Get all 4 Ben Ashman releases available on Bandcamp.
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1. |
Jackknives
02:47
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(instrumental)
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2. |
Bells of St. Clement's
04:07
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Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
there lie they and here lie we
under the spreading chestnut tree
How long will you love me?
How long can we be?
They say that time heals all things
They say you can always forget
but the smiles and tears across the years
they twist my heartstrings yet
It was only a hopeless fancy
and it passed like an April day
but a look and a word and the dreams they stirred
they have stolen my heart away.
How long will you love me?
How long can we be?
(speaking) The organ: no other instrument can fill vast spaces with sound, no other instrument puts a whole ensemble under the control of one person, who can respond to the ebb and flow of worship.
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3. |
As I Wait
04:03
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Theres a sunlight, in the morning
scatters rainbows bout my bedroom
and downstairs theres a father
and a mother with all the love I could need.
Why just yesterday, I walked about the cemetery
thought: How pretty are the flowers
of those who are gone - what did they see
as they waited for that last lid to fall?
Theres a cold light, in the evening,
makes the ice on the bell tower shine.
On a night such as this, shouldnt we be standing close?
Why do I feel so alone?
And the twinkling of the radio towers
is as close to a friendly look as I can get,
they say: Dont worry, dont worry,
its better to give without having to get.
Spread out my bed and enjoy
the space
that I wish I could have inside my head
So goes another love
is it better to lose
than to not have at all?
Why do I toil
for what does not satisfy
why do I buy what is not bread?
Brother
I'll do anything
you're the only true love I know.
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4. |
Ere the Set of the Sun
03:56
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First I am his kinsman and his host
I could not, dare not, bear the knife myself
Besides this Duncan borne himself so meek
his virtues plead like angels, trumpet-tongued
I have no spur to prick my own intent
but vaulting ambition, which oer leaps itself.
Duncan, oh Duncan,
Id have loved you, but you were in my way.
Duncan, oh Duncan,
Id have loved you but for what the seers say.
To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus
Theres none but he whose being that I fear
The sisters hailed him father to royalty,
my soul given to make the seeds of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list
and champion me unto the utterance
Banquo, oh Banquo,
Id have loved you, but you were in my way.
Banquo, oh Banquo,
Id have loved you but for what the seers say:
When will we, meet again
in the thunder and the rain
When the hurly-burlys done
when the battles lost and won.
That will be ere the set
of the sun
Fair is foul, foul is fair
hover through, the fog and air
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5. |
To a Talking Computron
02:52
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Wee sleekit, timrous beastie
what a panics in thy breastie
thou need not start away so hasty
Id be lathe to go and take thee
Im truly sorry mans dominion
has ruined technologys social union
and justified that ill opinion
of me, thy poor Earth-bound companion.
Look at me, oh look at me,
I did not mean what I have done
My dear friend, do not fear
let us try our best, though winters near
But friend now thou art lane
in proving foresight may be vain
the best laid schemes of mice and men
leave not but grief and pain
Still thou art blessed compared to me
the present only thoucheth thee
but Ach! I backward cast my eye
and forward I fear though I cannot see
Look at me, oh look at me
I did not mean what I have done
my dear friend, do not fear
let us try our best, though winters near
(fade)
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6. |
Come, Spring
04:35
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When in April the sweet showers fall
And pierce the draught of March to the root, and all
The veins are bathed in liquor of such power
As brings about the engendering of the flower,
When also Zephyrus with his sweet breath
Exhales an air in every grove and heath
Upon the tender shoots, and young sun
His half-course in the sign of the Ram has run,
We will go to Canterbury
And small fowl are making melody
That sleep away the night with open eye
So nature pricks them and their heart engages
Then people long to go on pilgrimages
And palmers long to seek the stranger strands
Of far-off saints, hallowed in sundry lands,
And specially, from every shires end
Of England, down to Canterbury they wend
We will go to Canterbury
To seek the holy blissful martyr, quick
To give his help to them when they were sick.
It happened in that season that one day
In Southwark, at The Tabard, as I lay
Ready to go on pilgrimage and start
For Canterbury, most devout at heart,
Id spoken to them all upon the trip
And was soon one with them in fellowship.
We will go to Canterbury
We will go to Canterbury!
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7. |
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I'm only one man
who wrote this whole thing up.
I was born in Virginia
thats where I grew up.
They called me:
James Madison,
most important of the men
who stood us up.
We meant to protect those,
rights and liberties.
That each man, should have life
and try to be happy.
But saying
What you believe
is much different
than making it true in fact.
My brother was taken by
the pirates of the coast.
We cant afford to pay the men
who bought for us the most.
We the people won the war
yet the Brits dont leave their posts.
These thirteen states are not well-bound
sooner cut our brothers throats.
Without the means to pay off debts
to hold our own, to put off threats,
theres no way to make freedom real,
if man cant have, hell consort to steal.
You tell me, This is wrong,
yet you were there and you went along.
This is still possible,
my hope is not gone.
I want my freedom
as much as anyone
but for us to be free
we must learn to give some
to the
common good, thats what
weve forgotten
theres more to this than ourselves.
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8. |
Jamais Assez
04:38
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Oh, I've promised in the loneliness of night
time and time again that that day would be my last sin.
See, the narrow door is not hard to find
it's just hard to make it through in my mind.
Sometimes I try, but sometimes I dont.
The Lord is my shepherd, but I need help to not be in want.
Oh, mercy, give to me,
I can't stand, dare I fall to my knees.
Oh, mercy,
be it your will, let the cup pass from me.
Stay here and keep watch with me
my spirit is willing, but my body is weak
I'm so tired, much of the time
my own strength is never enough.
Some days seem like forty days in the desert
I trust he'll bring me through, though I'm not always true.
Oh, mercy, give to me,
I can't stand, dare I fall to my knees
Oh, mercy
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9. |
S2
01:48
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(instrumental - improvisation by Douglas Ashman)
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Ben Ashman recommends:
Brilliant prog rock.
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True art.
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