1. |
damned world
03:45
|
|||
|
damned world
tell me a story of fantastic glory
a world beyond, a world unlike ours
tell me a fable where children are able
to know those truths we forgot
for i've lived too long in this world
for i've lived too long in this world
where is the hope
where is the hope
they say it's a beautiful world
but i can't see
where is the love that is true
where is the heart that is pure
where are the lies defied
it’s a damned world
where is the man that prays
where is the teen unstained
where are the unborn saved
it's a damned world
tell me of eden, of adam and eve
when they had no shame -- before our fall
|
||||
2. |
anticipating a fall
03:29
|
|||
|
a n t i c i p a t i n g a f a l l
lyrics - matt tooley
my heavy heart is danglin’
on the line of sight
clingin’ to the lip
i’m your umbrella left far behind
the leaves begin their long good-byes
the weight begins to swell
i know you will find what you seek
so fare thee well
on the horizon i am waiting
anticipating a fall
terra on tilt; all is groping
still i am hoping despite it all
but when it all comes crashing down
her cup will overflow
the run-off will sweep you up
and lift you off the ground
on the horizon i am waiting
anticipating a fall
maybe it’s me; it wouldn’t kill him
so i am willin’ despite it all
|
||||
3. |
lovely in white
04:30
|
|||
|
l o v e l y i n w h i t e
Lyrics - karl miles & matt tooley
summer days we used to play
innocent children with futures
best of friends till one when
she saw me as a suitor
summer night, the look in her eye
longing for me to kiss her
but i knew i still had time
surely she’s not all i’d wish for
spend too much time living in your dreams
all you wish for travels far downstream
oh, you just don’t see
seasons apart, blackening heart
college days of september
innocence lost, counting the cost
where’s the boy i remember
feeling alone, longing for home
thoughts of her start to enter
girl next door, but so much more
always stood by me in winter
home’s a place where you’re known yet loved
even when you think you’ve had quite enough
oh, you’re not that tough
summer night in her sight
this is all that i’ve wished for
the look in her eye, the moon so bright
lovely in white so i kissed her
the look in her eye, the moon so bright
|
||||
4. |
que sera
02:56
|
|||
|
q u e s e r a
Lyrics - Matt Tooley
what i read about the prince
old macdonald knows
i also read ‘bout a princess
all those words said to me
have given me such faith
i sure hope i don’t find you rinsin’
but que, sara -- oh what will be
i know you have focused too
upon that jaded light
do we really get what we hope for
are we more than what we’ve done
or what we’ve done not still
will the past go on just repeatin’
so que, sara -- oh what will be
que sera, sara
what will be will be
que sera, sara
what we’ll be we’ll be
you were like the streetlight
that stood along the road
on my journey to lasso the moon
standing out against the night
clear and round and white
oh can words get thrown out too soon
oh que, sara -- so tell me
you kept me on my way
made me feel warm and safe
for it’s dark out there
on the open, lonely road
the prince has made me eat my words
they tasted just like soap
but perhaps what i read will be true
|
||||
5. |
johnny
04:14
|
|||
|
j o h n n y
johnny was a young man in this small town
and he longed to see more of this world
jesse was the only girl in his life
and she longed for him to make her his wife
she knew that johnny would never be content
if he settled down in the town
so she told him what she thought was best
for him to go and see the world
so johnny won’t you wait along
the tracks tonight
for a train’s bound to slow down someday
and when it does you can climb aboard
one of those old boxcars with an open door
jesse always feared the day she’d be alone
but she knew she had to let him go
they always parted, johnny always said
that he would be back for her someday
so johnny won’t you wait along
the tracks tonight
for a train’s bound to slow down someday
and when it does you can climb aboard
one of those old boxcars _____________
then one day it happened, he was gone
and a legend he became that day
so johnny won’t you wait along
the tracks tonight
for a train’s bound to slow down someday
and when it does you can climb aboard
one of those old boxcars with an open door
|
||||
6. |
mountain breeze
04:02
|
|||
|
m o u n t a i n b r e e z e
lyrics - matt tooley
i feel the mountain breeze
running through my hair
wishing to carry me far from here
from the streets and buildings
far from what i’ve known
from the demons waiting far below
it can feel the sadness trapped
on my furrowed brow
it would like to free my soul
like only it knows how
each day the two of us
roaming hand in hand
could find new adventures in all the lands
over the hills and valleys
down the rivers wild
through the fields and forests we would fly
and at night we’d rest against
slopes so soft and green
while coyotes called the stars
to night-light our dreaming sleep
i hear the mountain breeze
whisper in my ear
asking to carry me far from here
{ . . . }
but i know i must return
down the mountain side
back into the city streets
far from mountain breeze’s sigh
|
||||
7. |
he holds us close
04:26
|
|||
|
h e h o l d s u s c l o s e
lyrics - matt tooley
there’s a man on a tree, greatest of these
head is bowed
as you take his breath away
hear him say, “it’s over now”
i love you, my father
