THEOLOGY
Coming June 1, 2020
The Swidden OST (Demo Tracks)
I recently visited a a writing cabin to record these (very) rough demos of songs I have been working on for the last year. I’m not a singer or performer by any means, but I am a songwriter and I wanted to capture this album before it got away from me. Ideally, someone else would have recorded them. But for now, I sat down at a table in the cabin and recorded—just me, my guitar, and my phone. These are all full takes, mistakes and all. So I hope you’ll judge the concept and writing of the songs more so than the performance or recordings of them.
When I got back from the cabin, I dropped some footage over the songs. I wanted the effect to be like memories. Broken at times, incomplete, scattered, hard to categorize, but telling a single story of what is worth fighting for and what it means to be made in the image of God. That is at the core of this project. In a world that is constantly pressing in on what we have been called to protect and to build, where do we find the strength to push back?
These 15 songs were written in conjunction with a novella I’m releasing later this year called The Swidden. 15 chapters, 15 songs.
​LYRICS
1. Rise My Soul
rise my soul
I will not be controlled
I will not be controlled
by these temporary kings
rise my soul
we’ll brave the narrow road
we’ll brave the narrow road
and all the suffering it brings
kings dig graves for
the people of God
age to age flows
this river of blood
the martyrs cry out
to be saved
the story of power
stays the same
but you said we
we would see great things
we would see great things
you said
and you said you
you would make for us a place
you would make for us a place
you said
2. Omega
empty streets
the water’s rising
the banks have flooded over
you can’t put the river back
you can’t put the river back
town by town
the soldiers conquer
smoke is rising from
the churches of our fathers
you can’t put the river back
you can’t put the river back
here they come
but he wont run
for he has seen great things
in the square
the silent square
a city of one man
with a kingdom in his heart
with a kingdom in his heart
there he waits
on own two feet
what good is it to
beg a king on bended knee
with a kingdom in his heart
with a kingdom in his heart
and here they come
but he wont run
for he has seen
great things
he’s laughing at their guns
he’s laughing at the crown
even as he’s dying now
he’s laughing at the crown
so here he waits now
a spirit and a flame
truth on his tongue
and fire in his heart
who can defend?
who can rule him?
who can rule him?
God give us courage
God give us courage
God give us courage
God give us courage
3. Ishmael
the thief on your right
is found in paradise
and I am given eyes to see
the line
between the dark and light
into the corridors of time
where I found you waiting
by the well for me
you’re waiting there for me
give me courage as you take
this cup away from me
this cup away from me
give me courage as you breathe
new life into me
new life into me
the boy is left to die
beneath the burning skies
until the water rises up
from the ground
the sea split open wide
the flood will soon subside
the kingdom of God is born
inside my heart
it’s born inside my heart
give me courage as you take
this cup away from me
this cup away from me
give me courage as you breathe
new life into me
new life into me
o I see the kingdom
is in my heart
o I see the kingdom
is in my heart
so give me courage as you take
this cup away from me
this cup away from me
give me courage as you breathe
new life into me
new life into me
4. A Man Among the People
hear the hoofbeats on the plains
his heart is hardened again
they have come to make us slaves
weapons of war have been raised
and then a man among the people
stands up and he cries
what can they take but my life?
take courage
because he’s with us
take courage
there’s a sea on the left
there’s an army on the right.
but there’s a God above
what can they take but my life?
see the sea
split open wide
see how the flood
will soon subside
see his arms
spread open wide
see how he lived,
and see how he died
if he’s alive then I can’t die
if he’s alive then I can’t die
if he’s alive
so what can they take but my life?
take courage
because he’s with us
take courage
that’s why we’re laughing at your guns
that’s why we’re laughing at your crown
even as we’re dying now
we’re laughing at your crown
you can take the life from me
but you won’t keep me in a grave
the King of Kings is coming
Omega is on the way
take courage
because he’s with us
take courage
5. Nicodemus
once he said a man can be born again
seeker in the night can you understand?
