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Ordinary Life

by Brother Lawrence

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1.
Younger Days 04:52
I've been thinking 'bout my younger days There was magic back then Hendrix pumping out some "Purple Haze" The music filled up the air You and I we would sit for hours Listening to our favorite songs Side by side on a piano bench Harmonizing all night long And I would stare into your cool blue eyes And play my guitar just for you The lyrics teaching us of love and war Of freedom peace and feeling the blues We believed it we were young and green Hopelessly in love with the idea Of brining back something that the world had lost A purpose that seemed so real. I've been thinking 'bout my younger days The guys I hung with and my band Playing dances after football games The lights and music were grand We were so happy being on the stage Playing our music for the crowd It lifted us above the masses Made us seem different somehow But really we were just like everyone else Soaring on the clouds of our youth Socially conscious in a carefree way Defined us in a way we didn't understand A generation standing on its own Marching together facing down the man Always marching in tune Oh the purity of truth, we believed it in our youth Oh the sanctity of love, freely given like the stars above I've been thinking 'bout my younger days Life was simpler back then I didn't believe it at the time But looking back it all becomes clear I don't believe there's much that I would change Maybe a memory or two But really nothing too material A little tweaking would do 'Cause who we were then has a lot to do With who we are today I kinda like myself the way I am And that's a good thing to say Sure I can improve a little here and there I believe that it's true But thank the Lord that I can still recall The boy I was in my youth.
2.
Late at night when there's nothing to hear In the silent midnight I must deal with my fear I lock away those sad memories so near At all times so close to the surface In those darkest hours, when there's nothing to see I try to forget that you had to be free All of those memories are so painful to me My anxiety services no purpose What's the point in breaking it down, focusing on the minutiae Should I bury it miles underground when it's sure to break out again Unable to sleep, demons race through my brain I want so much to call, but I have to refrain And those memories come down like an onrushing train And crash the barriers of my resistance I can't shut off my brain, turn off my inner thoughts I recall all the years, the good and bad that they brought whether nightmares or dreams, they are all that I got I can't hide or deny their existence
3.
Time Dreams 05:05
It's said you can't move backward so move it forward instead But sometimes I'm at a standstill, there's nothing in my head They say don't live in the past my friend, the future's yours to behold But this moment is all I can deal with, I've put the rest on hold All I can do is take it one dream at a time yesterday's a dream that fell through tomorrow's dream I may not find, tomorrow's dream I may not find There are times when I think too much, and times I don't think it thru The times are don't think at all are the moments I spend with you Some days are tougher than others, some days are life at its best But most days I feel are simply days like all the rest All I can do is take it one dream at a time yesterday's a dream that fell through tomorrow's dream I may not find, tomorrow's dream I may not find
4.
I had no one else to blame When I came crashing down in flames High above some broken wall Having no where else to fall I picked up my scattered broken bones And put them all in a sack I locked the experience up in my brain And then vowed that I’d never look back Where’s that frontier woman gone I’ve come traipsing through her lawn The grass has grown beyond control The walls are here but there’s no soul I toss my bag over my shoulder And walk right into her room The bed’s unmade but the tv’s on Maybe she will come back soon When you break don’t hesitate Get back up though you are weary When you fall it’s not too late Taking it step by step it’s not that scary Somewhere out across that highway I can still play my game my way If I live like I’ve been taught Love is given never bought And don’t look for some obvious answer At the same time don’t look too deep Finding in between some purpose in my life Maybe I can earn my keep
5.
Into the Fog 05:22
Into the fog I stumble on. Into the fog where I can't see. Into the fog I go alone. Into the fog it's only me. Lost and alone I keep on searching without sight Looking for what, you think I know Numbness follows me, I don't know left from right Still I sense that I must go into the fog Into the fire I shove my hand. Into the fire I feel the pain. Into the fire it's all been planned. Into the fire I go again. Knowing that hurt must follow all the confusion Wondering if I have the strength Is that my path ahead, or just an illusion? I go full body, width and length, into the fire Into the fog and into the fire This is where my fate leads Into the fog and into the fire Haziness and heat to free me Into the light I find my way. Into the light shine out on me. Into the light come dazzling day. Into the light, see now I'm free. Something taught me, something brought me to this place Maybe nothing, maybe something, I don't know Whatever is, whatever will be, I can face Lead me on oh blessed song, into the light Into the fog, into fire, into the light
