Offering
Offering
Released in:   2010 (Rodzinka Records)
Produced by: Duane Lundy
Recorded at:  Shangrila Studios, Lexington, KY 

 

The Offering

I’ll never doubt the rain again.
I’ll never doubt the cold.
I’ll never doubt the possibility of really growing old.
I’ve never felt distance like the distance through a phone.
So tonight I’m close enough, baby, tonight I’ll be coming home.
So goodbye…

I’ve never felt loneliness like the hands of killing time.
I’ve never heard the word of ridicule like from the voices in my mind.
I’ll never take for granted the power of a hand.
So tonight I’m close enough, baby, tonight you’ll see your man.
And goodbye…

I never doubt the offerin gmy father laid for me.
It is nothing short of sacrifice that gives a man his family.
I never doubt you love me in the words that you sing.
It don’t mean a whole lot, baby, it means everything.
So goodbye…

Are We Going To Rise?

There ’re some things in this world that won’t ever change.
The ink that drips through on to every page
As borders flood, and rearrange.
But are we going to rise?

There is writing on the wall I want to punctuate.
Planes don’t fly they tend to levitate.
And the pills won’t decide what they alleviate.
But are we going to rise?

Are we going to rise?
Are we going to rise?
We can stand there together and throw our thoughts there forever on the rise.

Well the mystery shoppers think that they figured out
Who the secret Santa was and what he’s all about.
But the jury called, they said they got their doubts,
And you can see it in their eyes.

There’s redemption in the streets with all the alibis.
When freedom don’t ring we’re free to criticize.
Then entitlement grows and accountability dies.
But are we going to rise?

Chorus

I can’t sing another word until it’s written out.
But to sing another word I’ll have to learn to shout.
Truth be told, all I should care about is…
Am I going to rise?

At Your Gate

Come out, come out,
Come meet me.
I’ve been poisoned, I’ve been used.
And now I’m standing at your gate.
I am hanging on your gate.
And I’ll be standing at your gate.

In my days I ruled deception.
I was king; I had control.
But I deceived all those I hold,
And they flanked and dug a hole,
And now I’m standing at your gate.

I was lost in my intentions
But they were bleeding out your side
While I was blinding out my eyes.

When I left I had direction.
I had protection; I was free.
But they do not compromise.
No they did not compromise.
And now I’m standing at your gate.

I did not come to take you;
I came to let you take me in.
And we are born where we begin
And this fever burns within.

There’s a Song of Songs you’re singing
And I’ve been bleeding every line.
How I want to harmonize.
Yes, I need to harmonize.
And I’ll be singing at your gate.

Born To Build a Home

I left on a Sunday to find what seemed I’d never own.
My steps took root in the glory and its cost.
Like coal, their words they burn me, and they fuel this direction I roam.
They said that I was born to find a way to build a home.

And I was grabbing on to nothing,
I let nothing pierce my lips.
I’ll taste the blood that flows when I am ready.
Commander of my footsteps, I’ll be thorough to the bone.
They say I am born to find a way to build a home.

So many steps before me speak of what little that I’ll leave behind.
I’ll bend these knees when I am good and ready.
Please move on, my dear, ignore the picture’s fading tone.
You know we were born to find a way to build a home.

Between this rock and your place I step around your holy stone,
My ears too numb to hear the words that you’re pleading.
I’ve grown nothing, mama, from the something that I own.
Is it true you had nothing but your hands alone?
‘Cause I want to learn how to build myself a home.

Darling Little Sister

I never thought I’d have the time to tell you this.
I never thought you had a care in the world.
You see, Miss Holly’s got a picture in a little book
And she says you’re such a pretty little girl.
I returned all my dreams at the counter.
I cashed in all my pride for the sleep.
Even Luka got a name for you, mama;
He said that he could sell it to you for a small fee.

And I never meant to look when you called me.
I never meant to look at the past.
But the truth won’t hurt when you pull it off really fast.

Darling little sister, where you gonna run to now?
You hear the parade’s been passing and you got your hand stretched out.
You hear the drum line coming, and baby that won’t be long.
Oh, come on, little mama, and bring your love back home.

Little Ricky got lost on the double date,
He took the congregation with him too.
They say he’s got something special in his back pocket
Ever since he learned to tie his little shoes.
Now I’m grasping at the frame for the picture.
I’m gonna ship it overseas somewhere.
They can stamp it with a pretty little accent
Sell it to all the kids over here.

Well I never meant to be such a pushover,
I never meant to be such a tease.
And the truth won’t hurt when you tell it to me from your knees.