dip your face into the light
and rise up with the radiance of the son
all that you have built will be built again
all you’ve written will be rewritten
go and die a million times
and trade what’s behind for what’s ahead
so go
and be bold
there’s no fear
in love
I am a son of God
you are a son of God
seeker in the night you stand to defend
against the cries of those who want to kill him
o but what is his crime?
what has he done but speak
courage in your heart?
o Nicodemus you are still wondering
just how a grown man can be born again
but the spirit is moving
the temple is soon to be destroyed
and raised in three days
so go
and be bold
there’s no fear
in love
I am a son of God
you are a son of God
once he said a man could be born again
but here his body lays broken
o seeker in the night,
you adorn him for a dawn you cannot see
but three days in the ground that stone is moving
the foundations of creation start shaking
and there he stands alive
the blood of death is on his blade
and now you see just what he means, now you see
you see
once he said a man can be born again
seeker in the night can you understand?
dip your face into the light
and rise up with the radiance of the son
6. The Quiet Man
​
the quiet man
is a dangerous man
because inside of him
is a kingdom
that swallows kingdoms
whole
the kingdom man
he’s a dangerous man
inside of him
is the fire from the maker
of the heavens and the earth
upon which we stand
the maker man
is a dangerous man
because inside of him
is the power to speak a sword
into his hand and cut the
crown off of your head
7. Ready for the Water
​
I’m ready for the water
drawn from the well in his heart
when she asked for a drink
on the hour
and there she wondered how he
could see through time
from the first spoken word
to the end of the world
Now I’m ready for the water
living water
I’m ready for the bread
he took from a boy on a hillside
and he gave it to the people who had
followed him there
and there he told them of a
kingdom to come and a kingdom
at hand, messiah messiah,
I’m ready for the water
I’m ready for the wine he poured
into the cups of the twelve as he
told them of all that would come to pass
I’m ready for the wine
his blood drawn from the
wound in his side
until his breath was no more
until he breathed his last
now I’m ready for the water
living water
I have found my place
at the table of the King
this is where the dead are raised
and it’s where the raised ones sing
holy are you Lord our God
almighty
this is where the dead are raised
it’s where the raised ones sing
now I’m ready for the water
living water
I’m ready for the water, the wine,
and the bread and the cup and the body
and blood of Christ
I’m ready to sit like Lazarus at the table
across from the man who has saved my life
I’m ready for the water
8. Out of the Ashes
you said the first would be last
you said the last would be first
you said the old way would pass away but here today
smoke is rising from the church
look around
here we are
this is hell
it’s been so many years
your words, it’s been so many years
you said the kingdom was here
you said the kingdom was here
but look around
here we are
this is hell
I set a fire
to the world
that remains
I set a fire
to the world
you came to save
And then I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
yeah I let it burn
out of the ashes there will rise
the kingdom that you spoke of
to the woman at the well
out of the ashes there will rise
the kingdom that you spoke of
to the woman at the well
so I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
I let it burn
9. Walking on Water
I’m walking on water
I’m walking through time
I’m walking towards Jesus
he holds my life
I see His hands once pierced
but now they’re healed
I see His feet once pierced
but now they’re healed
there’s blood and water
I’m walking on water
there’s blood and water
inside of my cup
as He hung there dying
I filled it up
I see that grave once filled
now he’s here
I see that stone once rolled
but now it’s cleared
there’s blood and water
I’m walking on water
who can keep me in a grave?
who can rule over my days?
who can keep me in a grave?
when I am made in the image of you
and you are reflected in me
the Lion of Judah
is moving through my veins
the Lion of Judah
cannot be tamed by dying kings
I hear his roar inside
my heart
I hear his roar inside
of my heart
the lamb is slaughtered
now I’m walking on water
10. More than Conquerors
the war is won
the war goes on
look back and see
all that he has done
his blood his blood
has overcome
he went down to the depths and
he cut the beating heart from death
and up he rose
with that heart in his hands
feast my sons there is no end
fill the table fill the land
with a song of forgiveness
with a song of everlasting joy
he went down to the depths and
he cut the beating heart from death
we are more than conquerors
we are more than conquerors
we are more than conquerors
we are sons
he went down to the depths and
he cut the beating heart from death
he went down to the depths and
he cut the beating heart from death
Cor
11. The War is Won
in straight lines they march
with shovels in their hands
hot sun, cold moon
dig deep for the millions
is it their skin?
is it their god?
the sins of their fathers?
will it ever be enough?
