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O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
Wild Love, ancient ones say that you defend your cubs
o Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear the way back to the tree of life
hellhounds on our trail tonight; o Lord Motherbear roar again, let hell be scared
you dwell in the dark though it seems of late deep caves you hibernate
dark night of the sense filled only with solastalgia
faintly hope for synesthesia, growing so hungry
solstice this time has gone too long we ain't strong like stone
if you can't cahnge our woes leave us alone
o for the fortitude of bare trees in February
how long til You heal things? will You frighten a wind-blown leaf?
how long til spring when we eat nettle greens?
they don't sting half as bad as the wind-chill of Your distant gaze
You unstrung my bow so a harp i made and i turned it to blues of loud morning
O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
many now are through with You i guess they found out You ain't true
they must have better things to do than pray to nothing
in this world of war it's hard for anyone to find the wild joy we all desire
i know sometimes you have to go your own way
but i've got nowhere else to go and I cannot get over You and i've got nothing better to do
i am not over You...i am not over You...i am not over You...
why were we ever born with this great wound at our core
up against such unfair odds and no time to practice?
out in my praying ground i still call out Your name in moonlight
the moonlight dew paints me wet and i sense You are up to something new
i don't believe You are dead yet
O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
O Lord Motherbear roar again that we may hear
o Lord Motherbear Thy cubs are under attack! Mother, are You there?
Mother, are You there? Mother, are You there to defend us and fight back?
the builders of hell march on, we lose our direction
Savage Mother God, sing Your song, we'll sing along
i don't forget what i first saw when the woods were old and tall
Your fresh tracks in the mud, Your scratch on the cedar
i've prayed the power of Your paws, my rock, my shelter, Your sharp claws
nevertheless i'll defend my chest until you rip it open
You have the Song of Life, i only have one tree left to climb
(Because they killed all the rest!)
i sit in the upper branches everyday and cry:
"why have you forsaken us?!" i feel that i may fall off soon,
be rushed to town in an ambulance and forget all about You
the branches are so cold and stiff, but a memory makes me tighten my grip
and though i say no to Your silence it's still You i speak with
for now...
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In the Evening, In the Evening when the sun goes down
In the Evening, when the sun goes dowm
well it's lonesome, well it's lonesome when the one you love is not around
sunrise in the east, set down in the west
sunrise in the east, set down in the west
well there aint no tellin which one is gonna treat you best
I'm lying here thinkin, I'm all by myself
I'm lying here thinkin, I'm all by myself
well it's hard to fall asleep when the one you love sleeps somewhere else
In the Evening, In the Evening when the sun goes down
In the Evening, when the sun goes down
well it's lonesome, well it's lonesome when the one you love is not around
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feel feel feel, feel feel feel again
feel feel feel, endure hardship as discipline
feel the sun beat on your neck
so another has some shade
feel the burning in your legs
so another has a seat
in time your skin may come to crave
collision with the elements
perhaps combat your ghostly hue imbued
anew with earth pigments
now free sleeping in debris hut
you'll repent that thin world you once blogged
awakened senses they cut the veil to
texture enter where you've longed
your blood and breath and bones and flesh and life
your blood and breath and bones and flesh and life
Spirit and Earth and water and fire is life
Spirit and Earth and water and fire is life
speak with the animals and
they will teach you
let the birds of the air inform you
who among these does know
without the body there's no soul?
feel feel feel, feel the thistle and the thorn
feel feel feel, Spirit enters where they've torn
felt it approach. sought Job, "oh,"
he said "sit under red Grandmother Oak."
she spoke "you'll often meet crossroads.
engage these conflicts in your soul
but burn them 'get well soon' cards!
spurn all the, easy hopes from your heart
just let them biting briars grow
see! my kids rise where you don't mow
and they'll feed you as you get old:
acorn-manna falls, behold!
though you go alone
take courage against cold conformists
like brother sycamore, shed your layers for to feel
how will you ever know what is real
unless you truly sense."
your blood and breath and bones and flesh and life
your blood and breath and bones and flesh and life
Spirit and Earth and water and fire is life
Spirit and Earth and water and fire is life
speak with the earth
she will teach you
let the fish of the sea inform you
who among these does know
without the body there's no soul?
run run run, circulate your breath and blood
run run run like me, sings wind,
before your time is done my friend
run like the white tailed deer my son
o daughter like coyote
darting 'cross the prairies, hear them old ones sing
they sees signs of a new ice age approaching
there will come a day of need when you must move like breeze on feet without a car
weaving through the weeds or deep snow very far
through our ruins past what we called yards
you may have to fetch the healing herb from yonder mountain side
or deliver message far off camp must hear that they survive
scout a route into north country find where the enemy hides
and the training now is tough but brave ones what if you give up?
and the training now is tough but brave ones what if you give up
on your blood and your breath and your bones and your flesh and your life?
O your blood and your breath and you bones and your flesh and your life?
There will come a day of rest but right now we are alive!
What will happen to your tribe?
