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Verses vs. Homelessness

by Shelter From the Storm

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1.
(Jess Smith) Please don’t let me drown Water in my lungs I won’t let you down Revolve around your sun Since you came around It’s like a star fell from above And now I’ve got this… Feelin' for ya Feelin' for ya Feelin' for your love Fate won’t fail me now Got this fire in my heart That can’t be put out I’ll set a flame to all that’s dark Don’t know where or how, but I know I’ll make my mark Ever since I got this… Feelin' for ya Feelin' for ya Feelin' for your love (Jordan Williams) Chaos all around I’m racing to your beacon Your every heavy sound And every single reason You’re like every perfect song With every perfect meaning Shifting through complexities of living And simplicities of being Guide me through waves of confusion Find the harbour of love, like where the map at Old souls, new fun Won’t come undone Had us clickin' like a snapback Now there’s chaos all around A fire remains within us though Associate ourselves with love Like a sail to a sail boat Heart’s remain on guard Just a castle with a big old moat And I’ve always had this feeling For that something that I’ve never seen You’ve shown me Every side of you Is everything I long to be So please… “Please don’t let me drown” (Jess Smith) Cause I’ve got that… Feelin' for ya Feelin' for ya Feelin' for your love
2.
MY GRAMMA SHE ONCE TOLD ME, IN HER SMALLTOWN SOUTHERN WAY YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER,BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE HIM PRAY THE BLANKET OF YOUR SOLITUDE,IS PURGATORY BOUND THE TANGLING OF YOUR WIRING,IS LIKE A LOST AND FOUND WHEN YOUR POCKETS GET TOO EMPTY, WHEN SOMEONE KILLS YOUR HEART WHEN THE BURDEN IS TOO HEAVY, TOO HEAVY FROM THE START BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT FINAL STEP,TAKE ONE LAST LOOK AROUND THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE REACHING OUT,TO HELP YOU OFF THE GROUND WHEN I LOOKED UP FROM MY EDGE OF CHOICE, APPEARING LIKE ST.JAMES OR PETER ,PAUL, OR MAYBE SAUL, I CAN'T RECALL THEIR NAMES I ASKED ARE YOU A MAN OF GOD, SENT HERE TO INTERVENE HE SAID "NO I'M JUST A HOMELESS MAN, BUT YOUR VIEW IS ONE I'VE SEEN" WHEN YOU STANDIN' ON THE PRECIPICE,AND THE MERMAIDS STARIN' BACK THE SMILE OF HER FORGIVENESS,THE COLD OF HER ATTACK AND AS YOU TAKE THAT FINAL BREATH, YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOUR EYE'S IS WHAT YOU ARE REMOVED FROM TIME, WITHOUT YOUR LAST GOODBYE HE SAID YOU SEEM UNCERTAIN, IS THERE SOMETHING LEFT UNDONE WERE YOU THINKING OF YOUR LEGACY,OR THINKING OF SOMEONE REFLECTION ON YOUR INNER SOUL, WHILE STARING AT THE DEEP IS SOMETHING THAT ALL MEN MUST DO, BEFORE THEY TAKE THE LEAP I FELT MY BLOOD BEGIN TO BOIL , DISMISSED HIM WITH MY HAND I SAID NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH, YOU COULD EVER UNDERSTAND WHEN HE TURNED I HEARD HIM CHUCKLE, AND I SWEAR I HEARD HIM SAY YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE HIM PRAY I TURNED MY FACE BACK TO THE SUN, AND HOLLERED OUT MY NAME IN CASE I'D BEEN FORGOTTEN, LIKE A MAN WHO'S GONE INSANE BUT MY GRAMMA DIDN'T RAISE NO FOOL, SO I TURNED AND WALKED AWAY CAUSE YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE HIM PRAY
3.
You don’t walk to the beat of your own drum You lead the band And you sure changed the tune I was singing When you took my hand Every love I’d ever known Let me down But something in my soul was hummin’, When you came around You saw my insecurities and kissed them softly to sleep Somehow I was always yours, before you ever met me How did I get so lucky, how did I get so lucky To have you lovin’ me Always said that you had two left feet Took me dancin’ anyway Somehow you made me laugh On my worst days You knew everything about me All my secrets, and my dreams Felt like I could do anything With you next to me You saw my insecurities and kissed them softly to sleep Somehow I was always yours, before you ever met me How did I get so lucky, how did I get so lucky To have you lovin’ me We were gonna sit on our front porch at 83 Watch our kids grow up, move out, and get married But after 15 years of love, life changed our plans And when my body broke, you pulled me close, and took my hand You saw my insecurities and kissed them softly to sleep Somehow I was always yours, before you ever met me How did I get so lucky, how did I get so lucky To have you lovin’ me You saw my insecurities and kissed them softly to sleep Held me as I slipped away, but part of you left with me I need you to remember who you used to be For all the pain you carry our love, it was twice as deep You might think we’re unlucky Not everyone gets this lucky
