1. |
Reveille
05:06
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Here my sword is drawn
Hear the bugle and drum
Bowman stretch your string
Let your arrow sing
Men don’t hide away
As we enter the fray
Let us reason bold
Death will be our gold
Let your heart not dim
Though the toil grim
Drums of battle call
How the mighty fall!
“How can I wear the harness of toil, and sweat in the daily round
While in my soul forever, the drums of Pictdom sound?”
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2. |
Anvil Heart
05:08
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Hard rain will fall, hard rain will fall, beating on my anvil heart
Howling caterwaul, howling caterwaul, beating on my anvil heart
Train coming slow, train coming slow, beating on my anvil heart
Bale the whistle blow, bale the whistle blow, beating on my anvil heart
Drumfire close, drumfire close, beating on my anvil heart
Hail the Holy Ghost, hail the Holy Ghost, beating on my anvil heart
Devil gonna roam, devil gonna roam, beating on my anvil heart
Jesus take me home, Jesus take me home, beating on my anvil heart
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3. |
The Blacksmith Soul
06:46
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From Williamsport to Spearville my father made his way, caught up in the mustering, Missouri’s Northern fray
He shod his soul with blackened coal and he hammered red hot steel, a smithy for the rank and file, his papers held the wheel
Of a blacksmith wagon he honed the craft and he chanted with the fire, never was a rambling man, never were he a liar
Old General Grant he made it clear “I bid you hear my call, my best horse needs your steady hand, wherefore I shall not fall”
So Company “A” the 14th Illinois he volunteered, serving the cause as best he could 3 months and 3 long years
A blacksmith for the infantry and blacksmith in his soul, he rode to meet the flame and steel in the Southern winds below
He held his pride within his hands and his fingers trained for war, worn with toil on his brow, wrought out through the sweat of the forge
He smithy-ed, soled and shoed the mares and he bonded with the steed, with quiet integrity, the model of a creed
A journeyman the live long day, and humble in his stead, stout-hearted handiwork where lesser men fear to tread
3 daughters were born to him and 5 good able sons, like iron and powder on the belt, a belscram and a gun
So Company “A” the 14th Illinois he volunteered, serving the cause as best he could 3 months and 3 long years
A blacksmith for the infantry and blacksmith in his soul, he rode to meet the flame and steel in the Southern winds below
Dear Hannah made a life with him, she was his one true love, joined like a hilt to blade, “a tang of fire and blood”
A veteran in November of 1923, he passed on from the crucible which now burns under me
That old brigade saluted him as he crossed the divide, and prayers that he used to pray would now be realized
“To hasten the drawing out, the fuller from the tool” , his hammer is laid to rest…
So Company “A” the 14th Illinois he volunteered, serving the cause as best he could 3 months and 3 long years
A blacksmith for the infantry and blacksmith in his soul, he entered into his rest, and shed the flame below
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4. |
Dweller Rising
04:58
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I dreamed of a song and I heard it sung, in the ear of my soul Phantastes rung
What were the words? Oh I could not tell, only a voice I heard right well, he said
Big music rang and fell from the air, Aeolian cadence descend the stair
Held me afloat alone and adrift, on the back of the North Wind, cold and swift, he said
The sound of many waters, deep calling to deep, awaking old echoes that all day sleep
Hidden in caverns with rooms apart, to and fro in my spellbound heart, I say
A voice with a feral melodious cry, reaching and longing afar and high
Sorrow and triumph in Hope’s Blue Flame, a good day to die to a new born name, I say
Thrilled in each note of that ancient song, my heart cried “Lord oh Lord how long
Shall I travail and faint and pray? Ere thy lovely Kingdom, Bring the Day!”
O wind of God, blow as I bend, blow swifter blow Your mighty wind
Blow and wake the lowly spirit in me, blow until the fruit grows ceaselessly
Hollering prayer, bellow above, on my faulty tower descend Your Love
Blow and fill my upper chamber with storm, O wind of God blow until I’m born!
