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Censor the Silence

by Cameron Blake

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1.
Henny Penny 04:02
Hear a word from the black earth There are bones in the river They are floatin’ down the river Chokin’ up the water to the well Hear a word from the black earth There are flies in the vineyard Keep your eyes on the vineyard Something’s dyin’ in the vineyard I can smell it They’re plowin’ the Potter’s field Turnin’ over every stone They’re plowin’ the potter’s field Angel’s blowin’ on a gold trombone Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ down Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ And time is runnin’ out Hear a word from the black earth There are moths in the cotton The apple’s gone rotten And the birds are flurrying away Hear a word from the black earth Lucifer is laughin’ Paparazzi photographing Yeah, it’s the dawn of the Judgement Day! Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ down Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ And time is runnin’ out They’re makin’ hot toddies in the boilin’ sea Where ya gonna run to get away from me? Hot yellow ball risin’ up in the East Where ya gonna run to get away from me? They’re mixin’ bloody Marys in the crimson tide Where ya gonna run? Where ya gonna hide? Don’t look at it too long or it will burn out your eyes Where ya gonna run? Where ya gonna hide? Primitive thoughts Primitive man Do we have to go through this all over again? Primitive plow Primitive wheel Yeah, they’re diggin’ up the trouble in the Potter’s field Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ down Oh brother (Oh brother) Oh sister (Oh sister) Take cover ‘Cause the sky is fallin’ And time is runnin’ out Primitive thoughts Primitive man Do we have to go through this all over again? Primitive plow Primitive wheel Yeah, they’re diggin’ up the trouble in the Potter’s field They’re makin’ hot toddies in the boilin’ sea Where ya gonna run to get away from me? Primitive thoughts Primitive man Do we have to go through this all over again? Primitive plow Primitive wheel Yeah, they’re diggin’ up the trouble in the Potter’s field
2.
How Dare You 04:29
Voices of the future Voiceless counter-revolution's Pushing me to the end of my brain Yeah, by the skin of my teeth, I made it back in one piece At the end of each end was a new beginning Hearing voices of tomorrow Voices drowning in their sorrows Worried I’m goin’ out of my head There are places and faces that I just can’t erase Like there are daggers crawling under my skin Voices of the shadows Voiceless prison, voiceless battle Yeah, tha’ lady she’s a good hot mess! There’s a touchscreen between everybody it seems Yet we just can’t seem to connect How dare you! How dare you! Does it hurt? Does it thrill? Does it scare you? You see I shouldn’t be here No, I shouldn’t be here I shouldn’t be here but I am And that’s your failure How dare you! Voices quick and cunning’ Voiceless blood is running money Say the word and my soul shall be healed Yeah, I’ve got no reserve ‘Cause I know it will hurt Holding on, holding out for a cure Voices undercover Voiceless children, voiceless lovers Yeah you seared me with that look in your eyes It’s all just a game that I don’t wanna play It’s all a foolish sorry waste of my time Teacher, tell us what you saw Teacher, tell us what you saw When you were climbing up the walls Lookin’ in Pandora’s Box When you were shaking your fists at the gods The wind played the flute but no one was dancing The waves sang lament songs but no one was cryin’ Tied to the riddle Tied to the tragic All these questions without answers miss the beauty, miss the magic The same unanswered question for year after year after year after year after year How dare you! How dare you! Does it hurt? Does it thrill? Does it scare you? You see I shouldn’t be here No, I shouldn’t be here I shouldn’t be here but I am And that’s your failure How dare you!
3.
Only Goya 06:01
I am Goya I am an archetype of style From hand to brush From brush to figures, dark and wild It’s a crooked world! It’s all but been defiled I could never love nobody else I walk this tightrope Between heaven, between hell “Get me a scapegoat!” Saturn looks surprised as well It’s sacrifice and it’s where I draw the line I could never love nobody else No, I could never love nobody else I hold my own Don’t let it show Oh, I wipe the floor With Noah’s great rainbow It’s my philosophy Down to her jewelry Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me I walk this road With hair and bone Oh, I bend so low It was so long ago! It’s my philosophy It felt so new to me Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me I caught two madmen, fighting naked in the yard All bathed in olive glow, mason blocks and iron bars My scoliosis is like a heavy, Spanish arch I could never love nobody else No, I could never love nobody else I hold my own Don’t let it show Oh, I wipe the floor With Noah’s great rainbow It’s my philosophy Down to her jewelry Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me I walk this road With hair