1. |
Bell Toll
02:18
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Sprint through every open door Fast enough not to touch the floor
By twilight I can make the river Indigo and the moon a sliver
Rain carpets my reflection Single-malt is my redemption
Nightfall and the city blazes Bells are ringing the changes
Bells are ringing the changes
How long? The bells are ringing and
How long? The children singing and
How long? The bells are ringing,
the bells are ringing the changes
There's signal fires across the river Saints and sinners we deliver
Screams aloud and ashes flying Cover my ears to keep from dying
Deaf to hearing blind to sight Reeling in the streets tonight
Scry the face of a passing stranger --- singing the changes
Bells are ringing the changes
How long? The bells are ringing and
How long? The children singing and
How long? The bells are ringing, the bells are ringing the changes
Cathedral looms above the water Solid walls and pilgrim laughter
Lightning flashes and I fear it Freedom rings I don’t hear it
Rede and rite and pass the cryptic Spirit rise in a skin alembic
Streets alive with city sages --- singing the changes
Bells are ringing the changes
How long? The bells are ringing and
How long? The children singing and
How long? The bells are ringing, Away to me the city rages!
(violin solo)
Day comes like a velvet hammer Streets awaken I'm deaf in the clamor
I don't think that I'll be blessed First to rise last to rest
Follow the light into the water Churning ocean mother father
Cry out for the city mages --- singing the changes
Bells are ringing the changes
How long? The bells are ringing and
How long? The children singing and
How long? The bells are ringing, the bells are ringing the changes
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2. |
Man in Black
03:16
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I met a man in black upon the road, the road
With bluest eyes above his raven coat, his coat
His store of tales I bade him share with me, with me
In a tavern on the road before the sea
How shall I tell what I've seen, what I've seen?
How shall I tell what I've seen?
I saw the King of Darkness take a bride, a bride
While all the fallow fields around him died, they died
She kissed him in the shadow wood and weeds, the weeds
With lips that taste of pomegranate seeds
Some mad echoes of the rushing wind, the wind
Bring her mother to the river's end, its end
Where once were fields and everything that grows, that grows
The naked earth weeps crystals as she goes
How shall I tell what I've seen?
I saw her weave the garments of the world, the world
A mantle of the fields, the green unfurled, unfurled
With gentle hands she weaves the fire he brings, he brings
A courtesan, anointer of the king
With silken bonds she holds the king enthralled, enthralled
A thousand tales she weaves him after all, after all
Gold her shears, high the mighty throne, the throne
Ere his palace tumbles to the stones
How shall I tell what I've seen?
A thousand weary travellers have I seen, have I seen,
In this brave world and all of those between, between
To each of them I stop and raise a glass, a glass
And toast their absent fire as they pass
And I raise a glass here, sister of the wise, the wise
To the spark of moonlight twinkling in your eyes, your eyes
That when I go you'll tell a tale of me, of me
With lips that taste of pomegranate seeds
Lips that taste of pomegranate seeds
How shall I tell what I've seen?
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3. |
When I Go
03:04
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Come, lonely hunter, chieftain and king
I will fly like the falcon when I go
Bear me my brother under your wing
I will strike fell like lightning when I go
I will bellow like the thunder drum, invoke the storm of war
A twisting pillar spun of dust and blood up from the prairie floor
I will sweep the foe before me like a gale out on the snow
And the wind will long recount the story, reverence and glory, when I go
Spring, spirit dancer, nimble and thin
I will leap like coyote when I go
Tireless entrancer, lend me your skin
I will run like the gray wolf when I go
I will climb the rise at daybreak, I will kiss the sky at noon
Raise my yearning voice at midnight to my mother in the moon
I will make the lay of long defeat and draw the chorus slow
I'll send this message down the wire and hope that someone wise is listening when I go
And when the sun comes trumpets from his red house in the east
He will find a standing stone where long I chanted my release
He will send his morning messenger to strike the hammer blow
And I will crumble down uncountable in showers of crimson rubies when I go
Sigh, mournful sister, whisper and turn
I will rattle like dry leaves when I go
Stand in the mist where my fire used to burn
I will camp on the night breeze when I go
And should you glimpse my wandering form out on the borderline
Between death and resurrection and the council of the pines
Do not worry for my comfort, do not sorrow for me so
All your diamond tears will rise up and adorn the sky beside me when I go
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4. |
Wake the Dragon
03:03
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Hydrev llyn lwyrchy
Arian tanodd golauÕr lleuad
Canu er mawl y fam
Dawnsio, defro y ddraig
Barddoni, er transffurfio hun y beroriaeth
Dawnsio, defro y draig
Dawnsio, defro y draig cysgu
Ofn dyfod cariad y gallu
Hydrev llyn lwyrchy
Arian tanodd golauÕr lleuad
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5. |
Past Goes On
04:21
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You cry a little, but not much more
How can we go on when loved ones go?
So you cry a little and what does it show?
You can’t pay the price of the earth in salt water
And the world goes on, are you alone?
The world goes on, is it your home?
The goes on, how can you stay?
The world goes on, the price can’t be paid.
So cry a little and hide your eyes
we live in the shadow of history, we live in the wake wake of those lives
So cry a little, then wash your eyes
what can we do, except survive
And their word goes on, remember he said
Their word goes on, it beats in your head
Their word goes on, their thoughts and their will
Their words go on, and counsel you still
And their word goes on, what do you believe?
Their word goes on, and why do you grieve?
Their word goes on, the truth and the lies
The word goes on, and you have hos eyes.
The flowers bloom thick from the depth of the grave
You know this too gave you life
The flowers bloom thick from the depth of the grave
You know this tomb, it gave you life
They live on through us, forgotten waves
every word ever spoken, every prejudice of every age.
They walk among us, these giants of old
We live in their shadow
We stant of the shoulders of ghosts
And their work goes on, what can it mean?
Their work goes on, you let the pain be.
Their work goes on, and what does it show?
Their work goes on, if death is no more.
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6. |
Comfortably Numb
04:33
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Hello? Hello? Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home?
Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again
Relax
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb
Okay
Just a little pinprick
There'll be no more, ah
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb
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Alembic Somerville, Massachusetts
Alembic is mystic-folk and medieval sounds for the modern city. Myra Hope Eskridge and Johanna Bobrow combine harp, violin, and voice to weave songs dark and light, both old and new.
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