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Jericho

by Jonathan Atkins

/
1.
There was somewhere I was going to, But somehow I forgot. There's something I forgot. There's something I'm not. And I'm trying so incredibly hard, and finding difficulty, In tying every knot, all the loose ends of this life I'm caught, in. But there are things in the distance to keep hope up. Still don't get to close, It's so dark inside. This thing in the distance it pulls me up. And I draw close, It's not dark outside.
2.
Jericho 04:05
Do you remember what you said to me? Told me never to leave. Told me never to pack my things, And see what the old road would bring. Then we drove down to New York City, Only to find that place was a terrible pity, It only sparked brilliance inside my head, A wandering street for an awestruck child instead. I took time to myself, wrote a song or two, I made peace with my ghosts, not because I had to, But because feelings overwhelmed my painful heart, And reason took my eyes by suprise to start, Opening my mind to streets no longer dark. Now I've seen things that make feel desire, Now I've seen things that bring my soul to strive, Now I've seen streets set the sky on fire, Now I've seen things that make me want to stay alive. I took time to find myself a truth, To hold on to, with a great amount to lose, I carved it into my heart and left no room for more, That's far more for myself than I've ever done before,
3.
Oh, the dead leaves, Falling on the ground, Leave this silent world, With even less sound. And in the coming times, Where we'll all lay down and cry, We sing out for the joy we had found. And that's when you get through to me, That all these precious memories, Are not dead leaves falling to the ground, And are more than just whispers and sounds. Oh, how pretty is the depth of your soul, Like the little creatures that scurry below, And you got through to me, With precious memories Oh, that's when you got through to me, All these precious memories, Were not dead leaves falling to the ground, And were more than just whispers and sounds. Oh we'll stay here, For the moment, And we'll wait here, For the silent. And in moments like these, Where alone we would freeze, We'll thank God and each other, For the saving grace, and love we've found.
4.
5.
Red Fox 04:27
6.
7.
Hold hope high up on the rope, But keep your expectations low, Consider the worst is yet to come, And pray it doesn't blow. The winds will take our boats, And sail them off to sea, To places we never hoped, That we would ever be Hold high hopes clench them tightly in your palm, Don't let them go even if you bleed. Keep those ropes anchored tightly to the ground, Don't you dare let yourself find greed. Oh it's the little things, It's the little things that keep you a float, Oh in the stormy seas, It's the little things that keep you a float.
8.
9.
Breathe, when was the last time you listened to yourself breathe, When was the last time you felt your heart beat, Focusing rhythm instead of heartbreak, Holding on to yourself for your own sake. And breathe, Hold it all in for a second, Remember the panic but don't let it reprimand, Your heart back into its state of depression and unrealistic, un-guaranteed, Hopes and dreams of a future that can happen exactly how you need. It's time to breathe, It's time to bring in some fresh air, time to realise there's care, Just for you. All for you and it's all fair, It's all going to hold you together, Glue on every single feather, That fell off in your moment of defeat. Those gloomy feathers used to lay down at your feet. But as you fell down on your knees, In utter reflection and release, You were not afraid to cry out. You were not afraid of hell. I've seen many people learn to breathe, And I've seen others snatch breath's, Right from under living death, And replace it with a wanderlust of love, Craving more each day instead of, Losing feathers That fall off in moments of defeat. No gloomy feathers lay at their feet. Instead of falling on their knees, In complete reflection and release, They find a truth, They hold a hope, They kept a locked box around their heart, Just hoping someone had the key. I once lost my feathers in a moment of defeat, And all my gloomy feather just lay useless at my feet, And I fell to my knees, In complete reflection and release, The only time I could hear myself breathe, The only time I felt my heartbeat, The only time I let you lift my chin, And kiss me on the forehead, mucked with all my pain and sin.
10.
Je reçois très heureux sur, Vos battements de coeur. C,est comme ça Je me sens, Le battement de mon coeur. Dieu vous bénisse coeur.
11.
Paper Route 03:30
