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1.
Fix Me Right 03:57
Lord, fix me right, Lord fix me right If I die on the battlefield, Lord, fix me right Good Lord, fix me right, Lord, fix me right If I die, oh let me die, Lord, fix me right When I was a sinner, I know this too well When I come to find out I was on my road to hell Good Lord, fix me right, Lord, fix me right If I die on the battlefield, Lord, fix me right I’m coming but the way is hard, coming but the way is hard If I die on the battlefield, coming but the way is hard Oh please fix me right, please fix me right If I die on the battlefield please fix me right I’m going out in your name, going out in your name If I die on the battlefield, going out in your name Oh please fix me right, please fix me right If I die, oh let me die, please fix me right Oh fix me right Oh, Jesus done fixed me right I’m coming on my bended knee, coming on my bended knee If I die on the battlefield, coming on my bended knee Good Lord, fix me right, Lord, fix me right If I die on the battlefield, Lord, fix me right Lord fix me, Lord fix me right Come on fix me, good God fix me
2.
Wade in the water Wade in the water child Wade in the water God’s gonna trouble the water See that host dressed in red He’s gonna trouble the water Looks like the children that Moses led He’s gonna trouble the water See that host dressed in white He’s gonna trouble the water Looks like the children of the Israelites He’s gonna trouble the water Wade in the water Wade in the water child Wade in the water My God’s gonna trouble the water
3.
Books of Moses, bringing stone news Wet in the water, weeping in the sun Books of Moses, got some splinters didn't you Books of Moses, brought me right here back to you Flaming heart, ain't it sweet Lighting the world at your feet Books of Moses, myth and truth Books of Moses, bring me back to you Hero's welcome, there stands your king Where the serpent shudders and the angels sing Books of Moses, happening again Yes he knows us, welcome him, your friend Israel, the real deal, the red pill, God’s children in the hot sand waiting for commands, Moses comes with commandments on tablets, Hebrews wandering about with their hands out their tongues shout, “How can we live on stone commands? Give us food and drink for our men.” Your fathers ate manna in the wilds, child, but I’m the Living Bread, you’ll never be dead, never thirst, I quench thirst first, build temple and nation, prep for salvation, smack dab in propitiation, get up mister, stand for your sister, your father, your mother, brother, don’t serve another, you take another lover, your God is jealous, his love will cover, he made a plan, the Son of Man, the Law, Christ didn’t come to kill it or spill it, he came to fulfill it, and give us the overflowingness mindblowingness, so all of it lead right back to Books of Moses Moses, Moses, take off thy shoes from off thy feet for the place whereupon thou standest is... Holy ground, holy ground Holy ground brings me right here back to you
4.
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down When I hear that trumpet sound, gonna get up out the ground Cause there ain’t no grave, gonna hold my body down Well go down yonder Gabriel, put your foot on the land and sea But Gabriel don’t blow your trumpet until you hear from me Well I looked way over yonder, seen people dressed in white I know it was God’s people, I seen them doing right Well I looked way down the river, and what do you think I seen I seen a band of angels, they’s comin’ after me Cause there ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down When I hear that trumpet sound, gonna get up out the ground Cause there ain’t no grave, gonna hold my body down Well I’m goin’ to the river of Jordan, bury my knees down the sand Gonna holler out hosanna ’til I reach that promised land I looked way over yonder and what do you think I seen I seen a band of angels, they’s comin’ after me Well meet me Jesus meet me, meet me in the middle of the air And if these wings should fail me, I won’t need no other pair Cause there ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down When I hear that trumpet sound, gonna get up out the ground Cause there ain’t no grave, gonna hold my body down
5.
Bitter 05:58
I’m bitter… forgive my bitterness And I’m angry… forgive my selfishness I got no control… forgive my lawlessness Oh, everything… is such an awful mess… an awful mess Tell me what kind of man am I, these things I do I don’t wanna do And what kind of God are you, mercy and grace abound As you forgive my bitterness I’m prideful… forgive my arrogance And I’m lustful… forgive my hungriness Some days I don’t believe… forgive my faithlessness Oh Lord, everything… I’m still a slave to flesh… I got no defense Tell me what kind of man am I, these things I do I don’t wanna do What kind of God are you, mercy and grace abound As you forgive my arrogance A list of how I’m broken, stretches across the years Your body stretched upon that cross, you conquered death and fear You say you’d have done the same if I were the only sinner here Yes, you will meet me in the air and wipe away my tears I’m restless… forgive my edginess And I’m still anxious… forgive my doubtfulness And I’m self-absorbed… yes, I’m me-obsessed But I love you, Lord… forgive me again… once again Tell me what kind of man am I, sayin’ I’m sorry for the same old things And what kind of God are you, a liberator settin’ captives free Oh, here’s the kind of man I am, everyday broken but you still stand Even though I can’t comprehend, your hand on me Guarantees my deliverance
6.
Tell me who’s that writing, John the Revelator Tell me who’s that writing, John the Revelator Who’s that writing, John the Revelator Wrote the Book of the Seven Seals Now God walked out in the cool of the day Called Adam by his name But he refused to answer ‘Cause he was naked and ashamed Now Christ had twelve apostles And three he led away He said, “Watch for me one hour While I go yonder and pray.” Now Mary and Martha, they were there And they heard every word he say He said, “Go tell my disciples I said meet me in Galilee.” So tell me who’s that writing, John the Revelator Tell me who’s that writing, John the Revelator Who’s that writing, John the Revelator Wrote the Book of the Seven Seals
7.
Have Mercy 03:53
Let us break bread together on our knees Let us break bread together on our knees When I fall on my knees before the Risen Son Lord, have mercy on me Let us drink wine together on our knees Let us drink wine together on our knees When I fall on my knees before the Risen Son Lord, have mercy on me Have mercy Let us praise God together on our knees Let us praise God together on our knees When I fall on my knees before the Risen Son Lord, have mercy on me Have mercy
8.
You’re gonna need that pure religion, allilu You’re gonna need that pure religion Pure religion gonna get you through You’re gonna need that pure religion, allelu Goodbye mama, don’t you mourn, allilu Goodbye mama, don’t you mourn You may know I’m a goin’ home Goodbye daddy, don’t you cry, allilu Oh, my daddy, don’t you cry You may know I was born to die Hearse come backin’ to my door, allilu Big black hearse come backin’ to my door Ain’t gonna see my friends no more I ain’t never kickin’ a verse if there ain’t soul in it My God gave me a talent I’m a roll with it With infinite precision religion is more than just riches It was given to us children to help in the midst of miserable conditions It ain’t ‘bout what we can do but what was given to us You hear me or what the Scriptures what is fillin’ my cup I’m the world but I ain’t of it I don’t covet what my brother has I remain content forgiven for my troubled past I just say it’s all good cause I hate gravy If God or Lord is in your name it’s null and void if you ain’t saved me The Lord is faithful and his love forever endures That’s for sure and the religion is pure
9.
Heaven Jam 04:02
I don’t know what you been told I don’t know what you been told I don’t know what you been told But Heaven is coming down I don’t know what you been told But Heaven is coming down to the world I don’t know what you been told But Heaven is coming down to the world Heaven, Heaven is coming down Heaven, Heaven it’s all around
10.
Absent from flesh oh blissful thought What joy this moment brings Free from the blame my sin has brought From pain and death and its sting Absent from flesh oh glorious day In one triumphant stroke My reckoning paid, my charges dropped And the bonds ‘round my hands are broke I go where God and glory shine To one eternal day This failing body I now resign For the angels point my way The angels point my way Absent from flesh then rise up my soul Where feet nor wings could climb Beyond the sky where planets roll And beyond all keep of time I go where God and glory shine To one eternal day This failing body I now resign For the angels point my way The angels point my way
11.
Me and the boys in the band Lord, we’ll be here all week Yeah, me and the boys in this here rock and roll outfit We’ll be here all week Day in and day out we know one thing for sure No one answers the Holy Spirit’s call on a winning streak I been up, I been down I been all over the street Lord, I been up and down All over the street For seventy times seven nights and long hard–workin’ days I know No one answers the Holy Ghost’s call on a winning streak Gonna lay down my weapons I’m gonna give up this fight and retreat Oh, I’m gonna lay down this here big bang stick Gonna lay my anger at His feet Oh, great God I’m answering your call I’ll get with your Son on a winning streak Oh, winning streak I get a winning streak Turned my Back on my losing streak Oh, my winning streak Tomorrow I’ll walk on boulevards of gold Arm in arm with my Lord Yeah, I’ll set up house on winning street
12.
Mama take this badge off of me ‘Cause I can’t use it anymore It’s gettin’ dark, too dark to see I feel I’m knocking on Heave’s door Knock knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door Knock knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door Knock knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door Knock knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door Mama put my guns in the ground ‘Cause I can’t shoot them anymore Dark cloud’s a comin’ round I feel I’m knockin’ on Heaven’s door