Darling little sister, where you gonna run to now?
You hear the parade’s been passing and you got your hand stretched out.
You hear the drum line coming, and baby that won’t be long.
Oh, come on, little mama, and bring your love back home.

You Were Beautiful Once

You were beautiful once, before skies fell to gray.
So beautiful once, in the fallen words you give away.
Now hopelessness and ache, I can taste the pills you take.
You were beautiful once, now it’s all slipped away.

You were beautiful once, you’re so quick to lose your smile.
You were giving everyone a chance to feel what was real, and what was worthwhile.
Now you’re stumbling, and you’re ashamed. I helped you up baby and you walked away.
You were beautiful once. I wish there was something else to say.

I won’t ever go away. Don’t ever go away.

You were beautiful once in your pale, perfect skin.
So beautiful once, when you were open to take me in.
Because it was my gift, and that was my land; I reached out baby and you bit the hand.
You were beautiful once but now it’s time to surrender in.

Alternate Verse
You were beautiful once, how you listened, how you pleased.
So beautiful once, you could summon deception straight to its knees.
Your beauty tested true by the fires of what you let get to you.
You were beautiful once but now I’m sorry to say it’s through.

Somewhere Between

They said first thing in the morning and they came the night before.
They were running from salvation, and I was standing in the door.
And you know I aim to be thorough yet I always miss the end.
And you stood there waiting for me; I was running with my friends.
You ask me where I’ve been, because I’ve been nowhere to be seen.
But you are looking far and wide baby; I’m somewhere in between.

You were talking about the river, how it could wash the city clean.
And I was staring at the bridge and the other side I’ve never seen.
Yes you know I love you, baby, and I’ll always ‘till the end.
But the highway’s built in directions that I have lost so many friends.
And you ask me for an answer – I either burn or I come clean.
But you’re asking too much because I’m somewhere in between.

You push me to surrender; you say the walls of men are thin.
But I have beaten brooms against the rugs and rooms that you have carried yourself in.
Yes, I know these trees their haunted since Eve left me in the fall.
But you either think for yourself, baby, or you don’t think at all.
And you ask me to come with you to these places few have seen.
But you’re going far and wide baby; I’m stuck here in between.

You give yourself bare-handed, I take what’s left with shame.
I heard Vinny came back from the desert but that boy don’t look the same.
You can count my hairs, they’re numbered, leave the tally at the door.
I heard the mother’s milk has gone sour but the fools they’re begging more.
You beg me to surrender, to make a perfect offering.
But you are asking too much baby because I’m stuck here in between.

Woman In Gown

There is frost on the sheets when the sun went down
There’s no place to lay your head.
You stand in this valley of tears all around
As he stands as your jury instead.
He holds you in bribe as you try to hide
What is sacred; he objects to dismiss.

Oh, woman in gown, you were made for much better than this.

We fashion our breath to the lowest of depth
And let pleasure be the host of what’s real.
But I say let’s sacrifice, boys, and we’ll smother their noise
As the goods they’ve been fixing to steal.
And I am only a man so please understand but won’t you take my hand, I insist.

Oh, woman in gown, you were made for much better than this.

Oh sleep, my dear, may you rest ‘till disorder has been fixed.
Oh, woman in gown, you were made for much better than this.

They try to deceive to make you believe
That you can be held and dropped on a dime.
But nothing, my dear, should be held in the fear
That a drop is just natural with time.
And know: you can not be taken, nor your value forsaken.
Please deny their Judas kiss.

Oh, woman in gown, you were made for much better than this.

Stand tall, my bride, and never compromise.  Let me show you what their promises miss.
Oh, woman in gown, you were made for much better than this.

Endless

As a child in need of help,
No matter what was felt,
I could find love…

And in the garden of the fruit
Where fate took root,
There was still love…

An endless love.
An endless love.

Won’t you find me this time?
Love, won’t you find me this time?
Oh, love, won’t you find me again?

With sinful steps: despair.
I hear voices everywhere.
I reply love…
Temptations, how they dwell,
In my weakness, they know me well.
And I pray love…

Wear My Name

My love she says to me: come home to family.
And I never wanted nothing but that girl to wear my name.

My love she says to me: come home, come to me.
And I never wanted nothing but that girl to wear my name.

To wear my name
Against the breaking of the day.
To wear my name
As the night fades away.
To wear my name
As the good begins to sway, I will find a way.
And I will find a way to you.

My love she says to me: come home to family.
And I never wanted nothing but that girl to wear my name.
My love she says to me: Michael, come home, and come to me.
And I never wanted nothing but that girl to wear my name.