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Tales from the Drink

by Peter the Whaler feat. jenedwards

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1.
Whitecaps 02:34
nameless bottles, again, just throw and swallow swig it, hope to fight it, just another night–hit stop, then repeat, it’s all the same to me one, two, three, four, i think i need more conversation is overrated...how was break? i don’t really care, just have to ask anyway. we talk about the same shit all the time, hoping to run out of words at the exact same line. another house party, and again and again seven minutes in heaven can’t happen when you’ve locked yourself in the one room where people want to be– they just keep asking you why you’re not happy; they’ll never go away, so you just... nameless bottles, again, just throw and swallow swig it, start to fight it, just another night–hit stop, then repeat, it’s all the same to me one, two, three, four-i think i need more x2 we waste our time hoping the night will end, but we’ve found each other again==drink up, drink up. this one makes me smaller and that one makes you bigger, so i guess we’re biggie smalls...you’re right, that wasn’t funny. i ask if you want to dance, you say that’d be ok–i guess it’s my lucky day; i begin to stutter a question, you tell me not to bother, we’re interested in the same thing, those... nameless bottles, again, just throw and swallow swig it, don’t you dare fight it, just another night hit stop, then repeat, it’s all the same to me one, two, three, four-i think i need more x2 i think i need more, i think i need more
2.
The Shipyard 04:23
these ships are built, with once glorious and living trees the metal locked in rocks, now freed feels the whipping breeze now dormant, these nails are driven with purposeful blows to face gales and white caps, being thrown ‘round by an outside force a hand knows, with a heart close by, that scoundrels will be on board, praying for their lives so carefully, with knowledge only known to the masters pound after pound, they prepare the wood for what it didn’t ask for there from the east, i smell a salty breeze that beckons me, to come sail, to come see the open sea and from sea to shining sea, i will become a man that i never thought i would be so with my pack, a faulting courage, and a desire to flee there i go, setting sail for the endless east i follow others, both before me and beside me we look for answers from anyone that will listen they say that a ship in port is safe, but that’s not why it’s built to weather storms that’ll rip you apart, thats why we sail together we pray to both god and the sirens to find out exactly where the world ends with tales of old, of both saints and scoundrels i listen to nightmares and valiant stories told from leathered sailors who know more loss than i can fathom depths of both the ocean and their hearts found within them talk of whiskey and women, turn to god as well as their masks questions never answered, from questions never asked begging for forgiveness, a penance for sins committed drowning sorrow after sorrow, with a stammer of repentance i cast my lot, draw both the long and the short straw and hope that my mind, my heart, and my courage won’t fall i do my duty, with a mop full of tears wondering what to do with my unfathomable fears the future is unknown, but today is all that matters with each crash against the side, we climb higher up the ladder that jacob promised would lead us to the sky but for now it only seems to have us retch over the side they say that a ship in port is safe, but that’s not why it’s built to weather storms that’ll rip you apart, that’s why we sail together we pray to both god and the sirens to find out exactly where the world ends x2
3.
The Ship 05:41
i hear the gulls announcing the doldrums we’ve been out to sea longer than we know mirage of land after mirage of land, i long to be home to see my love, to hold her in my arms we’ve drifted further out than we had originally planned so i can’t be sure if we’ll ever see dry land but the terra beckons, calling out from the seafloor and screams with each break upon the shore my days idly pass by like wafts of smoke with each drag of this pipe, i can feel her close i hoped that i’d be different than when i ran from home but i’m not sure if i can change as much as i’d hoped i may be older, a bit more weathered than when i left but i’ve tasted fear and tasted love, and i refuse to quit just yet distance makes the heart grow fonder, i know the truth that really your heart only grows after leaving behind your youth Sailor look to the North; I am there on the shore. i’ve looked up every night, seeing your face painted in the sky but tonight polaris is brighter, and so are my eyes You are weathered and worn; torn by those storms Say my name, Love i want to go home, i want to come home Sailor, come home to me, put your anchor down deep. but remnants of smashed ships drift past us, dragged by the sea i can’t think, i don’t think–i just take another drink We are more than the sea, no bottle can ever be your salvation i just take another drink. i want to be great, to be something beyond extraordinary but this heart makes me normal, even lesser than ordinary i learned to talk without words, to use my hands to breed life i once held a girl’s hand, hoping to make her my wife I see your weathered eyes stare up over your glass And I hear you talk about love that could repurpose the past We give permission for the remission of inhibition, And begin to breathe life into our broken condition But at sea, life is different, there’s survival and the now to know and understand the difference between port, stern, and bow to know your hands and to tie knots, and to not get them wrong to watch stars in the night sky, to see how far we are along You’ve forgotten the feel of dirt, the careful creases of a flower The warmth of a hill, the damp smell of a spring shower All those men on the ladders with dreams that have shattered They are fighting for truth, to feel something that matters sailors knots turn to nooses, the catspaw is sharpened some find their death in the bottle, some from the hands of men man overboard is no longer a cry for help, rather a declaration of what lies deep within ourself dreams are dashed on rolling waves, no sirens call out to play and the sight of a sunrise just makes you hate the day because you know that within it you’ll come face to face with yourself and nighttime brings brief respite, a slight pause from your hallowed hell gulls announce the land, way before we can even see it prayers are cast up from both the saved and the heathens with the land comes promises of better life, but we all quietly know the truth we’re all the same men as we once were in our violent youths the sirens will be replaced with rouge covered harlots instead of floating on top of the drink, we’ll nod off in it but we hope that maybe one day, we’ll be greater than we are now and i can feel my love, as i stand, watching on the starboard bow i see her face, she’s there waiting on the dock as the land cries out, i have to relearn how to walk the land doesn’t sway, doesn’t feel quite alive maybe i’m the same way, i’ve gained different eyes i’ve seen the stars, reflecting from the sea and i understand truly, how much distance is in between two lovers who are apart, with a glimmer of hope who believe in a resurrection of these thirsty dry bones
