We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Fear Not

by Cameron Blake

supported by
Nick Green
Nick Green thumbnail
Nick Green Always poetic and light of touch- thanks Cameron for sending me the cd Favorite track: Sandtown.
dhulst
dhulst thumbnail
jkcollier
jkcollier thumbnail
pakontras
pakontras thumbnail
tonh
tonh thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $12 USD  or more

     

1.
Fear Not 04:22
lyrics
buy track
Oh the stars they look like pinholes in the sky Threading light into the black veil of the night Where Orion kneels on bended knee and the Magi feel eternity When the withered hand and the clenching teeth are opened We are broken for the need of light to shine We are broken for that sacred gift inside We are broken for the honeymoon Broken for the inner room We are broken for that open wound to bind Fear not Fear not Fear not For I am with thee Fear not Fear not Fear not For I am with thee and you are mine Did you see me when I hid behind my shame? Did you see me when the garden was inflamed? Did you see me slipping through your hands? Did you see me leave the promise land? Did you see me when it got carried away? You were brave today to walk out in your skin You were brave today to find the strength within You were brave to do the askin’ You were brave to turn your mask in You were brave to stay and take it on the chin It is not without some pain that we are born It is not without some cracks that we are torn It is not without some feeling It is not without some healing It is not without some beauty we’re adored Fear not (you are opened for the need of light to shine) Fear not Fear not (you are opened for the sacred gift inside) For I am with thee Fear not (you are opened for the honeymoon) Fear not (opened for the inner room) Fear not (you are opened for that open wound to bind) For I am with thee and you are mine
2.
After Sally 03:50
lyrics
buy track
The fog has lifted and the sky is blue The river’s swollen The almanac’s confused Will the flowers be dressed in their Easter time best for you? Spring is late but our love is strong Old lazy river moves the ice along It’s too real to accept when no words can express What we’ve gone through Big black sky is filling up with stars A chimney’s puffing like a cold cigar We hung together under the pressure And someone told me that’s the hardest part We took the road with all the bends We buckle down until the highway ends We took the road with all the bends And something’s gotta give Something’s gotta give Something’s gotta give me wings The river’s itchin’ from the fall of man Kitchen tap is runnin’ black again A garage radio blares It’s been blowing hot air in my ears My soul is restless I’m lookin’ old and grey Blue blood midwestern, I was born and raised There are things that just take time And there are other things we just don’t say Sometimes I wake up and I’m gripped with fear Did I pay the bills? Did I leave the ashtray filled? My mind’s a warehouse of worry when my heart’s in disrepair This Sunday morning I felt the body and blood Heard the children singing, “Gloria” I’d just been thinking ‘bout how Sally Would have held her head and sung along The healing begins its slow methodical work Crawling under my skin like a fisherman’s hook Oh Lord, I’ve been lookin’ down the barrel At a chamber of the human heart We took the road with all the bends We buckle down until the highway ends We took the road with all the bends And something’s gotta give Something’s gotta give Something’s gotta give me wings to fly
3.
The Only Diamond 03:45
lyrics
buy track
I swam the oceans of her eyes And ran her rivers through my hands I don’t deny my sin There are things about a man That you will never understand Buried deep within The night was never made to be a hideaway for pain It’s just a thinner skin I can barely see the arrows on the weather vane Pirouetting in the wind Hopped a train on its way to Panama City Hopped a train on its way through the border line Hopped a train on its way with that love of mine The only diamond I could find The sugar of the valley’s under hammer and steel Down in the hearts of men With families that are livin’ for their next meal This day our daily bread Via Dolorosa on the outpost sign Out on the mountain’s edge Forty years of clocking in and clocking out on time Lie sleeping on this bed Hopped a train on its way to Panama City Hopped a train on its way through the border line Hopped a train on its way with that love of mine The only diamond I could find I surrender to the voices that I can’t turn off A distant oil pump, a bucket wheel, an engine cough With solemn face they wait impatient for the Eucharist Cross themselves, say, “Let’s get on with it!” Then nail their hammers to the wall Hopped a train on its way to Panama City Hopped a train on its way through the great divide Hopped a train on its way with that love of mine The only diamond I could find
4.
Fool's Gold 02:56
lyrics
buy track
We flew a kite. We watched it soar It dug our heels into the floor I knew the moon would wane when you filled my heart again I’ve always loved how dark you are We took our time to say “adieu” Was it a crime or punishment for you? But mining fool’s gold is still an art You know I’ve always loved how dark you are Send a little light for the nightingale Grace notes swingin’ ‘til they find a place to land We closed the show. In the final act You dug those poles into the monster’s back You say, “It’s life or death for the matador” And yet I’ve always loved how dark you are Yes, I’ve always loved how dark you are We were a pair that had to fold I was a fool to fall for fool’s gold