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5. |
Pittin' Addle Blithe
07:52
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Here now I offer my goodbye, for kith and kin I am off
Leave and heave at the darkest hour, no lusty light or moth
Dawn will not find me idly by, in mirth, twaddle or tune
Brooding sweet and sour dusk, still pining for the moon
I'm heading out halfheartedly, and yet I have to go
A dolesome dirge of revelry, a bending banshee bow
I dug a well for 40 years, and built a sad high place
A belfry clown in the hungering dark, faded my painted face
Bemusing is a balladear, a fool with broken tools
Leather bit, wooden split, and Holy Ghostly blues
Folk love to nod and wink an eye, ne'er a fig as I go
Yet they are never happier, than when I'm deep down below
A ring and a swing my hammer song, into the great unknown
My days are nigh, by and by, with no striking of the gold
I know the byway people well, a bevy of dust and spit
I find my solace in the wind, the shaft, the miry pit
Ever mining deep beyond, a husk of shell shocked soul
Cavern heart has no leave, I've made my bed in Sheol
Shadows and tales are at the door, promising dark surprise
And Yet the only treasure here, I can not see with my eyes
My Lord my Lord, you know me well, you are the BECKONER
Bottled tears, pillow in hell, yet I know you are here
Old angel will you wake me up, and give my children bread?
Please send me a Raven fair, with meat to rest my head
Here now I lay my axe and bone, beneath the root of a tree
Three dear loves aride my coach, and pledge a lorn fealty
Oh if I fall into a spell, under a mountain stream
Know that I bent my wayward will, to see the NEW GOLDEN DREAM
An if I fall into the stone, of Knockasheega's Tor
Remember me, I never stole, one jot from splendor's door
Dilly dally fally fool, upon a madman's mound
Dancing reeling raving scoot, a crumbling under the ground
Searching out a wavy sky, a wisp of Hope's Blue Flame
Flowing gently overhead, the graven stone bearing my name
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6. |
Soldier Of Mine
05:31
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You hid yourself in long wet grass, and lay upon on the moss
That hoary crib held no reprieve, in the eye of your great loss
Sheltered in a hollow tree you hide your heart bound up iniquity
The jagged bark will skin your knee, and betray your villiany
Peering out by a forlorn creek, the rocks cry out from thirst
Waterless they make their stand, you feign your virtue worse
You lost your way on the battleground, with a bloodied bayonet
You yield your hand and broken heart, to no grand fellowship
"O fallen soldier of mine!
I judge that you're seeing blind
And I know that you've crossed a line
But you can come right back again!
There is forgiveness in the wind!"
"O fallen soldier of mine!
I pray you will surely arise!
My brother lay down your spear
Alas I will wipe your tear!"
These are the words I long to hear!
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7. |
Arkansas Planxty
01:38
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8. |
The Bard & The Swordsman
07:02
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Along came a Poet, ragged and worn
Spent many a long year, trying to be born
He forsook the trappings, of cupidity
Followed the highlands, tried and lowly
He dreamt in a carol, walked in a song
Tarnished like copper, his life was a psalm
Bare-bones and meager, yet never was poor
Fruitful in tatters, a glad troubadour
He sang!
He lived in a ballad, beloved and dear
He sang for his life, to all who would hear
To lift the downtrodden, he yearned to impart
His love for the people, he poured out his heart
Alongside a river, that flowed to the South
He came to a town, and opened his mouth
He knew not the kindred, who welcomed his song
Greeted with honor, and loved as their own
He sang!
The Bard was a'wander, to find his own name
His hope was a flower, a burning blue flame
The path was a hard one, rocky and rough
A valley of shadow, Augean and bluff
He followed The Maker, who taught him the way
His passage illumined, over night and day
He wandered and wondered, the struggle was good
He pined and he longed to be out of the wood
He sang!
Along came a Swordsman, who wielded his tongue
With anthems of brilliance, a Greathearted One
A broadsword wellborn, strapped onto his hip
He proffered goodwill and his fellowship
The poise of the poet, returned to the start
The Maker led Swordsman and Bard from the heart
They banded together, a hilt to a blade
Goodness and mercy, did follow their days
He sang!
The Swordsman was weary, of many long trials
His heartstring crestfallen, for many long whiles
The Poet was stirred up, by his Threnody
And bowed his devotion, and fraternity
(For) the Swordsman was fettered, in old Minor Key
His Brother (DCS) had fallen, departed dearly
The Poet then offered, a trustworthy oath
To bear up the Swordsman, and tender a troth
The soul of each other, were hammered and forged
Seamless and silver, they chimed in accord
A Bondstone of Brothers, confederacy
The Bard and the Swordsman, a Song of Fealty
They sang!
