1. |
Better Times
04:34
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Better Times
Sometimes we hit the road
Sometimes we hit the wall
Sometimes it’s hard to tell
If there’s a difference at all
Between the mask that laughs
And the mask that cries
Between old empires that fall
And new ones that rise
I wish my heart would break
But it’s turned to stone
I would give my kingdom for your kiss
But I’m in this castle all alone
The blinds are drawn
The doors are locked
And I’d pretend I didn’t hear you
If you ever knocked
But better times are comin’
Better times are comin’
The old man is dreamin’
Of a song he used to hear his mother hummin’
Called Better Times Are Comin’
Some people don’t believe
In that old evil spirit
But it’s right there in the mirror
If they ever dare to see it
You know I see it every day
Sometimes it’s all I do
I guess that’s what keeps me
From reachin’ out to you
Now I’m just killin’ time
So I turn on the screen
The deadliest weapon
This world has ever seen
But I turn it off again
I need a little darkness
I need a little light
From outside of this fortress
And better times are comin’
Better times are comin’
The minstrel boy is dancin’
And on the wild harp he is strummin’
Better Times Are Comin’
Your voice of hope
Borne on the air
Could lift my soul
Above the clouds of despair
But the fight is down here
The foe is among us
Can’t you hear his boot heels drummin’
Better times are comin’
Better times are comin’
Let’s sing this song together
With all the courage we can summon
Better times are comin’
Better times are comin’
Better times are comin’
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2. |
Harrowing of Hell
04:18
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Harrowing of Hell
Bridges burn behind me and bridges burn ahead
With the fire of the living and the fire of the dead
At first I built a fire to keep me from the cold
Now I feed the flames to satisfy a hunger in my soul
I stole this box of matches when Paradise fell
I try to make them last until the harrowing of Hell
I’m sorry that I couldn’t be what I promised you to be
But you know I’m just a wanderer above the foggy sea
I committed every sin took every holy name in vain
And never offered you much more than misery and pain
But at least we share a story that only we can tell
The end of it depends upon the harrowing of Hell
There’s danger on the ocean where waves roll mountain high
There’s danger on the battlefield where angry bullets fly
There’s danger in the selfishness lurking in my heart
It locks and bolts the chamber doors to keep us far apart
Love can’t find a home where deceptive demons dwell
But here they will remain until the harrowing of Hell
Saturday night I dreamed I heard a knock upon the gate
A gentle voice was callin’ and I felt my shackles break
Sunday dawn lit up the tomb and pushed the night away
Death had lost when I awoke to the light of day
Men will worship bondage and fight to keep their chains
Even make believe it’s liberty they struggle hard to gain
Oh hear them cheer for victory over generations past
And hear the devil laughin’ but will his laugh be last
I don’t know if the damned can be saved but I’m hopin’ still
So call me if you’re ready for the harrowing of Hell
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3. |
Geeshie Wiley
04:55
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Geeshie Wiley
Alone tonight with Geeshie Wiley
She sings her last kind words to me
I close my eyes as she starts singin’
With my ears and heart she lets me see
Your world turns blue like a little sparrow
That falls to earth unrecognized
Alone tonight with Geeshie Wiley
I feel just like an orphaned child
If I had wings like Amelia Earhart
I’d fly across the troubled sea
I’d soar above my earthly trials
And they would mean no more to me
But I wonder in my time of dyin’
If someone comes to meet me in the air
If I had wings like Amelia Earhart
I hope that you would meet me there
I remember well my mother singin’
An old familiar lullaby
I remember friendly shadows crawlin’
And sleepy moonlight in her eye
But she’s not here to rock my cradle
She’s not here to make my dyin’ bed
I remember well my mother singin’
Will you sing with me when all is done and said
I wish I could walk into the garden
Alongside Mary Magdalene
At the break of dawn she might show me
A holy emptiness no man has seen
I’m just a poor wayfarin’ stranger
I know I’m only passin’ through
Alone tonight with Geeshie Wiley
I pray that I can count on you
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4. |
The Fight
04:17
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The Fight
The fight has finally come to an end
We ran out of bullets and profanities I guess
But the echo still rings
Of our machine gun exchange
My pulse is still rushin’
Like the night wind gushin’
From the sea that rocks her shipwrecked to rest
Two wounded strangers in a lonely bed
Two hearts turned from each other toward the shadows on the wall
Within and without
A shadow of a doubt
Comes creepin’ with the poison
Of the dreadful notion
That our love don’t stand a chance at all
I can’t lasso the moon I can’t reach the stars
But I can give you all my strength and all my weakness too
The road is long
And suffering is strong
My flag is tattered
My armor is battered
But the ground I gain or lose is with you
There’s a time to build and a time to burn
Some wounds stay open and some the night will mend
Yesterday is never past
And tomorrow’s fading fast
But now I hear you sleepin’
While a vigil I am keepin’
Hopin’ that the healin’ will soon begin
And that the fight has finally come to an end