and bone Oh, I bend so low It was so long ago! It’s my philosophy It felt so new to me Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me My subject points to the ground Where it bears my name I see what this is all about And my hands will bear no shame Give the illusion you’re too busy Give the illusion you’re too busy It’s an illusion, it’s delusion, this confusion Babe, you know I’ve got the keys to this whole city Yes, I am Goya I am an archetype of style From hand to brush From brush to figures, dark and wild It’s a fickle world! Yeah, the one that I designed I could never love nobody else No, I could never love nobody else I hold my own Don’t let it show Oh, I wipe the floor With Noah’s great rainbow It’s my philosophy Down to her jewelry Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me I walk this road With hair and bone Oh, I bend so low It was so long ago! It’s my philosophy It felt so new to me Don’t make a fool of me Don’t make a fool of me Only Goya Only Goya Only Goya Only Goya
4.
Have you met my shining black-haired girl? Her name’s Aleppo A Dahlia hiding in her curls My shining black-haired girl Aleppo Have you met my dreaming black-eyed boy? His name’s Aleppo A body washed up on the shore My dreaming black eyed boy Aleppo It’s anaesthetizing! A proxy war A Trojan horse Now I don’t hear you anymore (Repeat) Down here in the rubble Black hair in the rubble Black eyes in the rubble My chemical war child New moon is lying low and black over Aleppo No shadows crawling from their backs No light in Aleppo It’s anaesthetizing! A proxy war A Trojan horse Now I don’t hear you anymore (Repeat) Down here in the rubble Black hair in the rubble Black eyes in the rubble My chemical war child (Repeat) It’s the hour when it goes to black over Aleppo
5.
You pulled me through my darkest hour I came to you lost and afraid Now I can see the thunderin’ showers Were just a pale cloud covering tha’ jealous old flame Skin and bones Soulless and searchless I crawled my way home To your sweet embrace Now I feel alone in these socialite circles They’re just a pale cloud covering tha’ jealous old flame You pulled me through my darkest hour I came to you lost and afraid Now I can see the thunderin’ showers Were just a pale cloud covering tha’ jealous old flame I can’t see you but I know that you’re there I can’t feel you pull on my line I can’t hold you, you slip through my hands ‘Til the pale cloud covering burns away from eyes And I grow stronger I grow stronger I grow stronger When tha’ pale cloud covering burns away from eyes You pulled me through my darkest hour (I grow stronger) I came to you lost and afraid (I grow stronger) Now I can see the thunderin’ showers (I grow stronger) Were just a pale cloud covering tha’ jealous old flame I can’t see you but I know that you’re there I can’t feel you pull on my line I can’t hold you, you slip through my hands ‘Til the pale cloud covering burns away from eyes
6.
Who’s holding it together? The rip tide and the tidal wave? Summer blooms and winter withers Spring plays its’ juvenile game I’ll be lovin’ you forever But there are things I still can’t say If your heart’s just over weathered Honey, step out of the rain There’s a hush over the meadow Before the thunder starts to roll Is my spirit on a tether? Cause my soul don’t wanna go Lover come and hold a mirror Show me the secrets of your light You’re the one who is the fairest Cast your spell on me tonight I’ve known these cold seasons of regret I’ve felt alone with a head upon my chest Already know who’s to blame Honey step out of the rain I’ve known these cold seasons of neglect I’ve felt alone with a head upon my chest I’d like to hold your pain Honey, could you step out of the rain
7.
I remember who you are From standing in the dance hall light I’ve remembered you for 30 years God, it’s been 30 years or better since we met that night We were just boys not men then I remember when you still believed That friends make better enemies Then you clicked your heels Turned and walked away from me Meet Jane, she’s the girl I was talkin’ about She’s vain and young enough To cover up your birthday like a powder puff You’ve changed but the years remain Are you still living on your parent’s dime? Ah, you’re chained to the naked eye Off the record after closing time I remember who you are From standing in the dance hall light I’ve remembered you for 30 years God, it’s been 30 years or better since we met that night We were just boys not men then I remember when you still believed That friends make better enemies Then you clicked your heels And disappeared right next me Now you’re standing in front of the country On a podium you didn’t build Swinging your charm in the spotlight Wearing shoes you can’t possibly fill And the wheels of the culture are burning The wheels of the culture are burning The wheels of the culture are burning, burning From the fire raging up on the hill They’ve perfected man out in California Because everyone looks like James Dean But I’m out here reading Charles Bukowski And thinking about democracy When Hollywood secedes from the union And commissions a king and her queen And the pawns and the bishops Read the Bible like textbooks To try and figure out what it all means And Ferdinand’s still smelling roses As the matador’s down on his knees Begging for peace in the valley From the stingers and roar of the bees Now you’re standing in front of the country In a theatre that you didn’t fill Watching your bodyguards searching All the purses and book bags and belts And the wheels of the culture are burning The wheels of the culture are burning The wheels of the culture are burning, burning From the fire raging up on the hill
