1. |
Whitecaps
02:34
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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
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2. |
The Shipyard
04:23
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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
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3. |
The Ship
05:41
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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
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4. |
Song of the Sirens
04:10
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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.”
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5. |
Smooth Sailing
04:00
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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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6. |
Whitecaps Instrumental
02:34
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7. |
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8. |
The Ship Instrumental
05:41
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9. |
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10. |
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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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