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5. |
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I Cannot Share My Darkness
I cannot share my darkness
With you or no one else
It cannot be divided
I must keep it for myself
Your sky may be gloomy too
With dark clouds of your own
But I cannot share my darkness
It’s mine and mine alone
I cannot share this longing
In my soul and in my flesh
I try but all that comes across
Is my itchy restlessness
I’ll eat the fatted calf with you
And drink more than my fill
But my longing keeps on gnawing
And perhaps it always will
I guess it’s only loneliness
A certain shade of black
The hole each person rises from
Until he falls right back
I’d love to share the road with you
Through the sunshine and the rain
Just walk along together
Share each other’s loss and gain
Carry only half the load
And have twice as many thrills
But till I can share my darkness
I must travel by myself
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6. |
This Mornin'
05:06
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This Mornin’
This mornin’ I’m sober just slightly hung over
And relieved to wake up and find that you’re still by my side
In spite of stupid words spoken and promises broken
In spite of bottles I’ve emptied and tears that you’ve cried
They say old Father Time eats his own children
Hours weeks and years
I know my days are numbered but I’m not countin’
When you keep me busy right here
Where the moments come splashin’ like drops of mercy
Drippin’ down on my pillow from a leakage of eternity
To the one who has plenty more shall be given
And this mornin’ I almost believe that that one could be me
The mornin’s used to be colder I even used to feel older
After runnin’ all night from the blue devils on my trail
I still hear them creepin’ in my dreams when I’m sleepin’
And they’re still out to get me but I’m glad that mostly they fail
They say old Father Time eats his own children
Hours weeks and years
I know my days are numbered but I’m not countin’
When you keep me busy right here
Where we have coffee and listen to better angels singin’
About the freedom and duty to be what each creature can be
From the one who has nothin’ more shall be taken
But this mornin’ I almost believe that don’t have to be me
Those who love much will be much forgiven
And this mornin’ I can believe that that’s you and me
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7. |
The Shepherd
05:25
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The Shepherd
Have you seen the shepherd
I can’t find him today
I’ve searched for him all over
And it seems I’ve lost my way
If you know which road he has taken
Please tell me would you be so kind
I tried to follow the shepherd
But somehow I fell behind
Somehow I just fell behind
Did you see the shepherd
Leave his flock on a whim
To search for one stray out of a hundred
Lost sheep mean the world to him
Tonight I hear hungry wolves howlin’
I feel danger all around
I wish I could find the shepherd
But he cannot be found
The shepherd can’t be found
I’ve wandered through the desert
Through cities made of dust
I’ve seen the wood planks wither
And the nails of iron rust
The pool of blood is dry now
As if it didn’t mean a thing
But I keep callin’ to the shepherd
In every song I sing
In every song I sing
Were you there when the shepherd
Climbed that lonely hill
Takin’ one step after the other
Gettin’ ready for the kill
Now I can’t find the shepherd
Who himself is called a lamb
He’s no longer where they left him
So he must find me where I am
I hope he finds me where I am
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8. |
The Crooner
05:16
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The Crooner
You wake up in a room that’s dark with somethin’ more than night
You lie awake and can’t believe that you will ever see the light
The moon and stars are hidden and the voice of God is still
The world’s turned into one black hole too meaningless to fill
But then you hear the crooner
He sings a song for you
Listen to the crooner
He will help you through
He keeps the music swingin’
All night long without a frown
Just listen to the crooner
He won’t let you down
In your dreams you hear the bombers flyin’ low to drop their deadly load
You dream of cities burning of cathedrals that explode
Of carousels turned upside down the horses torn and crushed
You hear lonely cries for mercy all muffled in the dust
But then you hear the crooner
Singin’ softly in your ear
He comforts your affliction
Helps you overcome your fear
Just leave it to the crooner
To heal the broken night
Listen to the crooner
And you will feel all right
You try to get up in the mornin’ and face responsibility
Take chances make commitments and walk the straight and narrow way
But you know every bridge is burnin’ before you even try to cross
Before the cards are dealt and your hand is played the game’s already lost
But then you hear the crooner
And reach out your trembling hand
You give it to the crooner
And he helps you make a stand
You thought the rest was silence
But once again your bell will chime
If you listen to the crooner
His rhythm and his rhyme
Today I’ll be your crooner
Tomorrow you’ll be mine
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9. |
John Barleycorn's Rag
02:56
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John Barleycorn’s Rag
People tell me I shouldn’t drink anymore
I should get my act together and live cleaner than before
Well I don’t drink any less
But I don’t drink any more
Some folks travel the road of excess
To find the palace of wisdom or an early death
I don’t drink any more
But I don’t drink any less