4.
Butterflies and rainbows Playing in mom’s backyard ‘Cos my little dog’s keeping guard I’m done flying kites I’m done with the curfews The White picket fence My mom and her issues I’m Done, I’m Done, I’m done Driving ahead of my headlights Flying under the radar Don’t care about the world Except dodging knives and sneers from my father I’m Done with the lies I’m done with the hiding This isn’t a life To get rich or die trying I’m Done, I’m Done, I’m done Rows of seeds in the garden Birds nesting in the trees All my cares in the world Are right here next to me Flown all my kites Told all my lies I didn’t get rich But I didn’t die tryin’ I’m done, I’m done, I’m done I’m starting to grow It’s starting to show A wife and a home My daughter chasing rainbows I’m Done, I’m Done, I’m done
5.
(Christian Hudson) Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life (Jordan Williams) They say time is money Money is a blessing But why When its the cause of most our stressing Isolate myself As if this rooms is correction lately I've been tryn'a make a little room For corrections And these scars on my arms say I learned a few lessons But I'll be damned If get if I get crushed again In these waves of depression Were all good people But that's something they rarely mention Something we don't hear Un-acceptance, un-forgiven A sub conscious root of all fears Like how you beat a beast That's stalked you for years Walk away from drama Nah I won't feed it If we can't wake up Than how we defeat it No more running Like I been defeated been through hell once I ain't gotta repeat it (Christian Hudson) Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life (Jordan Williams) When leaving what you knew Becomes nerve racking Like pink socks In new schools I gotta wake up and when Its when I’m sleeping I lose Never bought into the hype long enough We all do My eye used to be blind Now it’s open like a lotus uh I'm slowly tryn'a watch this flower bloom this is a message to myself Maybe you feel it to? (Christian Hudson) I don't wanna get out of bed Gotta get out of my head I don't wanna get out of bed my body is heavy as lead I don't wanna get out of bed you’re alive and playing Dead Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life Wake up Stop telling myself a lie Telling myself I'm alright Sleeping away my life
6.
Your home could be anything A peace of mind in simplicity Pick me up cause I’m losing steam I hear you laughing from the corner of the street I’m a friend, I’m a son, I’m an actor I’m a comedian; an animal trainer So much has happened since the last time that i saw her I’m feelin’ famous, thinking “maybe I'm a healer?” We live in the same world They're so lost when they tell me that’s absurd Give me a minute, I'm a light in the dark Show them the truth; there’s a beauty in the bark. I’m a friend, I’m a son, I’m an actor I’m a comedian; an animal trainer So much has happened since the last time that i saw her I’m feelin’ famous, thinking “maybe I'm a healer?” Comin’ out, there’s no doubt “Cause that’s just me!” Within these walls I'm standing tall, feelin’ free Taking the good with the bad, I'm singing loud I’m feeling happy every time I hear that sound.
7.
14 people sleeping on the floor Caring for them all at 5 years old Hardly ever see the sun Hiding food for when the money runs out First thing I learned was dance and keep dancing Keep everyone happy And so I danced and I danced and I danced Bullied about second hand clothes, boys clothes Haircut with a bowl No money for lunch Teachers pitch in to get me some Toys thrown in a plastic bag Grandma's hockey stick Chase him out of the house Eviction notice on the door What could be better than something else? hard, fast hits Fear, pain, lost, drunk, pulled, bullied, why, down, drowning hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt But like the tall grass by the Bow, I will blow and bend but never break When I was alone I was saved by the promise of happiness Then you fostered my dreams And you taught me forgiveness Thank you for showing me And my little one, who has already seen too much From now on You will always see the sun You will always see the sun My son
8.