I’m still in love with you
o maker of men
I will wait for you
the war is won
the war goes on,
the war goes on
but the war is won
vengeance is on my mind
but it’s not mine, it’s not mine
I drink the wine and wait on time
it’s not mine, it’s not mine
and he’s carrying a cross,
he’s carrying a sword
inscribed upon his thigh
is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
I’m still in love with you
o maker of men
I will wait for you
the war is won
the war goes on,
the war goes on
but the war is won
and when the stones cry out
let these bones cry out
and when the stones cry out
let these bones cry out
hallelujah king of glory
come back soon
and when the stones cry out
let these bones cry out
and when the stones cry out
let these bones cry out
hallelujah king of glory
come back soon
I am still in love with you
o maker of men
I will wait for you
the war is won
the war is won
the war goes on
but the war is won
vengeance is on my mind
but it’s not mine, it’s not mine
12. I Am Coming For You
war machine I see
you rolling across the earth
making clean what you
have buried in the dirt
but I am coming for you
I am gunning for you
imposter king I see
the crown upon your head
but you won’t be here when
the war comes to an end
cause I am coming for you
I am gunning for you
I never wanted this at all
I never wanted this at all
I never wanted this at all
I never wanted this at all
there’s a river running
beneath our feet
there’s a river ancient
rising from the deep
and it’s coming for you
and it’s coming for me
I never wanted this at all
I never wanted this at all
13. Interlude
​
so here he waits now
a spirit and a flame
with truth on his tongue
and fire in his heart
who can defend?
who can rule him?
who can rule him?
God give us courage
God give us courage
14. The Man Who Can't Die
​
where you lead me
I have followed
to dark places that
open their mouths
for me
where you lead me
I am swallowed
three days later
I’m still in the belly
of the beast
I have no weapon
but a word upon my lips
I tell death that I must live
it’s who I am, who I am
I have no weapon
but the power of a kiss
there is love enough
to raise me up
I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
up the hill you
carried crown and cross
there you bled
until the water
poured out
on the hill you
counted life as loss
knowing well you
would rise again
three days in the ground
that stone is moving
the veil is torn
and all cry out for breath
three days in the ground
and he is standing
victor with a blade in hand
the Word speaks on
and death lay dead now
and death lay dead
now I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
I am the man
the man who can’t die
if death lay dead now
then who is left to steal my breath
to steal my breath if death lay day
who is left steal my breath
to steal my breath if death lay dead
as you stood
atop the grave
it was the end
of the end of us
15. Always You
it’s always you
down every road my mind it wanders
you
and I know it’s true
that you’ve loved me through it all
I’ve come to feast
I’ve come to drink
I’ve come to learn at your feet
I’ve come to rest in the presence
of the one true God
I’ve come to offer up my heart
I’ve come to trade to you my time
I’ve come to die and find
brand new life
and it’s always you
do you see the burning churches
do you hear the broken people
we called out for a king
and you gave to us a king
how long how long
must we wait for the crowns
to be laid down at your feet
how long how long
must we wait for you
I’ve come to feast
I’ve come to drink
I’ve come to learn at your feet
I’ve come to rest in the presence
of the one true God
I’ve come to offer up my heart,
I’ve come to trade to you my time
I’ve come to die and find
brand new life in you
and it’s always you
it’s always you
how long how long
how long how long
how long how long
how long how long
it’s always you
down every road my mind it wanders
you
I know it’s true
that you’ve loved us through it all
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