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If I discover
what solemn face I've called in prayer
I will love her
my pilgrim steps will take me there
You can tell me - I'm no Doubting Thomas
will my luck carry me through Hell?
and my sorrow be washed away
Can you tell me how?
She said a woman or a girl can change a man
but not so that he'd understand
I shall know why
words and music by D. Schramm (The lyric to this song was inspired by the first line of a poem by Emily Dickinson - "I shall know why...")
Out in the unknown land we meet
breaking ground that has hardened as one
Into the earth our spade drives home
under our bleeding, naked feet
tell me what harvest do you win?
slaves, snatched from the farmer's ground
who is the farmer, drives this round?
pull the farmer down
lyric from the poem "le Squellette Laboureur" by Charles Baudelaire, from Selected Flowers Of Evil, translated by Yvor Winters, music by D. Schramm
He could take time to know his place
he could really set things right
but the way that he's going he can't take that first step
though he tries with all his might
something good will come his way
he will see it, he aint blind
but it remains to be seen if he'll pay it any mind
living in confusion
With his love he's just a boy
or an old man, not caring anymore
but it's not easy to take a stand
with the sound of a voice or the touch of a hand
he's a foolish lover
he's an errand boy
he may yet discover
he's living in confusion
words and music by D. Schramm
and it's a letdown later
when everything's did and done
it's a letdown later
You see it in their eyes
it's the same, it's the same, it's the same
there's no one left to take the papers in
then the soothsayer says
"Now there's an easy prey..."
But it's all the same to him
and it's a letdown later
these sad things have all sad ends
it's a letdown later
words and music by D. Schramm
let the darkness hold me
and the light from a dawn come slowly
but quick if it holds you
speak if in silence you mean
it's not what you want
stay all you want
just put your locket on my gate and hold the key
words and music by D. Schramm
He has got a gun
he can deal with anyone
let them get some other one
he has got a gun
He'll hear only cheers
that's the sound of History
Brixton calls to Washington
with his Remington
Then Stephen takes his blade
and drives it down, cause he's afraid
I loved when you'd walk
I loved when you'd walk
then you walked away from me
then you walked away
I hear yesterday
and the sounds that stay with me
mix up love and charity
shade the little I've learned
And when the bodies' found
the tears come down, but not a sound
These days it's a battlefield
a sullen stare and a look to kill
love long in the making fell
in silence to deep to fill
He's kind, but he's not like me
he wears his troubles awkwardly
but new love brings him easy grace
and a smile to his face
and when the siren sounds...
words and music by D. Schramm
It wasn't more than a minute
that first one was the test
he was listening but I don't think he heard the rest
it was easy to fall,
but not easy to take a stand
with the sound of a voice or the touch of a hand.
Everyone's heard the reasons why
a kid will let the poison creep inside
if he says he wasn't scared, you know he lied.
the way some people die.
He doesn't think of tomorrow
and he seldom looks back
when he did he saw failure and a future so black
so he sees himself through sad eyes
that never caught the look of love
he'll never see what he's given up
Everyone's heard the reasons why
a kid will let the poison creep inside
if he says he wasn't scared, you know he lied.
the way some people die.
You might think he's a victim
but he just thinks it's a blast
it's not the question - it's who you ask
Then the bullets flied on Friday
and you're never gonna see him a again
it wasn't love that did him in
Everyone's heard the reasons why
a kid will let the poison creep inside
if he says he wasn't scared, you know he lied.
the way some people die.
words and music by D. Schramm
I cautious scanned my little life,
I winnowed what would fade
From what would last till heads like mine
Should be a-dreaming laid.
I put the latter in a barn,
The former blew away -
I went one winter morning,
And lo! my priceless hay
Was not upon the "scaffold",
Not upon the "beam",
And from a thriving farmer
A cynic I became.
Whether a thief did it -
Whether it was the wind -
Whether Deity 's guiltless
My business is to find.
So I began to ransack -
How is it, Heart, with thee?
Art thou within the little barn
Love provided thee?
"The rewritten lyric which appeared on the original OKra or NORMAL CD is decidedly inferior to this poem by Dickinson. If you must read it, check the lyric sheet that came with that original CD"...-Dave
Of all the souls that stand Create-
I have elected - One
when sense from spirit files away
and subterfuge is done
when that which is and that which was
apart - intrinsic - stand.
And this brief tragedy of flesh
is shifted like a sand.
when figures show their royal front
and mists are carved away
behold the atom I preferred
to all the lists of clay.
lyric from a poem by Emily Dickinson (PD), music by D. Schramm
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01 june 04