i will trust in you
here’s a boy on his knees, least of these
sin on his mind
and it takes my breath away
you still say, “son, it’s all right”
i love you, my father
i will trust in you . . . even though
i don’t always know why you give your herd
what we don’t deserve
i just want to say
father, that it takes my breath away
there’s a friend of mine
one day finds a beautiful girl
and she takes his breath away
vows are made, wonderful and sure
i love you, my father
i will trust in you
but just three months in
an accident brings dismay
and as you gave us breath of life
you took his wife, took his breath away
i love you, my father
i will trust in you . . . even when
i don’t understand why you let your sheep
fall and hurt and bleed
but despite the pain i just have to say
father i hear you say, “just breathe away”
|
||||
8. |
confession
03:43
|
|||
|
c o n f e s s i o n
here i am, praying, down on my knees
his presence before me
judge all i can see
reveal now my errors
wounds i am at fault
so free me, the guilty
as my mind does wander
all my awful thoughts
come rushing towards me
i’m ashamed as i ought
so bring me confession
and i wait for these words
and i wait for these words
forgive me, absolve me
so i’ll do no wrong
i’ll try then and fail again
and still i will believe
so bring me confession
and i wait for these words
and i wait for these words
|
||||
9. |
return trip
04:30
|
|||
|
r e t u r n t r i p
lyrics - matt tooley
first light of dawn and everything yawns
in the soft sunlight
clouds are filled
with orange and pink and white
walking slowly, it’s so quiet and still
then i run into you
happenstance that rings true – i am back
you are wearing pink and white and black
how’re you doing, and how long has it been
do you remember when you would contend
that you loved me
i couldn’t see how i could need you in my life
or in my dreams
so i flew away, off to Monterrey
it was so easy
to leave you behind, biding my time
till i was ready to say, “i do”
i forgot about you, but now that i see you
i was astray
now i see in white and black and gray
what’re you doing, and maybe we . . .
what’s that you are wearing
you are getting married in Florence
there’s your plane
it’s black and gray and orange
that’s good-bye then, will i see you again
so you fly away, off to Italy
it’s not easy
to be left behind, biding my time
till another enters my life
|
||||
10. |
is this the end
04:34
|
|||
|
i s t h i s t h e e n d
is this the end my friend
i pray i’ll see you again
before the coffin comes out
before our trials are held
so easily your soul leaves today
they never knew today was their last
too many tears when the young ones cease
no knowledge why it was there time to…
is this the end my friend
when will i see you again
not till the stone’s been placed
not till the earth’s been replaced
to their demise; our loss too soon
with loss in our eyes we can’t believe it
these questions haunt the young and the wise
the answer comes when God decides it
and now i long for yesterday
when children ,we all did play
in fields of green with trees that swayed
never to fear the day
|
||||
11. |
||||
|
a n o t h e r t i m e , a n o t h e r p l a c e
if i wasn’t so disbelieving
if i knew where i was wrong
trying, but i don’t know how
keep reliving all of my thoughts
another time, another place
and i won’t feel so bad
moving on from where i lay to where i’ll stay
holding to what i’ve got
fighting for what i’m not . . . what i’m not
i’ll go on now to change this world
to where i’ll fit okay
to make all my problems fade away
i’ll try to feel fine
i’ll lie so i’m okay . . . i’m okay
free from nothin’
free from nothin’
then i’ll dream for what’s to come
for it is better then
my pain will then be forgotten
so i sleep to feel nothin’
another world to fake this one
another time, another place
and i won’t feel so bad
moving on from where i lay to where i’ll stay
E L E V E N
(live, april, 2004)
|
||||
Karl Miles Batavia, Illinois
I have finished recording my latest Catholic studio album "Where are the Warriors" an album which is a call to Catholic's to
live our faith to its fullest meaning...we are called to be saints.
God's truth and love concurs all evil, but people must be able to feel and see this love in us. It is my hope, truth and love is heard in my music.
... more
If you like Karl Miles, you may also like:
24th Street Blues
by Tom Heyman
Tom Heyman documents life in San Francisco circa 2023, refusing to succumb to easy characterization & instead capturing the city’s nuance.
go to album
Thoughtful and poetic folk with a Cosmic Americana flavor from the Brooklyn singer-songwriter.
go to album
The Canadian singer-songwriter and environmental activist excels at helping to find a silver lining; everything is transitory, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsurmountable.
go to album
Out on the line
by The Blue Highways
The slashing roots rock on “Out On the Line” always makes its way to the kind of triumphant chorus that quickens the pulse.
go to album
Zed For Zulu
by Those Pretty Wrongs
Jody Stephens of Big Star and Luther Russell of the Freewheelers team for a radiant LP packed full of slide guitar and pop smarts.
go to album
Downey to Lubbock
by Dave Alvin
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
go to album
the happiest man on earth
by Michael VM
Rollicking roots music from Michael VM, “the happiest man on earth” is equal parts grit and soul.
go to album
