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by Hiram Ring

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1.
All I Want 04:51
I traveled all around the world, sailed the seven seas, always searching for that missing part of me. I took myself to foreign lands, walked on crowded streets, to learn the colors of the human tapestry. And somewhere on the mountaintop that scraped the evening sky I heard the lonely howling wind echoing my soul with its cry, singin’ why, why, why, oh why.. (‘cause) All I want is a hand to hold, a place to come in from the cold night air, someone to welcome me home. Maybe what I need is you. I took the quickest ship I found, over the clouds we flew, and the days and nights were only sides of you. We landed on the runway and the rain it seemed like dew, for in the crowd yours was the only face I knew. And like a dear familiar place, seen for the first time, I drank deep of your water and it tasted to me like wine, oh sweet, sweet love of mine.. (‘cause) All I want is a hand to hold, a place to come in from the cold night air, someone to welcome me home. Maybe what I need is you. I know we will have trouble, yes it’s true – me and you but we’ll always be together, no matter what we go through. I am yours, you are mine – eternity will right the wrongs of time... but for now.. All I want is a hand to hold, a place to come in from the cold night air, someone to welcome me home. Maybe what I need is you.
2.
Hold Me 03:22
Take me away from these bright lights, they make shadows on my skin. Expose the emptiness inside that gathers all within. If I could I’d crawl into a hole to hide myself, but then there would be nothing where this flesh and bone had fallen! Hold me, ‘cause I can’t keep these tears from falling Hold me, ‘cause I can’t find my way home Hold me, and if it seems that I should fall away, won’t you please bring me in. I’ve got a hole so deep inside, it’s like a bottomless pit. I tried everything that I could find, but nothing seems to fit. Can you take my hand and lead me far away from this mess? Is there anywhere that I can go and not be nothing? Hold me, ‘cause I can’t keep these tears from falling Hold me, ‘cause I can’t find my way home Hold me, and if it seems that I should fall away, won’t you please bring me in.
3.
Virginia 04:02
I left my heart in old Virginia, where the hills so gently roll. I left my heart there in Virginia, but I’m goin’ to my home. I traveled far along the byways with the law behind I know, but when I reached those blue ridge mountains I had nowhere left to go. Then beside me stood a maiden, her skin was fairer than the light, her lips were soft, her eyes shone brightly, her hair was darker than the night. Oh my love, her skin was fairer than the light. Oh my love, her hair was darker, darker than the night. She told me that I must go with her, and then she gave to me her hand. I took it and I held it tightly, it was the fairest in the land. So she took me to her bower, to the place she called her home, and there she offered me some poison – I gladly drank til it was gone. When I awoke, standing before me were the lawman and his kin, but beside me lay the maiden, and oh how fair still was her skin. Oh my love, her skin was fairer than the light! Oh my love, her hair was darker, darker than the night! Now I go to face the gallows along the roads that lead me home, but my heart is in Virginia where the hills so gently roll.
4.
How Far 03:20
How far does the polar bear go, when he makes his way out in the snow? There’s a light on the north pole that’s calling me – goodbye for now. How far does the satellite go, when it makes its way outside the globe? There’s a light on the moon that is calling me – goodbye for now. There’s a light on the north pole, a light on the moon, they’re all just reflections, reflections of you. How far does the little fish flee, from the things that he really does need? There’s a home in the ocean that’s calling me – goodbye for now. How far does the little bird fly, when it makes its way up in the sky? There’s a home in a tree that is calling me – goodbye for now. There’s a home in the ocean, a home in a tree, they’re all just extensions, of who you must be. And I know your face, and I know the place where you are, where you are..
5.
I’ve got a girl, crazy ‘bout me. She must see things I cannot see. Only know when I hold her tight is when the world seems right, and there is no place I’d rather be.
6.
If I held you in my arms, I don't know what I'd do 'cause I've been waiting for so long to know you love me too Your eyes say that your heart is mine, your lips say otherwise I can't tell which to give more weight, the truth or the lies I dreamed last night that I held you in my arms all was right, as you smiled and took my face between your hands but waking up was hard to do - as I woke I knew you were not beside me You told me when we parted ways that you could not be true But through the miles and years that pass I'm only wanting you. I've been without love for so long, there's one thing that I know if I could hold you in my arms, I'd never let you go.
7.
Taste these words upon my tongue – I’m not sure where they come from. The deepest dark of heart is stone – mine it ‘til you bring me home. Feel the wind upon my check – I do not know what I seek. Sail to catch the eventide – find me in the seabird’s cry. The world is wide, the world is long, we only live to greet the dawn. The world is high, the world is deep, we only live when not asleep. See the lines upon my back – can I sense the things I lack. Ev’ry day is marked with toil – know the richness of this soil. The world is wide, the world is long, we only live to greet the dawn. The world is high, the world is deep, we only live when not asleep. Smell the rain upon my face – there is peace within this place. Salt streams touch a father’s heart – this is where our ways must part. The world is wide, the world is long, we only live to greet the dawn. The world is high, the world is deep, we only live when not asleep. Won’t you take a white stone for your name? An answer for the pain that’s still burning deep inside. Won’t you join the saints around the throne? An answer to the groan that is the spirit’s wordless cry. The world is wide, the world is long, we sing the everlasting song! The world is high, the world is deep, we are alive when not asleep.