6.
I'm a man. Lord knows that's who I am I've been down that road, I'm not feeling so old Somehow I manage to stand When one day is over, beginning another That's all there is to my plan, cause I'm just a man I'm a boy. Still playing with my toys. I have so much fun when I'm on the run Taking some time to enjoy I don't plan ahead, I get lost instead I'm not saying that to be coy, you see I'm just a boy. I'm alive. It's not just that I survived I savor my meals, I crave all that I feel I take it all in as I drive And if I should find it, I’ll be standing inside it Knowing that I have arrived, and that I'm alive.
7.
8.
Seeking pleasure from the past, think it's firmly in your grasp Retrieve it slowly from the lead in your head Flying blindly towards the sun, are you having any fun Burning, burning like the coals in your bed Is the thing you want to be something you can truly find? Is the thing you need to see the very thing that knocks you blind? The thing may finally close your mind Returning memories to your dreams, unapproachable it seems But you persist, parading on, forever gone Swimming headlong through the waves hoping fiercely you'll be saved But you've been drowning out your song all along Is the thing you want to be something you can truly find? Is the thing you need to see the very thing that knocks you blind? The thing may finally close your mind Seek and find, leave behind Come and go, very slow, very slow So suspiciously aware, every worry, every care The endings of your nerves so keen to where you've been And when you find the magic place, put a mask upon your face So you don't recognize yourself in every seen Is the thing you want to be, something you can truly find? Is the thing you need to see, the very thing that knocks you blind? The thing may finally close your mind
9.
In a corner of my house, in a room that's been locked up for years Something hidden inside there... all my fears, all my fears I keep it locked, no one enters, can't allow anybody to see Cause what is hiding inside there is just for me, just for me And I keep it to myself, and I guard it selfishly, but in a way the hurts no one So don't ask me to reveal, I will hold out selfishly, you would only make me run In a corner of my house, stowed away in a padlocked chest All my visions distorted and put to rest, put to rest I don't try to unlock it, but keep it stored in a timeless vault And it's there to remind me, it's all my fault, all my fault And I keep it to myself, and I guard it selfishly, but in a way the hurts no one So don't ask me to reveal, I will hold out selfishly, you would only make me run, make me run
10.
In this ordinary life what extraordinary things Do you recall or can you count upon your fingers When you add them 1, 2, 3, are you surprised at all to find So many memories where you wanted time to linger Magic moments floating by far too quickly so it seems But etching firmly in some safe place And as you remember all it washes over wave by wave, by wave In this ordinary life so many people come and go Will you remember them when you have grown much older Children that you played with in your backyard happily Do their faces come to mind when memory’s colder And buddies in your college days when you were campus kings and queens And days were dull but nights were grand Names and faces flashing true but nothing you can hold in your hand in your hand Ordinary life, ordinary people Extraordinary gift to us all Ordinary life, ordinary days The pieces of a puzzle beautiful In this ordinary life days fly by no standing still Each of us must write the words and sing our song Fully living fully loving having something to believe And make it better for the next to come along When we leave this place behind who will know, who will care If we leave it as we found it Only if we take this ordinary life and wrap our arms around it, around it Wrap our arms around it Wrap our arms around it And wrap our arms around it

about

This project began in 2010, then life happened, many changes and distractions. A heart attack in summer of 2015 caused my son to say "Dad, you need to finish this project!". And I have... I hope you enjoy listening.

credits

released December 23, 2016

All songs written and performed by Larry Sims
Drums and bass by Brandt Sims
Mastered by Brandt Sims at Wicketsmusik Recordings
Cover art by Aaron Musgrove

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Brother Lawrence Moultrie, Georgia

Brother Lawrence is Larry Sims.

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