1. |
To Be Content
04:21
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safe under clear skies
calm cool and compromised
no lows, no highs, barely alive
yet in my hands
I’ve more than any man
do I not satisfy or understand
as I walk the line that lies between
reality and childhood dreams
balance what I want and what I need
with what you want and what you mean to me
should it fall in place, would you be content
should it fall apart, could you forget
should it rise above what you expect
would you be content, should you be content, could you be content
I was taught that faith could move a mountain
I have learned that work keeps faith alive
I believe that prayers are answered
in His all-seeing wisdom after
the most important lessons have been learned
to find that focus
to balance love and life
to see this world and the other side
to find perspective
to drown all fear with faith
to bridle passion and your dreams embrace
to see the line that lies between temptation and opportunity
am I reaching for divisive dreams, am I selling out or settling for peace
should it fall in place, would you be content
should it fall apart, could you forget
is it wrong to want when I’ve been so blessed...
should the dreams erase, would I be content
should I stop the chase would there be rest
should I lose it all, but save my faith
give praise and always and never be content
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2. |
Truth
07:25
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she took one look, saw what she wanted to see
turned around and walked away
she said "I need no bleeding heart explaination
there's no other side to see
she said "offense was intended and I swallowed every bite
no sense in defending yourself, don't insult my pride"
she threw thirty-two years away in one day
for what she thought she heard somebody say
but there's the way I see it and the way you see it
there is evidence and there is proof
there's how we perceive it and what we believe
there are cynics and assumptions
he came, campaigned took us all by storm
promised us the world and more
he wined, dined and redefined our language and our law
half the world praised him, half abhorred
he said "I did what I had to, and I can't please every one
and what I do on my own time doesn't trump the good I've done"
so will our kids see history as a game of kings and pawns
between right and left, or right and wrong?
'cause there's the way I see it and the way you see it
there is evidence and there is proof
there's how we perceive it and what we believe
there's the latest spin and there is truth
drowning in the information age, doubting all we've known
enslaving ourselves in freedom's name, so we don't offend someone
pouring over creeds and theories and consensus
generations of mysteries and reflections
yesterday's hard evidence becomes ancient history before our eyes
watching wars and all their rumors
nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom
pestilence and famine, many signs and wonders
it all becomes so clear, there is truth
do we take one look, see what we want to see
turn around and walk away
truth will stand still, truth will set us free
truth has been and always will be
still, there's the way I see it and the way you see it
there is evidence and there is proof
there's how we perceive it and what we believe
there are philosophies and lies, but there is truth
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3. |
Decisions
07:14
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We arrive under strange conditions, unique positions, something not quite right
Open eyes see the world around us, that time has found us under different shades of light
We survive under dark oppression and great depression, wealth beyond our dreams
We surmise all our circumstances, we take our chances and live beyond our means
Moving through the space that we've been given
by foot or engine, in feast or famine
Reaching for a place beyond our vision as so many different shades of light surround you
It comes around to, it all comes down to
Decisions decisions when made with precision design our envisioned lives
Decisions decisions leave lasting incisions, create new divisions inside
Playing with the hand that we've been given
in love or contention, abused or abandoned
Dealing with events beyond our control,
as the joy and tragedy of life surrounds you
It comes around to, it all comes down to
We survive under all conditions and bad decisions wherever we may roam
But open eyes see there's one who'll guide us,
if we'll confide decisions won't be made alone
Decisions decisions our greatest of freedoms, our heaviest burdens sometimes
Decisions decisions our only possessions when we've reached the end of our lives
Decisions decisions will raise or condemn us,
find repentance, grace and forgiveness, find faith and wisdom in time
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4. |
Autumn
06:01
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the breeze of a winter's day cuts the warmth surrounding me
the trees once colored all the same take their own identity
as a few things lose all hope, and fall away
and a few things find new hope, and fly away
and the lost will drag some down, as some are pulled to higher ground
nothing stays the same, no more lazy summer days
and they change with the autumn
and they change with the autumn
the wheels of new humanity program files to manage me
at the heels of high society in my all too average standing...I watch
as some people lose all hope and fall away
and some people find new hope, and fly away
and the lost will drag some down as some are pulled to higher ground
but nothing stays the same, no more lazy summer days
and they change like the autumn,
and they change like the autumn
the leaves whither and blow away, just like so many times before
the breeze of a winter's day, chills this tired earth once more
and she watches her last days come to a close
as she passes through an autumn of her own
and the lost will find a home, the true will take their promised throne
nothing stays the same, no more lazy summer days...in the autumn
and they change like the autumn...and they change......
