Ted Leo
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#2 Competition at Calvary
🕑 Added 2024-02-09 03:54:44 +0000 UTCThis is a reworking of a song that I wrote back in 2016 for a series that the great Ben Arthur was doing, in which he placed songwriters with authors and had us write something sparked by a story. I had the honor of being paired with Joyce Carl Oates, and jumping off from her story, "Deceit," wrote a maudlin thing about martyrdom and family dynamics. As I mention in the video, I don't think she liked it! But that's ok. I thought it was cool, and now that I've revisited and rewritten it, I think it's cooler! I reworked the lyrics and arrangement, as well as recorded, mixed, and "mastered" it, TODAY, Feb. 8, 2024. Lyrics and downloads below. Thank you for subscribing! Much more to come.
COMPETITION AT CALVARY
There’s a fire in the blood that makes you breathe a little faster
And a fear of the flood, though there’ll be peace beyond disaster
Who caused the loss to go from bad to worst
Who bought the cross and who climbed on it first
And has there always been rot in the studs
Underneath all the plaster
Never leaving a trace, never needing assistance
We talk of giving it space, but it’s breeding a distance
Who’s got the patience, who of us can bear it, since
Alienation’s our only inheritance, and
Who can keep up the pace when you’re meeting resistance
When you were young, you were alone like me
Finding the trains on your own in the city
Drawing a line, saying, “This life is mine”
But back in your room, you’d just lay down and cry
The stewing of spleen and resentment will feed
And you will partake ‘cause no one knows what they need
You’ll hope that they’ll notice that you haven’t been seen
You’ll hide with your pride, but what you really mean is
Find me - come on and find me, find me, find me
Another link in the chain, and we’re not free to defeat it
Another verse and refrain, we receive and repeat it
Whose albatross descended with the curse
Who brought the cross, and when does it reverse it, oh
Another gift with a stain, an aggrieved guaranteeing
Who brought the cross and who climbed on it first
Comments
Ted Leo
Nice - thanks!
Bob Frangooles
My first patron sign up…took Ted to get me to expand my horizons.
Ted Leo
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Jay Vee
So happy to have this avenue to be able support your work— been such a big fan for so many years.