4.
telling stories with a maglite, face glowing like embers remember, they said, because its early november but vindictive villains don’t know what hit ‘em like a ventriloquist, i speak without moving my lips these line are written, more scripted than hollywood play your part, cash out, watch the flame burn wood until the coals no longer entice the cold and shivering, left you there amidst your goals–now too old see the scene, where you once held your dreams and your parents beam, and this made you happy you seek to be meek, but swell up with your own fame glorify the sights that light up and scribbles your own name take hits from the bottle, hints from your bible hints from your friends, hits from your rivals check your ropes and your cables, monitor your vitals check ‘em in an hour–see if you’re alive still and i am still glistening, ears to the sky, perked up, listening unclean like some forgotten seam wondering what is happening but i still fight, no right turned left left behind like i spilled my craft for the last time spelled out in the sky, there the stars align and jupiter, mars, and venus are reflected in your eyes i see my future, my past, my right now with a ruffle of your brow, you ask me how i knew who you were, knew how you ticked? it’s easy, i replied see, you’re not so different from me different face, different mask, yeah, even different dream but you still want to be seen past your skinned knees this is a love song i hope you’ll learn to sing “This is a love song, sing it to me” like a fiend, stealthily crawling and creeping we watched as we became this one thing you sang a love song to me, and i listened and i sang one to you, and you sang along you kissed my scars, then gave me a couple more i kissed your lips that led us to the floor we understand that this is how we heal we understand that this is how we’re real take hits from the bottle, hints from your bible hints from your friends, hits from your rivals check your ropes and your cables, monitor your vitals check ‘em in an hour–see if you’re alive still see, you’re not so different from me different face, different mask, even different dream but we still want to be seen past our skinned knees this is a love song i hope we’ll learn to sing “This is a love song, won’t you sing it to me.”
5.
the land is as adventurous as the rolling waves even the lustered images in my mind will one day fade i’ll think of it fondly, at my time when i was away but i promise you i’m here for good, i’m here to stay I have journeys of my own and waves that call my name I feel habits clinging and voices singing that I’m nothing but the same But then I see you standing with your back against the waves And I choose the land; I choose your hand and I, too, am here to stay we scream into the ocean, of both our fears and our delights the sun sets behind us, while shadows drift into the oncoming night i turn around and see bushes and hills ablaze with light the land is altar-ed, and i am filled with both awe and fright I don’t know what’s past the hillside, and I’m not sure about what you’ll find Inside of me, my doubts, my dreams, but with you I’ll scream, I’ll speak Of the demons that call me home, and the drinks that dampen these bones And I’ll trust you can find something beautiful to hold They say a ship in port is safe, but that’s not why it’s built To risk and rage against the night and remain true I want to climb in deeper; I want to know you more To rummage through the mess you claim and to hear about the storms Tell me about those scoundrels; remember them out loud I will hold your compound questions for as long as you allow i vow to let you see, every part of me that there is to see both the broken and the mended, the beautiful and the ugly i can’t promise that we’ll like what lies deep beneath but i’ll be honest with you, and tell you about my time at sea  And I vow to follow your lead, even when I fear the deep sea And I’ll give you grace to forge a path that might be just a faint dream I’ll give you all my pieces, long before I’ve made them whole And I’ll take your name, reclaim the waves, and sail into your soul i’ll hold your hand tighter, especially when the storms hits and hope to make it all better, but i also know this there will be broken promises mended with grave failings  but my love, we were never promised smooth sailing They say a ship in port is safe, but that’s not why it’s built To risk and rage against the night and remain true still … remain true still.
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about

This album has been in the works for about a year now. It is an album about the sea, the journey that two people take, and what it means to both extend and receive grace for who you are and where you have been. I am indebted to both Jen Edwards and Alex Davis for the work that they put into helping me create this album.

I am always up for discussing the lyrics, or having a conversation about what you heard/felt; therefore, feel free to contact me through Bandcamp, and I'll definitely get back to you.

shalom,
will chesher

credits

released January 11, 2014

Lyrics written by Peter the Whaler & jenedwards.
Music written by Peter the Whaler.

Vocals recorded, mixed, and mastered by Alex Davis.
Instrument tracks mastered by Alex Davis.

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Peter the Whaler Arkansas

This is the solo effort of Peter the Whaler, a founding member of the hip-hop collective BTNKS. He is obsessed with finding beauty in the small things, and loves stories–which can be seen in his dense lyrical storytelling. He grew up wanting to be a rapper, a psychologist, a wanderer, a writer, a poet, an artist, and a myriad of other things...and with this project, he attempts to do just that. ... more

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