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Temple

by Michael Kuehn

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1.
Empire 04:35
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
2.
On the Sand 03:10
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...
3.
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
4.
Scales 05:26
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
5.
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
6.
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
7.
Temple 03:17
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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released February 25, 2014

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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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