What will happen to your tribe, if you don't know your gift to bring?
Even a log for the fire, it would help you people sing,
through this dark and arctic time,
What will happen to your life if you have no tribe to dance with?
only cold and lonely nights.
That's a question you must ask.
What will happen to your life if you don't know your skill to serve?
What will happen to our lives if we don't grow and we don't learn?
Lord have mercy, may we learn.
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Heaven is nearly complete on the earth
Remember when we broke ground, roots clung to the dirt?
Our improvements added up equals a lot of work.
It seams a long time ago we dreamed of control and here we are.
Never had much patience for a god who always needs to help those who would drown waiting for the Lord to send an ark have none to blame bu themselves
of all the things that I hate about you the worst is that you think it good to wait
you must get love while you can, I am going away
death has told me he has no secrets I am running out of things to say
We can always refill
whenever we want
we can always refill no time to sit still
repeat our final statements over again
teenage angst has paid off
well, now we fit right in
we were once like you, we tried to find the right words
but now we just stick with what works our friend
actions speak louder than words
those who can: do
those who can't: join a band
so we'll keep our good work and keep the lights turned on
seamless and changeless like the hand of God
there's no need for your brooding
sorrow will soon be extinct
the lake was down this summer
but the sink don't ever run dry
our bodies they stay motionless while transported ahead
we never fully arrive until it's time to leave again
sure God made a bunch of stuff that don't fit in with our ways
but we're learning to manage well soon God will sing our praise
we'll have no feast and famine, no boom and bust, no limit in stock
immersed in propaganda's noise we want less talk, more rock!
In the midst of life's disassembly
sometimes my glass gets a little bit half empty
but I just have to remember:
We can always refill
whenever we want
no delay we'll fill the cupboards
summer, spring, winter, and fall
keep on truckin' we're sucking up the worlds with a straw
{I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!}
so efficient it's like doing nothing, we'll finish up in no time at all
“be the change you want to see”
wipe your nose, why are you so whiny?
You don't need to internalize the info's always there
don't need to know the how's and why's
the truth is we don't care
sure we know about it
we saw the documentaries
got in for a discount with our old student ID's
yeah we went to college
it's there we bought our looks
never finished whole ones, though our shelves were full of books
after a couple classes and skimming a page or two
we got so enlightened up, heaven came and healed our blues
never understood why them old saints take so long
they must be retarded, I mean, that's all that I can think of
After a conference or two what else is there to talk about?
And you, after an album or three
are more new songs really what we need?
Inspiration won't last you forever,
but there's always a job to do and on that you can refill whenever
We can always refill
whenever we want
give us a hand as we pull leviathan out with a hook
they say of all deceivers fear yourself most
but we never look
Hey! Who is pulling who?
I ain't in this to be
dragged out to ea
you don't know where you are
you don't know what I've been through
I can't take you seriously
all of your proverbs, they are ashes
though the birds take flight in fear when we come passing through
we caught them on our camera, there's nothing they could do
paralyzed under our gaze the will never fly again
and if we lose the image some will make a better replacement
speeding down the interstate
escape to the landscape
our forebears gave us a call, said
“y'all better make haste”
he we didn't didn't know they had phones in heaven
do they also have a map?
“sorry kidz, this call is done!”
and I heard the devil laugh
life is fun in this cult of speed
we couldn't stop and the cul-de-sac
and when I get to the other side...
I'll be going so fast I'll come right back
you better start working out or you're gonna get lapped
if you ever feel your motivation is sapped
just remember:
We can always refill
whenever we want
we think it's time, yes now
it's finally time for you to go and really live it out
stop all your praying and complaining
and you'll forget all your doubts
get the job done any way you can
don't go wasting your manic bouts
well all us eager actors
always know just what to say
but when interviewed
we could not remember who wrote the play
in the end we tossed the script and made a silent film
we built a set to suit our tastes
of cookies and warm milk
it did the body good
now we can focus on our skills
but sometimes I am worried sick!
I buy field guides on how to feel good and forget
yet why behind my eyes
the nothing takes control?
These seem big like big strong hands
but even stone can't stop my world from slipping away
I've got unanswered questions
but all I'm gonna say is, “I am not a philosopher!!!”
and if resistance takes thought
than you can all just go to hell!
We'll squat a nice plot of land ans we won't ever sell
God helps them,
what helps themselves
we're over it, oh well.
We can always refill
whenever we want
we can always refill whenever we need
further down the road when we're old
we'll have some time to think
we don't need this right now
it causes undue, unjust suffering
we'll stay down in Arizona
where it's warm and you can do your own thing
but every now and then
we'll come and visit Michigan
just to fill up our canteens
[Job to his friends:]
all of your proverbs, they are ashes
all of your proverbs, they are ashes
all of you sayings are proverbs of ashes
and your defenses, defenses of clay
let me have silence and I will speak
let come upon me whatever may
I put my life into my hands
I take my flesh into my teeth
I have no hope, God will kill me
but I will defend my ways to You face so I'll be saved
for the godless would not dare come before You Lord.