The doctors all say ol’ John Barleycorn must die
They try to catch him the gutter but he’s ridin’ mighty high
I bet he won’t come down
Until the bottle is dry
I saw a man drinkin’ out of a bottle
But then the bottle started drinkin’ out of him
They both wound up as empty and wasted
As an old shedded snakeskin
Drinkin’ makes the wino feel ashamed and distressed
So he’ll keep on drinkin’ just to forget
I don’t drink any more
But I don’t drink any less
I hear truth and love and beauty callin’
But they’re as far away from me as the sky
Bartender please pour some ambrosia in my cup
I need wings so I can fly
Preacher says that alcohol’s the devil’s own design
But I know someone else who changed water into wine
And I’m cravin’ for the juice
Of the grapes from the true vine
So when kind people advise me not to drink anymore
I tell ‘em Don’t worry you can rest assured
That I don’t drink any less
But I don’t drink any more
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10. |
Tragic Romantics
04:49
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Tragic Romantics
The way I remember young Thomas Chatterton’s funeral
We sang Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down
And the roses on his coffin looked almost alive
As we lowered him safely into the ground
It’s like the tale about the maiden who’d dance to no music
But the Grim Reaper’s rousing violin
Her feet and her heart would stop when the dance was over
I guess we all heard that story we all knew how it would end
Just a tragic romantic tryin’ his wings on for flight
Gettin’ ready to leave the land of the living tonight
He heeds the call of the wild geese but he could never be one
He’s just a tragic romantic flyin’ too close to the sun
Hearts of youth are easily eaten by fire
In my old age I still feel a distant glow
I’ve gone through seasons of hell I’ve grown flowers of evil
But I have lived long enough to learn seasons come and go
Choosing a way to die well what’s the difference
Choosing a way to live that’s the hardest part
Daily work and play hope and pray for a vision
To see that light is good in a void all formless and dark
Where tragic romantics are tryin’ their wings on for flight
Gettin’ ready to leave the land of the living tonight
I hear the wild geese too but I know I could never be one
I’d be a tragic romantic flyin’ too close to the sun
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11. |
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Dance (Until the World Stops Turnin’)
So we wanna beat the clock we wanna beat each other
And grab it all for ourselves when we’d be better off with half
It’s just the ways of the world just the law of the jungle
Just a constant rat race ‘round the golden calf
Daddy I will dance for you until the world stops turnin’
I think that’s what I heard my youngest daughter say
But my head was in the clouds my ears deaf with my own echo
My eyes blindly looked for somethin’ far away
I don’t know if I responded to her very special offer
But it’s sad to imagine what chance I blew that day
Wish I could sit down on a kitchen chair
Forget about my yearnin’
And watch my daughter dance for me
Until the world stops turnin’
Every day we worry every day we’re in a hurry
Every day we feel like strangers in a strange land
But we’re reminded by our children that here’s somethin’ to believe in
That we shouldn’t build our house upon the sand
So I grit teeth clench my fists and try to choose my weapon
To fight the spirit of the times it seems more than I can stand
But now I’ll lay down my sword and shield
Where I can rest my burden
And ask my little girl to dance for me
Until the world stops turnin’
Let’s just sit here in the kitchen
Try to keep the home fire burnin’
And watch our daughter dance
Until the world stops turnin’
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12. |
Cool Water
05:43
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Cool Water
All day I faced the barren waste
Without the taste of water
Cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry
And souls that cry for water
Cool clear water
The nights are cool and I’m a fool
Each star’s a pool of water
Cool water
But with the dawn I’ll wake and yawn
And carry on to water
Cool clear water
Keep a-movin’ Dan
Don’t you listen to him Dan
He’s a devil not a man
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Dan can you see
That big green tree
Where the water’s runnin’ free
And it’s waitin’ there for you and me
Water
Cool clear water
Dan’s feet are sore he’s yearning for
Just one thing more than water
Cool water
Like me I guess he’d like to rest
Where there’s no quest for water
Cool clear water
Keep a-movin’ Dan
Don’t you listen to him Dan
He’s a devil not a man
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Dan can you see
That big green tree
Where the water’s runnin’ free
And it’s waitin’ there for you and me
Water
Cool clear water
The shadows sway and seem to say
Tonight we pray for water
Cool water
And way up there He’ll hear our prayer
And show us where there’s water
Cool clear water
Cool clear water
Cool clear water
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CS Nielsen Samsø, Denmark
CS Nielsen: sangskriver, sanger og guitarist. Igennem en omfattende koncertvirksomhed og med fire kritikerroste og
prisnominerede pladeudgivelser har han etableret sig som en markant dansk ambassadør for Americana-musikken – samt som en historiefortæller med stor poetisk og musikalsk tæft.
Diskografi:
Against the Dying of the Light (2007)
Man of the Fall (2012)
Jericho Road (2016)
Pilgrims (2020)
... more
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