Once I was as ugly as a harpy-bitten tree
And every voice within me spoke – you will never be free
Once I was as ugly as a harpy-bitten tree
But today I am as perfect as a single blade of grass
Because I am free.
In the night I was beset with demons
I know all their names but cannot speak them
Their grinning teeth split the darkness and I said
I know your name, take your teeth out of me
Return my body to me, release me
Release me.
My tears soaked my bed
the blood of many wounds soaked my bed
the sweat of many fears soaked my bed and I begged
Release me.
And Sinner Friend, I heard that Voice
Sweet as a bright bell
It spoke to me and said, sweet as a bright bell:
I will always be with you
I will be with you always.
And I spat, who are you
Some demon, do I know your name
And the voice replied
I am the one heralded by seven trumpets
Have you not heard?
I claim no thing and no thing can claim Me
But I am yours and you are Mine
For this hour you are free.
And I said, Demon
Release me
I cannot release you for you are already free
I made you as perfect as a single blade of grass
Have you not seen?
And the voice spoke, sweet as a bright bell:
I will always be with you
I will be with you always
And so I sit at the table of God
And my garment is woven from the stars
And the leaves that fan from the trees
That unfurl into Heaven.
In my hair are lilies and at my throat are pearls
And I will walk the streets of gold with naked feet
All this was promised --
And came to be.
And so, Sinner Friend, lay your burdens down
The night is not yours alone to carry
Take my hand, for in the dark I see you
And I will speak unto you what was spoke unto me:
I will always be with you
I will be with you always.
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As usual, Kirby manipulates various interwar records to fit a cavalcade of emotional states: blissful (B1, E8), tragic (D2, D5), frantic (E1, E6), and just plain horrifying (F3, G1, H1, K1). gjoe52
Looking back at Carla Bozulich's debut solo album, a complete re-imagining of the Willie Nelson classic that the man himself played on. Bandcamp Album of the Day Jul 8, 2016
A haunting, beautiful, autobiographical record that uses samples of old gospel records to wrestle with faith and unbelief. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 2, 2021