about
ben, inspired by ts eliot, tankman, leonard cohen, da levy, dylan, threw together these lyrics around the time of the birth of his niece, lily.
it was recorded early july 2010 after visting his grandmother in a nursing home, during halftime of a world cup match.
many problems mar this raw cut and prevented us from ever unveiling it until now:
1) we were using new software that was constantly failing, moving offtime
2) math was playing a new guitar, had never played slide before, and was playing like it
3) we recorded it too slow
4) ben could not (be convinced to) sing in key
still, it is one of the songs that most shows his inspirations, his aspirations, his yearning to head back to a simpler way of life, the sadness of everyman's struggles. there's a beauty in the imperfections.
ben - lyrics, vocals
jana - harmonies
math - guitars
lyrics
tied down by this ancient burden shackled by the load
one more time i'm lying tired stricken by the road
running an attrition program with only one man
just one misjudged misstep and it could be the end
pray for strength to stand to tanks and stop this evil plan
harder than a chinese google search for tiananmen
thinking of the ancient landscapes, uncut and unhoed
one more parking structure built, one more asphalt road
pattern can be understood as verse and chorus verse
life is even simpler we are cursed to work then hearse
everything's already said but secrets can be found
there's no way to get ahead; we climb by reaching down
coming down this ancient mountain where the rivers flowed
plan the planting, have a harvest, gather seeds we sowed
see the flame, maintain the light, and shine it around
see the shadow do what's right, time to leave this town
rise from ashes like the phoenix if we were refused
stained glass window, shades of chartreuse, we have been imbued
enthralled by this ancient vision, inspired by the code
a revelation, way of living, home is my abode
falter there before the altar; go and make amends
assault the sin and kill the killer destroying the trends
ignore all the non-prophets and they will disappear
end debate and set it straight, and narrow gate is near
saddled with this ancient burden, carrying the load
one more rhyme, we rise and ready pressing down the road
credits
license
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