1. |
Uphill Inn
04:36
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Seventeen years ago there was an inn
Back country in the hinterland
Followed a rumour that there may a job
Noble’s paying to reclaim his lot
But this place offered something more
Swallowed my fear and pressed on the door
Beheld the scene that met my eyes
For tis not always that a rumour’s a lie
At the Uphill Inn
The plaid jester lifts his hand
A lyre is plucked, a whistle is blown
Clanging mugs of rancid ale
Yet the patrons laughed to no avail
At the Uphill Inn
Keeper of the tavern keys
Puts shutters on the peasant’s dreams
The king of swords he decrees,
Who will be released; their heart set free
The rest will laugh in perpetuity
Never knowing there’s a gate, a way to leave
The innkeeper smiles, and patiently awaits
Playing along, though guiding their fates
Desperate noble consulting a man
Secret words, he did not understand
The price he sought it would be dire
Fates converged, I became his squire
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2. |
Castle Caldwell
05:42
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Castle Caldwell, the adventurer’s vice
It’s a five-day march through the plains of ice
Craven noble well he bought the deed with gold
But he couldn’t face the terrors in his hold
Mists over the field and the farmer’s gone for winter
Stay close by my side for perils are abound
Lose not your focus should the highwaymen draw near
Forget your fantasies of a life full of glory
Live only for the bounty
Because you never know when one is coming next
Castle Caldwell, the adventurer’s vice
It’s a five-day march through the plains of ice
Craven noble well he bought the deed with gold
But he couldn’t face the terrors in his hold
Ancient stone placed by ancient hands
The ivy climbs ever higher
Rumours say the dead walk beneath these halls
Foolish noble, didn’t know what he bought at all
Castle Caldwell, the adventurer’s vice
It’s a five-day march through the plains of ice
Craven noble well he bought the deed with gold
But he couldn’t face the terrors in his hold
No, he couldn’t face the terrors in his hold
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3. |
Back from the Quest
02:12
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Feeling empty at the end of the quest
We’ve all been well-paid and for some it was the best
But my heart is aching and longing for more
My mind falls silent and sees her by the door.
Captivation from a smile… Suggesting that there’s more
Eyes coursing with power; portals to the void
I approach naively and aptly beguiled.
She opens her mouth and strange words pour forth
I sit mesmerized, enraptured by her lore.
Sweet perfume rises from unseen places
My essence surrender into this very moment
Every part of my being is completely present,
My heart is filled and my mind lay bare
I ask for her hand, and she laughs as though I jest,
Instead she said, she’s here for a request.
Not one made with words,
But from a place so enticing and ever-presently near
Pay attention, she says. For I’ll only say this once
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4. |
Gambler's Song
04:01
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The game of life goes ever on,
And many a joker's come and gone,
Many a hand's been lost and won,
But still the house takes back its own.
Many a wild card has been played,
Many a fortune has been made,
Don't let success make you a fool,
It's still the house that sets the rules.
Look behind the rolling of the dice,
Behind the payoff and the price.
Look behind it all and you will learn,
That the center of the wheel never turns.
Nothing here belongs to you,
You're just another soul passing through.
The odds are set for you to lose,
If you start to win, they'll change the rules.
No matter how you spend your time,
You're bound to leave without a dime.
No one knows what else to do,
They take what they're dealt and play it through.
Look behind the rolling of the dice,
Behind the payoff and the price.
Look behind it all and you will learn,
That the center of the wheel never turns.
Look behind the jackpot and the bust,
Remember what is dust returns to dust,
Look behind the game and you will see,
At the center of the wheel you could be free.
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5. |
Alchemist's Cat
02:39
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Many years ago there was an alchemist
He lived alone at the edge of a cliff
He would read the stars and tell the lords of their fate
Fortune and what romance awaits
But he himself had never known love
Trivalities of the human world were not his reality
Longing for that which lie beyond the veil
One day he was out for a stroll when he heard a noise coming from a hole
He looked to see a little black cat, starving and alone
Placed the cat into his cloak he fed her some bread and milk
Took such sweet care of her, his heart began to warm
The alchemist knew he finally found love
In the form of a cat she was exalted and fair
And the man who spent his life alone found love in an innocent form
This is the tale of the alchemist’s multidimensional cat
And they vowed to return as lovers
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6. |
Citadel Walls
05:36
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7. |
The Alchemist Said...
