away in Zion,
Zion for me, yeah!
I floating away in Zion,
So the Earth it may recycle me.
People make war.
I don’t know what they do that for.
Real love could save us,
But this material world just seem to enslave us.
Maybe one day
The good Lord will bring peace our way,
But me? Until then,
I got to keep on singin’.
I floating away in Zion,
Zion for me, yeah!
I floating away in Zion,
So the Earth it may recycle me.
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15. |
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I know, my friends, that God was simply fashioned
For Man to explain how his form was spun,
But I thrive now on some kind of god’s compassion,
Whether there are ninety-nine or one.
See, it’s humans who domesticated cattle,
But it’s God who made the mountains and the sky.
And they say it’s God who leads us into battle,
But I choose not to believe those kinds of lies.
I’ve had time to think about it long and hard,
And that’s not my kind of god.
So, if we don’t fight in God’s name, then I wonder:
To what end must we humbly bend our will?
Perhaps to the thing that’s bound to pull us under:
White gold, black gold, diamonds, dollar bill.
We all face some measure of confusion
Or lose a friend somewhere along the line.
To cope with pain, we foster grand illusions.
You choose yours and I’ll look out for mine.
I’ve had time to think about it long and hard,
And I find strength in God.
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Ilan Speizer Seattle, Washington
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