8.
Balloon Man 04:34
Edward Estlin Cummings hieroglyphics down the steps (bee in the only rose) vertical typeface, lowercase alphabet A child’s balloon, let go too soon The parting flesh, the big love crumbs The shocking fuzz all seem so new Sunday morning stroll through Little Italy Clanging dishes, hanging twine tied stems of rosemary Then I saw you I met eyes with you The jetted music splashing water fresh My eyes began to fill With love or was it sorrow? My body and your body Come and hold me again Oh, this cup of sugar borrowed To come undressed Then to give it back It’s an all too cruel familiar friend Joni, sex don’t kill, it’s masculinity A toxic oil spill, the gulf between the pocket and the sheets Have we all been had? An ass up for grabs by salesman, pimps, consumerists “Give me what I want, when I want it man!” Roses red and raw, learn to love and laugh again Frida draws a scull then goes inside to light a cigarette If you don’t make room for me Then I won’t make room for me The cross is always avant-garde At least that’s what the vicar says With love or was it sorrow? My body and your body Come and hold me again Oh, this cup of sugar borrowed To come undressed Then to give it back It’s an all too cruel familiar friend Look up in the air! See it flyin’ way up there! It defies the law of nature, it’s too much for me to bear Now the summer’s gone and the autumn’s on and whatever private oceans we’ve unlocked I still hold in my memory With love or was it sorrow? My body and your body Come and hold me again Oh, this cup of sugar borrowed To come undressed Then to give it back It’s an all too cruel familiar friend
9.
Candle vigil in the schoolyard Hundreds gather in their grief It wasn’t like this yesterday When terror filled the street Flowers laid along the Boulevard Wilting in the Florida heat She shaves her head like Joan of Arc She breaks before she speaks Showin’ up with nothin’ to show Showin’ up all shot full of holes Showin’ up has taken its toll But hope just won’t let go “Make a gesture try to soothe yourself Express the tension and release” She puts her fingers deep inside her mouth And she bites down with her teeth Eggshells crushed into the frying pan She’s all but lost her appetite When you’re living on adrenaline Dark circles form around your eyes Six-minute twenty-second mile run Around the school track today That’s how long it took a lone gunman To take my childhood away Showin’ up with nothin’ to show Showin’ up all shot full of holes Showin’ up has taken its toll But hope just won’t let go Will the birds start singin’? Will the bells start ringin’? Will the morning start bringin’ good news? Good news! We love, we laugh, we bruise It’s all that we can do How long until the sun breaks through? How long? How long?
10.
Gillian 03:27
Little monkey on a string Will they always wanna know? Do you dance and do you swing? Do you thrill the crowd below? Where to? Where to? Where to my love? Little parrot on a perch Are they always gonna ask? Do you swear and do you curse? Do you want a Cracker Jack? Where to? Where to? Where to my love? Gillian, if you’re listenin’ Let your hair go gray Oh, Gillian, Gillian You’re as natural as the prairie rain Gillian, Gillian What can I say? I worry I’m becoming obsolete Every time I look away You got me singin’ before I hummed Spoke to my heart in its’ native tongue Thunder rollin’ like a kettle drum Will you teach me all about your love? Will you teach me all about you love? Gillian, if you’re listenin’ Let your hair go gray Oh, Gillian, Gillian You’re as natural as the falling rain Gillian, Gillian What can I say? I worry I’m becoming obsolete Could you stop the world from spinnin’ for a day?

about

Composed in the 'silence' at The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (April 8-12, 2019)

credits

released October 30, 2020

Music and lyrics by Cameron Blake (BMI)
Produced by Cameron Blake

Cameron Blake: vocals, piano (track 5 & 9)
Andrew Saliba: electric & acoustic guitar
Martin Spence: piano, hammond b3 & rhodes
Ian Thompson: electric & upright bass
Andrew Szumowski: drums & percussion
Debra Perry & Majestic Praise: vocals (track 1 & 5)
Patty PerShayla: vocals (track 2)
Jen Fortosis: vocals (track 8 & 2)

Engineered by Ian Gorman (La Luna Recording and Sound) & Drew Elliot (Hope College)
Mixed by Drew Elliot (Hope College)
Mastered by Josh Kaufman (Local Legend Recording, Grand Rapids, MI)
Album Design by Loren Johnson
Album photography by Eric Bouwens

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