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9. |
Letter From The Front
04:33
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Forgive me, for I've not given much time to write
Been pinned in a whirlwind a fire and a fight
Hanging in the balance between heaven and hell
Sanctified and hollering the rebel yell
(Hanging in the balance of the Spirit and the skin)
(Crucified and by the Blood I rise again)
And Jesus, has me covered like an eagle with her young
'Nothing But The Blood' is spillin' from my tongue
There's no tempest tossin tragedy so great
That seperates me from his love and my good fate
Soon-Ah-Soon
Soon-Ah-Soon
Soon-Ah-Soon
I will be going home
I'm holden, on the front to overbear the hounds of hell
A precious hilltop where the fainthearted fell
Grimly taken in a terrible toll
Ransomed both my body and my sanguine soul
Now I'm broken, gravely wounded in the battle of the field
Yet my saber is still strong enough to wield
My Captain stands before me in the fight
The enemy will have his fill tonight
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10. |
Warpath
04:37
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I lift my eyes, up high to the hills
From whence comes my help, oh my Lord
Heaven and earth, they bow to your will
Oh Lord come down here, oh my soul
Stretch forth your hand, touch the mountain
So that it trembles every block
Flashes of lightning, you addle your foes
Blessed be the Lord, oh my Rock
You're on a war path, with a terrible swift sword
The edge is doubled by the voice of your Word
You're on a war path, in my spirit and soul
Splitting my bone from sweet marrow
You're on a war path, oh my Captain my Host
A face of flint set upon your arrow
Spirit of the Lord, upon me fall down
Your voice hews out in flames of fire
I lift my up my eyes to see, you standing sword in hand
Threadbare I lay on hallowed ground
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11. |
Old Saint Vainglory
04:04
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No I don't want this lie to roll over me
I re-fuse to sit on your floor
I'm bound to break down con-ven-tion-ality
And I'm keeping one eye on the door
Well I will not walk in your rambling bramble
Or be part of your darkened dream
I am breaking accord with all you afford
And planting myself up the stream
I dont want the end of the innocent
I want to set my children free
Tear down constraints & the canvas it paints
Whether real or imaginary
For the circle of conciet, is a fulsome malady
I implore you, I entreat, to resist your tragedy
Gotta keep running, in the running, standing fast in
The liberty!
You are low and obscene and plainly seen
Pharisaical to the bone
With an evil eye, swiftly you decry
The rhythm the rhyme of the throne
Lo I cannot abide with hideous pride
I'm a-swingin the axe for the root
"Here lies the Old Saint Vainglory is dead!"
Raise a glass to the blood on my boot
Alas here we are my treacherous friend
Sit down my dear enemy
Its now time for you and I to goodbye
And slay odious sympathy
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12. |
O Brother Man
05:31
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Oh brother man, offer your hand
Out of compassion and lovingkindness
You can't really help unless you stand
Upon the Rock of the Ages
Oh I know it's hard, when you're bound in the rain
And the thunder's rolling around your every move
And our selfishness adds nothing but pain
It's so hard to see when my eyes are on me, I've got everything to lose!
Oh my friend, just lay it down
Drop your burdens onto the ground
Lose yourself, and then you will find
You will be found, no longer blind
Love is all we need
Only the kind where it's all on the line
Standing fast in the liberty
O my friends be found
Coming out of the dark, and into the light
Standing on holy ground
O sister woman, offer your life
Out of the beauty, of sacrifice
Pour out your tender, sweet offering
The cost it don't matter when counted as loss for a more excellent thing!
Oh I know its hard, when you're bound in the rain
And the lightning is striking around your every move
And our selfishness adds nothing but pain
It's so hard to do when your eyes are on you, you've got everything to lose!
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13. |
Dark Cloud
05:04
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I'm on a road, a valley of shadows
A path that is not plain to everyman
Hidden and yet open for business
I'll try to tell the story if I can...
There's a dark cloud on the skyline
There's a dark cloud on its way
And I'm out here without sunshine
And I cannot tell night from that old day
That's where faith comes, that's where faith comes
In so handy, and Lord your never slack
This is hands on, this hands on
On that plow, here there is no turning back
Fear, frustration and cough syrup
They do not constitute reasons for change
Finish the work that you've been called to do
And the lamp upon your feet will show your way
Well I hid myself down on the olden path
Deep in the woods of transition bluff
“The real work is rarely in the limelight”
And my friendship with the moon is quite enough
This journey is not without communion
My Father has my back and lifts my head
Homelessness is just a state of mind, my dear
And that “old angel will wake us when there's bread”
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14. |
Take The Rattles Out
01:31
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Balla Dear Texas
Songs born out of trial and triumph, Balla Dear explores the dichotomy of the human condition, the physical and the spiritual. From deep in the heart of central Arkansas, Balla Dear muses in the medium of Southern Folk, Country Gospel, and Folk Ballad. The themes are evident; peace and solace amidst one's own undoing. Sacrificial love is by far the greatest gift among men. ... more
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