5.
Queen Bee 03:01
lyrics
buy track
I was a stranger in a stranger’s land In no position to leave I was a stranger in a stranger’s land And then the queen bee sent a message to me She said, “I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up as far as eyes can see Yes, I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up if you start workin’ for me” I have been makin’ takin’ honey to her I have been workin’ for free I’ve been a makin’ takin’ honey to her And then the queen bee sent a message to me She said, “I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up as far as eyes can see Yes, I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up if you’ll do favors for me” You see that Maggie Magpie hangin’ around You see her scratchin’ our tree You see that Maggie Magpie hangin’ around Well, will you send her to the gates of St. Pete? She said, “I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up as far as eyes can see Yeah, I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up if you’ll be loyal to me” Oh I’m climbing, climbing up the ladder And the bottom is a long way down I’ve never met her but I’ve seen her stripes From Colonel to Commander in Chief I’ve never met her but I hope she’s nice Because I heard that she’s a killer bee She said, “I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up as far as eyes can see Yeah, I’ll move you up my darlin’ I’ll move you up to lead the colony” Oh, I’m climbing, climbing up the ladder And the bottom is a long way down The bottom is a long way down The queen will see you now!
6.
Tiananmen Square 05:23
lyrics
buy track
A little Asian flare on your tea set there Placemat made of bamboo Sake cups hang from elephant tusks And a helmet from World War II He never came home last Monday His dinner’s still sittin’ there She shuts the blinds when the sun don’t shine And she carries his things upstairs He held her close that morning Never one for goodbyes At the grocery he asked if they could fill up his flask With the strongest stuff money could buy Then he swallowed an army And the whole world was there Yes, he swallowed that army After he held them in the palm of his hand in Tiananmen Square Is there anyone who will take up his calling? Split the good fortune in two? You see China has changed since they opened exchange And the stock market went through the roof They tore off his mask like a camera lens cap And marched him into the room Heard he stood tall before the firing squad Heard he cried out to the Mandarin moon Then he swallowed an army And the whole world was there Yes, he swallowed that army After he held them in the palm of his hand in Tiananmen Square I knew you I knew you I knew you then When you swallowed that army And the whole world was there Yes, you swallowed that army When you held them in the palm of your hand The mind is soft. The mind is weak The untrained mind’s such a frightful thing It could fall asleep with the enemy Was I born for this? 1989 in the prime of spring We were flyin’ high on Democracy Then those hounds came blazin’ down the Beijing streets Was I born for this? I was born for this Was I born for this? I was born to swallow an army Now the whole world is here Yes, I’ll swallow this army After I hold them in the palm in my hand in Tiananmen Square
7.
Old Red Barn 03:38
lyrics
buy track
Old red barn Outside my window Bearded buffalo in the stockyard Stretched out on the green Where a flag is in rags humbly hung for some dark hour The neighbor’s baby’s crying louder And my nerves are snapping like a twig We’ve never lived outside these ten square miles Never seen the Golden Gate or the Eiffel of Paris We’d joke that farm girls never go out of style Say, “I heard that’s in the Bible from that preacher on TV” The stillness wilts The mayflies flee There’s a grandfather face in the trunk of the tree "Pick the rows before you pickle the beans" I’m hounded by these memories Of an old red barn in Henderson county Where the Derby horses grow their manes And dream about the sea. Social worker split us up because my mother is a fish My father’s just been driftin’ in her wild, rocky stream I had no choice but to turn to religion Or at least go out fishin’ for the truth to set me free Water bug on stilts skatin’ by my feet Crayfish breakin’ in the hatchery Knew that woman was wasted when she stood up to leave She took her sunhat off and blew a kiss to me In this old red barn in Henderson County Where the Derby horses grow their manes And dream about the sea
8.
Moonlight On A String 02:54
lyrics
buy track
Full moon scares away the shadows My dull flashlight on a string I recall firefly light in mason jars The night I held you in my arms I fell in love with you Still shy of thirty I held my heart out like a king Please stay awhile with me While we are walking Behind this moonlight on a string Please stay awhile with me While we are walking Behind this moonlight on a string Our little moonlight on a string
9.
Wailing Wall 04:56
lyrics
buy track