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5. |
Let's Live
07:38
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breathe in and release
open wide, take some peace
there's plenty here despite what you see, no deeper than reality
our eyes can make it hard to see
breathe in, blow it out
begin again, turn around
you've overcome the storms of your past
the summer has arrived at last
put down your sword and see how fast this world comes alive
and we've fought this good fight
for so long day after day
givin all we've got to give
and I know it's all right
fear will not keep me captive,
I don't know the score but I know who wins
so let's love, let's breathe, let's live
barely survived the winter, clinging to summer dreams
of something better, something you'd felt but never seen
in the meantime, the spring and flowers bloomed
outside your fortress, and that's when i met you
mounting your defenses, waiting on perfection
but it ain't gonna be, this life ain't gonna be
but if you come outside, maybe you will find
baby you will see, it don't have to be
perfect to be beautiful
take a look around, listen to the sounds
tear your fortress down
you can still believe, bet you still can dream,
bet you learn to see things you've never seen
i bet you can breathe
better outside, in the sunshine
better untied
better in the light of day
i understand there must be opposition in all things
we must taste the bitter to comprehend the sweet
but I've feasted on oppression, swallowed my aggression
made my healthy share of mistakes, lived to tell the tale
got no plans to quit the race, drivin with a smile on my face
time to pull the top down, let the sun inside
let's enjoy the ride
so breathe in, and release
let it rise, let it sink
to the bottom of your very soul
He loves you more than you'll ever know
He paid an unbelievable toll - that we could
begin again, turn around....
you've overcome the storms of your past
the summer has arrived at last
put down your sword and see how fast this world comes alive
and we've fought this good fight
for so long day after day
givin all we've got to give
and I know it's all right
fear will not keep me captive
I don't know the score but I know who wins
so let's love, let's breathe, let's
fight this good fight
for so long day after day
givin all we've got to give
and I know it's all right
there's one thing i know for sure
life is not just to be endured
there's a time for everything under the sun
and our time has come
so let's love, let's breathe, let's live
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6. |
How Can We Know
04:12
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Knowing his time soon would end they gathered round their Lord and friend - He said
"Let not your heart be troubled - ye believe in God, believe in me
I go now to prepare a place, and where I go ye know the way"- but still one would say
"How can we know the way we should go..." He said
"I am the way, the truth, the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.
Have ye not seen The Father's works and words in me?
Now go, I beg of you, and do as ye have seen Me do-
for the world will not see me, but I'll manifest myself to thee" -and still one would say
"how can we know- and how wilt Thou show thyself?"
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you." (John14:26)
At the day of Pentecost,were they not pricked in their hearts
with love, joy, gentleness, patience, faith and temperance
did Paul not understand, how God reveals himself to man
that no man calls Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost
that was all so long ago,
some say now the heavens have closed
but nowhere do I read of an end of revelation from our friend and Lord
only promises of comfort, wisdom, peace and answers
and still so many say -
"how can we know? And not be tossed to and fro..
by every wind of doctrine, the cunning craftiness of man
false prophets selling salvation, wolves dressed as lambs.."
deeper than the eyes and ears, His Spirit penetrates
and what He whispers to our hearts, no man can take away
and I know we can know the way we should go
for His Spirit brings the truth of all things
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7. |
Prelude I
04:04
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Instrumental
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8. |
A Still Small Voice
06:07
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there once was a man from a covenant land in the east
he was sent to confront a great kingdom, corrupt and diseased
he sealed the rain in the heavens, called fire to the earth
he brought back the dead by his prophetic word
and though chased like a thief, his heart still grieved
for the souls who sought his life
as he slipped away, to a cave to pray
and there was a strong wind, but the Lord was not in it
an earthquake came but the Lord was not
there was a fire, but the Lord was not in it
and after the fire, a still small voice
there once was a boy from a small farm in young america
he heard each new praise in those excitable days of hallelujiahs
so many voices, but no harmony
just how many ways could the same verses read?
and though about to lead nations through the last dispensation
he sought only one simple truth
as he slipped away, to a grove to pray
and there was a strong wind, but the Lord was not in it
an earthquake came but the Lord was not
there was a fire, but the Lord was not in it
and after the fire, a still small voice
there was a young man from a covenant land in the west
born of goodly parents, he knew he was blessed
and he grew in to this heritage passed through the years
he read of these men who had conquered all fear
but their words, like any, were void without proof
so what was tradition, and what was truth?
and then came his day to be sent far away
to proclaim it with his life
so he slipped away, found a place to pray
and there was a strong wind, but the Lord was not in it
an earthquake came but the Lord was not
there was a fire, but the Lord was not in it
and after the fire, i felt, that still small voice
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jake nielsen Richmond, Virginia
Jake is a piano teacher and recording artist who loves Dream Theater, Billy Joel, Neal Morse, Ben Folds Five and many other bands that rock.
Read his full bio at jakestunes.com
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