about

The Myth & Truth project draws mostly from the uniquely American canon of “sacred blues” or “sacred roots” music. There are a few exceptions, including two songs I wrote. But mainly these are blues songs from the South, or songs in that tradition, that I wanted to honor and update in my favorite musical styles: rock and funk.

I love every one of these songs. Many I’ve known for years; some I discovered in the process of recording the album. It was pure delight to comb through options and make the most remarkable selections. A “labor of love,” as they say.

I suppose I admire sacred roots music because it is so accessible. By that, I mean its simplicity and uncut honesty. In these lyrics and basic chord progressions and visceral rhythms, there is the heart of the seeker. These are the songs of and by people whose unifying characteristic is that they hope. They have questions. They have hurts. They don’t know whom to trust. They believe in God, or they believe in the hope of the ideation of God. They want “God” to be true, to be real. And sometimes they know he’s true; but sometimes their doubt is too great, crushing even. All the while, they love, they hate, they follow, they flee, they sing, they cry, they pray, they sin. They are an exquisite mess. I am an exquisite mess. God loves us anyway.

Blues musicians – along with preachers, politicians, bankers, plumbers, truck drivers, Republicans, police officers, porn stars, shoe salesmen, tax collectors, war profiteers, Democrats, forest rangers, fishmongers, surgeons, LGBTQ people, birther conspiracists, engineers, racists, young brainwashed men with bombs strapped to their chests, arborists, journalists, puppy mill owners, football players and people from every faith and “non-faith” on the face of the planet – are image-bearers of Christ. They are the beings God fashioned for an unfathomably beautiful purpose: to shower love upon them. They are humanity, persons in need. Myth & Truth is for them, for us, for me.

Recording Myth & Truth took about a year, beginning in spring 2017, at Chicago’s Rax Trax Recording studio near Lincoln Square. A dozen Chicago and St. Louis-area musicians, styled as the David Danced Collective, contributed. Noam Wallenberg at Rax Trax Recording produced the album, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough for his creativity, work ethic, and friendliness.

Brian Ames
June 1, 2018

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released June 1, 2018

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Brian Ames Chicago, Illinois

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