The breakroom’s finally empty Put your feet up and get some rest Let your hair down slow and gently Feel it fall upon your chest For you’ve tried on every uniform For the one that fits the best And you don’t recognize yourself at all You don’t know how to cry yourself to sleep my love You don’t know how to stand when you are weak And you can’t pretend the loneliness is gone So you take a seat beneath your wailing wall Everybody seems so happy And I hope that it is true ‘Cause when the world starts lookin’ ugly I’ll need a different point of view My daughter’s on my shoulders I’ve got so much more to lose So I keep workin’ hard so I don’t drop the ball I don’t know how to cry myself to sleep my love I don’t know how to stand when I am weak And I take no comfort in this place at all So I take a seat beneath my wailing wall Wailing wall Wailing wall Where God and man can speak about the weight of it all Brick by brick and stone by stone You build your private altars When you can’t seem to make it on your own I don’t know how to call another’s bluff my love I don’t know how to play when it gets rough And I can’t pretend the loneliness is gone So I take a seat beneath my wailing wall Wailing wall Wailing wall Where God and man can speak about the weight of it all Brick by brick and stone by stone You build your private altars When you can’t seem to make it on your own
10.
Philip Seymour Hoffman 02:06
lyrics
buy track
I was a young man once Stronger than my enemies I was handsome I was reckless I was made to live alone Sent off to boarding school Fought my dependencies My Socialist mother still calls me from a pay phone Knew the liturgy Like an English nursery rhyme Everything seems innocent until a thumb is stuck into the pie And with these feelings I’m not sure I’m even making sense Or if I even knew you at all Tired of pretty faces I’m tired of these kinds of places I’m tired of silver lining each degree of separation I take my kids to school, pick up the living room Walking down Fifth Avenue I swore I heard the voice of God
11.
Sandtown 05:26
lyrics
buy track
I saw the cameras. I saw the handcuffs. I saw the crime tape. I saw the newsbreak. I saw the fire. I saw the tear gas. I saw the tires. I saw the projects. I saw the manhunt. I saw the bloodhound. I saw the standoff. I saw the bleed out. I saw the papers. I saw the headlines. When I saw that picture I saw myself. These days are strangers I have never seen stranger days I saw the crack pipe. I saw the white flight. I saw the blind eye. I saw the cheap high. I saw the glass break. I saw the heartache. I saw the jailbait. I saw the heat wave. I saw the dealers. I saw the corner. I saw Miranda. I saw her torn up. I saw the mug shot. I saw the cell lock. When I saw that young cop I saw myself. These days are strangers I have never seen stranger days They pull the curtains down Pull the curtains down They pull the curtains down in Sandtown When the police are hangin’ round Police are hangin’ round The police are always hangin’ round in Sandtown Now, they’re boardin’ up the house Boardin’ up the house Boardin’ up our Sandtown And we ain’t never gettin’ out Ain’t never getting’ out We ain’t never getting out of Sandtown We ain’t never getting out of Sandtown These days are strangers I have never seen stranger days I saw tha’ Jim Crow. I saw the blackface. I saw the crossbones. I saw the KKK. I saw the mountain. I saw the caged bird. When I see my neighbor I see myself
12.
Monterey Bay 04:35
lyrics
buy track
Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy name The lily robes itself with splendor The candlewick martyrs itself to the flame Will my quiet prayers be loud enough to hear? Will that brass fanfare fall on deafened ears? There must be something in the air Tilt-a-whirl’s at the county fair Or the moon is slipping into Monterey Bay Two strangers Taking cover Next to each other on the train Had their tickets kept them together They’d be lovers had Cupid narrowed his aim Wish that satellite was a lazy shootin’ star Wish old Lyra played a Delta blues guitar There must be something in the air Call me sentimental I don’t care The moon is slipping into Monterey Bay Night terrors it’s a feeling Like you’re needing a little rain We are dancing the tarantella With a gypsy tambourine Go to sleep Go to sleep Will you hold me close until I fall asleep? Will you wipe the tears that fall down on my cheek? There must be something in the air A heartache stirring under there Or the moon is slipping into Monterey Bay

credits

released November 17, 2017

Music and lyrics by Cameron Blake (BMI)
Produced by Josh Kaufman, Peter Fox and Cameron Blake
Engineered by Josh Kaufman and Peter Fox
Mixed by Peter Fox and Josh Kaufman
Recorded at Stone House Recording, Grand Rapids, MI
String recording at Hope College, Holland, MI with the kind assistance of Drew Elliot
Mastered by Bill Wolf at Bill Wolf Productions, Inc., Arlington, VA
Album Design by Sean Zuidgeest
Album cover painting by Michael Schaeffer
Album photography by Eric Bouwens

Rockford High School Chamber Singers: Mandy Scott (Dir.), Sarah Brzyski (Dir.), Maddy Bursley, Avery DiCocco, Kiana Dufendach, Lauren Hyink, Ryan Jamgotch, Noah Parker, Anna Kurtz, Samantha Lund, Olivia Marvin, Gretchen Parker, Haley Riccobono, Gabby Rauch, Madiey Twyman, Trevor Williams

Debra Perry and Majestic Praise: Debra Perry (Dir.), Carolyn Allen, Vanessa Allen, Avalon Cutts Jones, Robert Kelly, Marie Matthews.

license

all rights reserved

tags

If you like Cameron Blake, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now