1. |
Empire
04:35
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I've got nothing up my sleeve
Just a well worn place where my heart should be
Oh but you don't know a thing about that, do you?
'Cause you keep yours in a display case
With marks on the glass where I press my face
When I'm looking for something true
This is my empire, this is my escape
This is my desire, this is my own fate
If this is my life to live, then this is my heart to break
If it's not mine to give then, it's not yours to take
I built this from the ground up
With my sweat and with my blood
Now it reaches up to the sky
With the thickest walls and thicker skin
I don't plan on coming out again
So come close, here's your kiss goodbye
This is my empire, this is my escape
This is my desire, this is my own fate
If this is my life to live, then this is my heart to break
If it's not mine to give then, it's not yours to take
I don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
I don't care if it's not what you wanted
I won't give up without a fight
Oh you'll see, I'll come back with my shield, or on it
This is my empire, this is my escape
This is my desire, this is my own fate
If this is my life to live, then this is my heart to break
If it's not mine to give then, it's not yours to take
If it's not mine to give then, it's not yours to take
It's not yours to take
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2. |
On the Sand
03:10
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Watch along the water's edge for my soul to come
Drifting back from whence it came before the rising sun
Taken by the strongest tide, the ocean's ebb and flow
I used to be a stronger man but that was long ago
Someone showed me on the shore, the surest place to stand
But I still built my home on the sand
Watch between wind and wave, salted sea and skin
Could I safely sound the depths or will it pull me in?
Under veil of darkness comes the wicked western wind
Oh it's torn my sails and broke my bones with whispers of my sin
Someone showed me on the shore, the surest place to stand
But I still built my home on the sand
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay
When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace
When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil
Someone showed me on the shore, the surest place to stand
But I still built my home on the sand
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...
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3. |
Prone to Wander
04:13
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I've got a map of my country
Home of the brave, land of the free
And I keep a box of sewing pins
So that when I get home, I can remember where I've been
I trace my fingers across the red road lines
I'm way out west and past the plains in no time
This restless heart is never satisfied
I always want to feel the grass on the other side
Some days I just want to fly away into the wild blue yonder
I think that might take my troubles far away
Lord knows I'm prone, prone to wander
I think peace may be found
When I stumble on some sacred ground
Yeah I've convinced myself of some magic place
Instead of resting inside of the Creator's grace
Some days I just want to fly away into the wild blue yonder
I think that might take my troubles far away
Lord knows I'm prone, prone to wander
O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be
Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wand'ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander, yes, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Some days I just want to fly away into the wild blue yonder
I think that might take my troubles far away
Lord knows I'm prone, prone to wander
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4. |
Scales
05:26
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I can hardly recognize this heart of sin
These are not my hands, this is not my skin
How I came to be this way I'm not too sure
I'm looking for some hope, hoping for a cure
I want to see, a change in me
One by one, the scales they fall
But underneath there's more
I need sharper claws than mine
To reach down to the core
I'm sorry for the things that I have been
I just want to be a boy again
I slip deeper in this cave to hide my shame
They don't know this face, let alone my name
With each hour I just feel more and more alone
I miss my friends, I miss my home
Who can call me out of the dark?
And pierce this armor down to my heart?
One by one, the scales they fall
But underneath there's more
I need sharper claws than mine
To reach down to the core
I'm sorry for the things that I have been
I just want to be a boy again
Your breath has filled my lungs
I thought I could breathe on my own
You dig down to the core
Undressing me right down to the bone
Cast me into the waves, so that they can wash me clean
The stinging that's on my skin, tells me that I'm alive again
Gone are the tears, and all of the pain
As I wrap my fingers in Your mane
One by one, the scales they fall
And under there's no more
You've got sharper claws than mine
That dig down to the core
I'm sorry for the things that I have been
I just want to be a boy again
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5. |
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I'm sure my face was flushed, as the roses in my cheeks reached full bloom
I could not stand the heat, as your fiery speech filled the room
You asked me for things that I simply could not give
You asked for promises you knew I could not keep
So why did you look surprised at the teardrops in your eyes
As you began to weep?
Harsh words must still be said, please don't ask me why
But nothing says I love you like goodbye
I clicked my fingernails, fumbling for the words I knew weren't there
I fought for every breath from the weight of the hurt in the air
You claimed what was always mine to keep for your own
You knew you'd held on too tight
Now you've drained all the sand between the cracks of your hand
As your knuckles turn to white
Harsh words must still be said, please don't ask me why
But nothing says I love you like goodbye
Now we're left with the dust settled round our feet of what's no more
So sorrow do your work, sew up these wounds left gaping from the war
Don't think for a moment I never gave all I had
You know too well we've run out of time
No battles won nor lost, without a wage or a cost
And you dear were mine
Harsh words must still be said, please don't ask me why
But nothing says I love you like goodbye
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6. |
This is Who We Are
03:14
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This is who we are and this is who we're gonna be
That was who we were, but that was never truly me
I am not scared now, I am not scared
Oh, even though all that's left is
The empty space between the strings
Oh, even though all that's left is
The black abyss between the keys
And you, and me
I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
This is my skin and these here are my bones
This is my voice, listen how it groans
I am not scared now, I am not scared
Oh, even though all that's left is
The empty space between the strings
Oh, even though all that's left is
The black abyss between the keys
And you, and me
I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
The sun commands the day and every day demands a song
Honey with you, we could sing along
I am not scared now
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7. |
Temple
03:17
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I will go to the mountains
And cut down a tree or two
I will go to the mountains
And build a temple for you
'Cause I eat, I'm never full
And I drink, it's never enough
And all my robes, don't keep me warm
Here in the ruins of my soul
I will go to the mountains
And cut down a tree or two
I will go to the mountains
And build a temple for you
'Cause I eat, I'm never full
And I drink, it's never enough
And all my robes, don't keep me warm
Here in the ruins of my soul
I will go to the mountains
And cut down a tree or two
I will go to the mountains
And build a temple for you
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Michael Kuehn High Point, North Carolina
Michael is a classically-trained, modern storyteller. His technical background provides surprising nuanced progressions and turns of melody, paving new roads in tired four-chord towns. The sparse intimacy of these sonic landscapes invite you to come in and stay awhile, and hear stories of faith and friendship that just might remind you of your own. ... more
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