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The waves have a story to tell me,
As I lie on the lonely beach;
Chanting aloft in the pine-tops,
The wind has a lesson to teach;
But the stars sing an anthem of glory
I cannot put into speech.
The waves tell of ocean spaces,
Of hearts that are wild and brave,
Of populous city places,
Of desolate shores they lave,
Of men who sally in quest of gold
To sink in an ocean grave.
The wind is a mighty roamer;
He bids me keep me free,
Clean from the taint of the gold-lust,
Hardy and pure as he;
Cling with my love to nature,
As a child to the mother-knee.
But the stars throng out in their glory,
And they sing of the God in man;
They sing of the Mighty Master,
Of the loom his fingers span,
Where a star or a soul is a part of the whole,
And weft in the wondrous plan.
Here by the camp-fire's flicker,
Deep in my blanket curled,
I long for the peace of the pine-gloom,
When the scroll of the Lord is unfurled,
And the wind and the wave are silent,
And world is singing to world.
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I don't wanna get up for church in the mornin,
church in the mornin, souls alive!
Heaven come to earth and there won't be no church
we'll meet down by the riverside,
there we'll swim with all creation,
never get tired never bored,
don't worry someday there'll be no dam between us and our Lord
In Jackson you keep you hoods up, you keep your hoods up, and you stay up late,
oh in Jackson, you keep your hoods up, keep your hoods up and stay out late.
Well we don't mind a cold night but we might mind if you leave too soon
so come on now, it's still early besides what else are you gonna do?
As we kissed in the alley by the Michigan Theater ,
the falling snow was glowing in the lights of the downtown
I saw a spark in your eyes I just spoke it
they said “we're gonna turn this whole place upside down”
then you said “my dear do you really mean this?” I said, “I only know what I feel right now.”
Poets lie but sometimes it comes true, stay awake with me and we'll see what we can do,
Poets lie but sometimes it comes true, stay awake with me and we'll see what we can do,
in our town
I don't wanna get up for church in the mornin,
church in the mornin, souls alive!
Heaven come to earth and there won't be no church
we'll meet down by the riverside,
there we'll swim with all creation,
never get tired never bored,
don't worry someday there'll be no dam between us and our Lord
In Jackson you keep you hoods up, you keep your hoods up, and you stay up late,
oh in Jackson, you keep your hoods up, keep your hoods up and stay out late.
This is the kind of place people get stuck in, yeah people get stuck here but I chose to stay
for if you ever want to know something or know someplace you just can't know them all
so at some point you must make a choice and choose someplace and someone and make a home
there was a time not long ago when we'd look out this window and see a wolf pack running free
except there'd be no window or this building separating us from all the life we see
behold the Lord makes all things new; that sounds good I wanna do it to
oh dear God, destroy my city! Make it a place that the wolves think pretty
so they come back here and stay I wanna hear their howl someday
in my life time in my place before my body's in the grave
before my body's down in the grave in my place
I don't wanna get up for church in the mornin,
church in the mornin, souls alive!
Heaven come to earth and there won't be no church
we'll meet down by the riverside,
there we'll swim with all creation,
never get tired never bored,
don't worry someday there'll be no dam between us and our Lord
In Jackson you keep you hoods up, you keep your hoods up, and you stay up late,
oh in Jackson, you keep your hoods up, keep your hoods up and stay out late.
We're all just a bunch of hoodlums
the skies are always gray, just like the ground
of post-industry ruins we grew up around
hope to my neighbors, family, and old friends, hope to all desperate and beat-down
we're all beat-down
Groans of the dying are trying to rise from the sprawl
souls of wounded sing hoarsely if they can at all
we all loves leaves' colors, sweet ciders of fall
til it turned to technique perfecting winter on the whole earth
now it's all one big subdivision
icy cold though I'm told can be melted by God
we drove looking but slipped and went into a ditch,
walked to find God's house, couldn't tell which was which
of if only I knew where God's house was to find
I would lie on Her couch and then speak all my mind
What should we do, just watch as this whole world gets worse?
Naw, we're told “blessed are those souls who for justice thirst”
but that You will quench this they all tell me “be sure”
You're the one to start the fire, for Your fire is so pure
but I don't wanna go out like no prophets of baal
well baal never showed up though they danced and they yelled
yet I know I'm afraid of what my words imply
deep down I am not ready to face up to Your fire...
O-kay oh mystery mercy me may it be
O-kay oh mystery mercy me may it be
O-kay oh mystery mercy me may it be
holy Thee we all need You, You know us we hope
that's the grove of oak leave where faith's fire could glow
but it's so hard out here in the cold, when it seems all we do is wait and get old
it's so hard out here in the cold, when it seems all we do is wait and get old
la de di, la de di, la de di, la de di...
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this EP is a preview of the songs that will appear on the up and coming experiment #4, which is inspired by the Hebrew book of Job, the blues, and cold Michigan winter.