Running Out of Friends
My hands are tied and my feet are wet
My soul is dry and I just can't get
The reason why we have no heart
I guess we've redefined falling apart
The poor will beg and beg some more
Welfare can't save their souls
What happened to the broken heart
I guess we've redefined falling apart
I need someone who heals and I need someone who mends
I'm dying for a meal and I'm running out of friends
The cries of those who own ill-fated hearts
I guess we've redefined falling apart
Who will help the sick and who will feed the poor
Who will welcome in the knocker of the door
Who will heal the cracks of every shattered heart
While others keep redefining falling apart
The Ground
Well these bricks feel like gold beneath my feet
And the shoes that I've been given, they carry me
Though the miles I walked have made me weak
I've had farewells from cities as I leave
And I've gone without a word from the best of these
And I'm a man but I'm polite so put that knife away please
I've been blessed with empty days under empty skies
And I've been blessed with kindness on these desperate eyes
And I've been beaten up so many times
Well you've been given eyes it's your fault you can hardly see
I've been given a voice that's all the permission I need to speak
And if you want to chop my head off I'll pull the ground up to my knees
Worth
Oh kid, don't go near that fire
Oh no, I don't want to see you die
I'd love to see you come back
Oh kid, you barely know the facts
Quit pretending to be an artist
You'll be the opposite of furthest
You're surprised you're not falling
It's because you haven't taken a step
You underachiever, I love you too much
All this stuff you're involved in is such
A mess of silly nonsense, stop lying to yourself
You'll never ever know how much I've loved you, kid
Pslam Song
Lord have mercy on me
The water's to my neck
Lord have mercy on me
I'm drowning in the depths
Lord have mercy on me
My enemies want my life
Lord have mercy on me
I lost the will to fight
But you are my strong tower
You are my deliverer
Lord have mercy on me
The water's to my neck
Lord have mercy on me
I'm drowning in the depths
Lord have mercy on me
My enemies want my life
Lord have mercy on me
I lost the will to fight
But you are my strong tower
You are my deliverer
Lord have mercy on me
I know my heart's corrupt
Lord have mercy on me
I'll try my best to love
Lord have mercy on me
When you're humble servant calls
Lord have mercy on me
When you're humble servant falls
But you are my strong tower
You are my deliverer
Tender Foot
Ever get stuck thinking crazy thoughts
When you're tired or alone or you're homesick or you're bored
Thoughts like you're going nuts
Or you don't have any friends or you've never known how to love
Well if you're scared you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're overwhelmed you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're thinking about doing something crazy
Like robbing a bank or killing yourself you've got to know you're not alone
You're not the first bird who's ever had to fly north to find his home
I've been down I've been blue I've been around I've been where you
Where you were
I got better I just sunk myself into the good book
I read the words
So if you're scared you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're overwhelmed you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're thinking about doing something crazy
Like robbing a bank or killing yourself you've got to know you're not alone
You're not the first bird who's ever had to fly north to find his home
I've been told for the last five years
That I've got to grow up but I don't want to right now
I've been told for the last ten years
That I've got to fit in but I can't somehow
And I've been telling myself my whole stupid life
That I'll never be no one
I'm getting to think that's not true
We used to think that the earth could move the sun
So if you're scared you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're overwhelmed you've got to know that you're not alone
And if you're thinking about doing something crazy
Like robbing a bank or killing yourself you've got to know you're not alone
You're not the first bird who's ever had to fly north to find his home
Hammer & Nail
I saw You in the garden You were praying You were crying
And when the mob came oh I was afraid of dying
So I ran, ran, ran
My soul is willing but my heart is weak
And with my eyes wide open I could barely even see
So I ran, ran, ran
And to the Man with the bloodied hands
I'll admit that I'm just the hammer and the nail
You let me pin You down
Well here I am muttering a prayer
Hope when I die
That I'm more than a hammer and a nail
You lived so patiently
I know You've always been patient with me
I'm sorry that i let You down
'Cause I've always been a fool
Well I'm a cheat, a liar too
I'm sorry that I let You down
And to the Man with the bloodied hands
I'll admit that I'm just the hammer and the nail
You let me pin You down
Well here I am muttering a prayer
Hope when I die
That I'm more than a hammer and a nail
Isaiah 53:4-6
Sir
Sir could You let go of my sleeve
The holes in Your hands are bleeding on me
But I'm the one with the dirty hands
And I'm the one with the lying mouth
And I'm the one with the wandering eye
So maybe You were right to pull me from the fire
Sir could You get Your feet off the table
You're bleeding on the wood
But I'm the one with the killing hands
And I'm the one with the hateful mouth
And I'm the one with the greedy eye
So maybe You were right to pull me from the fire
Sir could You put Your arm around my shoulder
I need Your blood on me, I need to be washed clean
So maybe You could use these calloused hands
And maybe You could change this wicked mouth
And maybe You could love these tired eyes
And maybe You could pull me from the fire
Lord, please pull me from the fire
Beautifully played and full of moving vocal performances, the Bay Area singer/songwriter's latest is a stellar work of art. Bandcamp Album of the Day Feb 3, 2023
The haunting new record from Canadian folk artist Avi C. Engel bridges old and new traditions with a minimalist approach. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 24, 2024