8.
This Lamp 03:41
This lamp is an old one, it doesn’t shine so bright. The metal’s lost its luster, but it warms up the night and lights the way for you to come back home. The candle is a flicker of the flame it once was. The gleam is just a glimmer, a memory of love that held the stars in their place and waits for you to come back home. And I haven’t moved since that day. I haven’t moved since that day. The doorbell still is broken, the door has no lock. The welcome of the hearthstone opens to your gentle knock. The homely house is ready for you to come back home. And I haven’t moved since that day. I haven’t moved since that day. I haven’t moved since that day. I haven’t moved since that day. I have been waiting for you to come back home.
9.
My Lord 03:36
My Lord is a donkey-ridin' man My Lord is a donkey-ridin' man when my Lord comes to town, He doesn't need a crown My Lord is a donkey-ridin' man My Lord is a heavy-drinkin' man My Lord is a heavy-drinkin' man He said "Lord please take this cup, but if You fill it I'll drink every drop" My Lord is a heavy-drinkin' man My Lord is the pure and righteous Lamb My Lord is the pure and righteous Lamb Guiltless and perfect He died to set guilty sinners free My Lord is the pure and righteous Lamb My Lord breaks the chains of sin and death My Lord breaks the chains of sin and death He died once and for all, then He rose to fulfill the law My Lord breaks the chains of sin and death My Lord holds the whole world in His hands My Lord holds the whole world in His hands He held it on the cross, and he bears the scars that prove the cost My Lord holds the whole world in His hands
10.
Life 04:54
I've got angels in my pocket, I've got demons in my head, they want to take me down I've got wisdom in a locket, full of all the things you said, can they help me now? and This rat race keeps on eatin' the bread that I need to survive I've got ghosts pullin' my shoelace, I've got spirits in my tongue, they want to steer me wrong I've got visions of a new place where we all sing a new song, can they keep me on? This rat race keeps on eatin' the bread that I need to survive. I don't just wanna survive - I wanna live, live, live this life I've got wisdom in my pocket, I've got visions of a new place Give me life, life, life Give me life, life, life You've got baggage in a suitcase, You've got voices in your soul, don't wanna let you go You've got limitless horizons, full of destinations more than you can know and This rat race keeps on eatin' the bread that you need to survive I don't just wanna survive - I wanna live, live, live this life I've got wisdom in my pocket, I've got visions of a new place Give me life, life, life Give me life, life, life Lay your burdens down - take, oh take this life milk and honey flow - more than you can know Take this bread, drink this wine - take life, life, life.
11.
Two Trees 04:31
Father’s a builder, he built his house of wood. And when he finished, he said that it was good. And he made there a garden, planted there a seed which in time would grow to a tree. Father’s a farmer, he sowed his field with grain. He started out early, knowing it would rain. And the rain promised harvest, growth where he had tilled, so he’d need more workers for the field. And the tree grew high and the grain grew tall and we know that pride comes before the fall. And the tree grew tall and the grain grew high and when winter comes some things have to die. And a storm came in and brought down the rotting tree, so that dust was all that it would ever be. Father’s a gardener, he picked a single fruit. The brightest and sweetest, where on the tree it grew. When its flesh he had tasted, he placed it in the ground, where it grew, so that hope may be found. And the tree grew high and the grass grew tall and the springtime came to renew it all. And the tree grew tall and the grass grew high and the summer came with a warming sigh. And the heat it came to wither life away, but the tree covered all with its shade. Father’s a builder, he builds with living wood.
12.
Zion's Walls 03:55
Hardscrabble soil and I’m diggin’ for answers, hands in my pockets and mind full of cancers. How can I see with my life all around me? Walk these same streets ‘til I know I’m surrounded. Just like a hobo who sees a bright gleam – would he know it’s a jewel, if he’d seen what I’ve seen? Man on the corner is talkin’ to strangers, his cup is to full, unaware of the dangers. What would they do if the goblet was emptied? Root for the pearls in the stones of the city. Just like a widow who’s lost her last coin, straining to reach to where it has gone. You know if you find it there, all will be won, but you need a helping hand – your strength is done. I see a place where the streets can’t stop shinin’, (God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls) smiles and there’s laughter, there’s no need for cryin’. (God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls) Joy without sorrow, no fear for tomorrow! (God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls) ‘Cause everyone’s already been through the fire. (God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls) God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls, God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls.

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released February 26, 2013

Photo by Caleb Lewis.
Design by Janina Aritao.

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Hiram Ring Lancaster

Hiram was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. A globe-trotting musician, his music has been compared to a mixture of Jack Johnson and Bob Dylan. He moved to Singapore in 2010 and is currently working on a PhD in Linguistics, documenting an unwritten language in India. ... more

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