Songwriting | Craig Cunningham

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

by these temporary kings

rise my soul

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

you said

and you said you

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

town by town

the soldiers conquer

smoke is rising from

the churches of our fathers

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

there he waits

on own two feet

what good is it to

beg a king on bended knee

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?

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

give me courage as you breathe

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

give me courage as you breathe

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

give me courage as you breathe

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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?

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

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

morant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.

THEOLOGY

The Swidden OST (Demo Tracks)