06:39
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Make gold out of lead the alchemist said
But how do I do it I cried?
Make the outer as inner the inner as outer
Then make the two into one
Be outerly passive and innerly active
Turn from the moon to the sun
How can I do this? I asked of the alchemist
How can I make gold out of lead?
Make your desires alchemical fires
That’s what the alchemist said
All of your actions result from attractions
Or from repulsions he said
And impartial actions can’t come from attractions
Can’t make something living from the dead
All your organic self is in a panic
The alchemist said with a smile
Well it’s scared to die only god know why
It’s bound to after a while
Why such a pout? Have you found something out?
The alchemist asked with a grin
I now realize he who identifies
Falls from grace into sin
You could have sold the way to make gold out of lead
For a kingdom instead
But you have said the way to turn lead into gold
You’ll tell just to me
You pay soon enough it’s dangerous stuff
He smiled – just wait and you’ll see
You think it’s for you that I do what I do
But it’s not for you, nor is it for me
To make gold out of lead is useful for others besides you and I
You’re a slave as you are, but better by far to serve both the low and the high
Make gold out of lead the alchemist said
Turn your lead into gold he cried
Turn your desire for gold into higher ones and free the prisoner inside
And free the prisoner inside
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8. |
Beyond the Gates
07:20
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The apprentice went to the master and said, “Will you take me on?
I want to learn your trade and I cannot do it on my own”
I have no other interest from attachments, I am free,
And if you agree to take me I'll serve most willingly.”
Master looked at the lad asking to be taught,
Standing like so many others fortune to him brought,
Demanding his attention, requiring his time.
They thought when the weather was hot it wouldn’t change their minds.
Chorus:
Beyond the gates
Beyond the gates
Take me to that place
Where the Beloved awaits x2
Soon enough they were gone, their fortunes for to make,
Little thinking as they left his investment they took.
They traded what they did not know for what they wished to get,
Once they saw the bargain made, then one by one they left.
To trade a life that one lives is not an easy thing,
It costs the giver nothing and relieves him of his due,
He trades a gift not earned that he knows not how to use,
For a place in the Work such as anyone would choose.
(Chorus)
And as he learns to use his hands, as he learns to use his mind,
As his heart opens up with the power that he gains when he leaves his life behind.
He applies himself to the craft, and he sees he's learned his trade.
And maybe he'll stay and maybe he'll go to the life that he left unmade.
Master said “I'll take you on if you want to learn this trade,
It takes a long, long time and you will not be paid,
This time that I lose, I cannot regain
If you want to work I'll help you as the teaching's free to all to know
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9. |
Elegy for a Fool
01:30
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10. |
Just a Moment
04:15
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Chorus:
Eternity is Just a Moment
A moment that forever exists
You are more, more than your brain-mind
And a kiss is more… than a kiss
I’m gonna tell you a story about love and pain
Doesn’t stop when my voice fades
It’ll start all over again
Don’t worry if you miss it
You’ll get a second chance
Even if your body is finished
Your soul will whirl and dance
Your soul will whirl and dance
(Chorus)
I’m gonna sing you a fine song about life and death
Doesn’t stop when the music fades
You know it rises with the breath
Just because you don’t see it
Doesn’t mean it’s not there
You don’t know you’ve got it
Or maybe you just don’t care
Maybe you just don’t care
(Chorus)
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The Blade and Chalice Cape Town, South Africa
David Khan invokes various influences into creating evocation compositions.
He tunes his
instruments to natural cycles depending on the nature of the piece and experiments with elements of sound that can create altered states of consciousness - or just create uplifting songs with a positive message!
... more
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