We are so earth bound, after binding ourselves to the ground, We became like trees making no sound, While the axe men and lumber make their round, To cut us down. And if the suburban kids could have their way, They'd be fooling around on a sun filled day, Instead of forcing themselves to grow up without grace, With no days off. No, life's about pay. Evenings turn the skies dark grey, And the boats always seem to be vacant in the bay. As though no one takes the time to see what the lake has to say. Darling there will be rest for you some day. We're so caught up in headlines, Sipping our lives away with red wines, Forgetting about the day and all the people outside, Working away just to get by. And if the suburban kids could have their way They'd be fooling around on a sun filled day, Instead of forcing themselves to grow up without grace, With no days off. No, life's about pay. Evenings turn the skies dark grey, And the boats always seem to be vacant in the bay. As though no one takes the time to see what lake has to say.
12.
Have you ever seen hell, Have you ever travelled down so far, Everything seemed so lonely, So estranged and charred. There was truth in her eyes, All misinterpreted and not understood. But there were lies on her lips, Read exactly how they should. I found things that remind me of you. I've written songs that are long forgot. Left behind with a girl who couldn't sell you string. But she could steal your heart, or at least take her shot. Have you ever seen the depth of a river bed, Now try exploring through a tightening cave, There's no room to move about, the ceilings seem to change, And you may not go back the way you came. There was truth in her eyes, All misinterpreted and not understood. But there were lies on her lips, Read exactly how they should. I found things that remind me of you. I've written songs that are long forgot. Left behind with a girl who couldn't sell you string. But she could steal your heart, or at least take her shot. oh, Who did you think I was, Oh, who did I think you were, We held onto each other, grasping at feathers, And ripping each others wings, Till neither of us could flap those fucking wings, Till neither of us could soar anymore
13.
Oh, how railroads changed the times. Oh, how the railroads have brought me to realise, That when all is lost and gone, And I can’t keep moving on, I don’t have to, ‘Cause that train’s gonna bring me home. Oh, how the trees seem to grow, As that old train moves through the country I’ve come to know. That’s when I keep holding on, ‘Cause nothing’s ever gone, It roots deeper, And just stands taller, like those trees. I’m not alone, There are so many people, With all their places to go, And nobody sees the things that run through my mind, So who’s the know I sit here all the time. Oh, how bridges keep us from giving up. Where there were bodies of water filled right up We could’ve went our separate ways, And never met any other day, But a bridge keeps us connected over the tides. I’m not alone, There are so many people, With all their places to go, And nobody sees the things that run through my mind, So who’s the know I sit here all the time. Oh, how railroads changed the times. Oh, how the railroads have brought me to realise, That when all is lost and gone, And I can’t keep moving on, I don’t have to, ‘Cause that train’s gonna bring me home.
14.
We didn't have to be there, We didn't have to separate our homes. We didn't have to tear down the wall, Jericho stood lovely on it's own. I'm still hung up about all the things you did, While you're forgiven for the things you did. But my walls stand 100 feet high now, And my hearts guarded by a ghost of sin. I can stand on top of my watch tower, And stare out for miles at mountains, Wondering why I've spent so long, Constructing myself a safe home, Instead of wandering and finding myself among the nature, And out where the wild things are. We didn't have to be there, We didn't have to separate our homes. We didn't have to tear down the wall, Jericho stood lovely on it's own.

about

The second full length release from Jonathan Atkins. "Jericho" brings in a new array of emotions while holding on to the honest, storytelling style of song writing found in "The Ocean/The Sea" and "Voices & Vices Volume I".

credits

released October 7, 2014

Produced by Jonathan Atkins
Recorded by Jonathan Atkins in the home studio basement AKA ASI Records.
Mixed by Jonathan Atkins
Mastered by Jonathan Atkins
Art work by Jonathan Atkins

All songs written by Jonathan Atkins SOCAN, ASCAP 2014

Jonathan Atkins - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo Uke, Slide, Bass, Djembe and Drums

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Jonathan Atkins Mississauga, Ontario

"A singer-songwriter with a devastating ear for harmonies and a delicate touch with lyrics that slide perfectly into a horrid winter. There's a definite Celtic touch, but far sweeter than something like Mumford & Sons." - Andrew Fifield (Metro News)

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