Slide. Slide over here, if you can lend an ear Slide, slide over there, if you really just don’t care We’re looking for a soul groove, we’re spirits born free to move Ain’t he just like you and me, to stand tall and be free Won’t you listen to this sister, She will make you a believer A story ‘bout a brother, who’s looking for an answer Up and down and all around, he’s yearning for some common ground He didn’t have a plan, then along came a man He said listen son carefully, just between you and me You can call home, pick up the phone When you’re lonesome and all alone Don’t be torn, just be free, fly like an eagle to the sea Slide. Slide over here, if you can lend an ear Slide, slide over there, if you really just don’t care We’re looking for a soul groove, we’re spirits born free to move Ain’t he just like you and me, to stand tall and be free Won’t you listen to this sister, She will make you a believer He’s a feather in the wind, blown away but not forgotten Bewildered, bothered, but still driven, to climb the towering mountain To sprout his dream, in a sunlit stream, reflecting like a glowing beam Of journeys yet to be discovered, trusting faith to be remembered Moving forward into unknown, to carve his seat, on the winner’s throne To gaze at the corner stone, and find some place to call his own And finally reach a destiny of being free Eternally Slide. Slide over here, if you can lend an ear Slide, slide over there, if you really just don’t care We’re looking for a soul groove, we’re spirits born free to move Ain’t he just like you and me, to stand tall and be free Won’t you listen to this sister, She will make you a believer Slide. Slide over here, if you can lend an ear Slide, slide over there, if you really just don’t care We’re looking for a soul groove, we’re spirits born free to move Ain’t he just like you and me, to stand tall and be free Won’t you listen to this sister, She will make you a believer Yeah I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, that’s my demeanor, A user, a liar, a cheater A loner, a wanderer, a dreamer But by the end of the day, all I truly have to say It’s to be free, him, you and me, and all of humanity Looking for a soul groove, looking for a soul groove Looking for a soul groove, looking for a soul groove
9.
Haunted haunted We once had a name 'Til the changes came Haunted I'm haunted Name was then lost Cast aside just like dross Haunted it just might be gettin to me Sojurn Sojurn It's time to move Get some dust on these shoes Sojurn Sojurn Here we can't dwell Countries torn up to hell Sojurn it just might be getting to me Conscience Conscience Aware of my sin They said it’s within Conscience Conscience They called us the first Ain't the place of our birth Conscience it just might be getting to me Malice malice The only release Where I find some peace Malice Malice I just wanna rage But remain in this cage Malice it just might be getting to me Silence silence The noise resounds Buries me in the ground Silence Silence Led heavy heart Overwhelmed by the dark Silence it just might be getting to me
10.
Been 10 years since the death threats came. And the life I chose tore me away from you. Suddenly. This ain’t my country or my home But I’ve found some shelter, found some work to do And I’m lonely. I still live in fear, it’s like background noise. If I came back that night I’d have led them straight to you. And the children. Now I miss you. I miss you. If this hasn’t killed us, there’s nothing death can do. Away from my family, in exile alone Working and waiting. I wish I was home. Thousands of tears wait behind my smiles I’ve lost things most men can’t bear to lose But I’ve kept my faith, my health And my love for my babies Sweet Maria was 9 years old Manuel was growing strong. Miguel was too. I have a granddaughter now. And I so want to hold her. Always wondered how they played How they laughed, why they cried How they feel, what they say, and do? How do they get through? Now I miss you. I miss you. If this hasn’t killed us, there’s nothing death can do. Away from my family, in exile alone Working and waiting. I wish I was home. Catching my breath, I pause to recover. Been running since I left, now it’s time to discover Between life and death, I hear the voice of my Mother. “Wake up my Heart” she sang, to me and my brother. There’s life in our dreams Can I return, Is now the time There’s life in our dreams If I open this door what will protect me? There’s life in our dreams If I reach for your hand, will it still be there? There’s life in our dreams I miss you. I miss you If this hasn’t killed us, there’s nothing death can do.

credits

released June 23, 2016

Vocals (in order of appearance):
Jess Smith, Jordan Williams, Lenny Howell, Mariya Stokes, Perry Wilson, Christian Hudson, Tyler Wilson, Debra Power, Rosalee Goshinmon, and Michael Frisby

Electric & Acoustic Guitar:
Kris Demeanor, Michael Frisby, Neil Gunhold, Lenny Howell, Mariya Stokes, and Perry Wilson

Bass: Chris Byrne
Drums: Kent Macrae
B3 Organ: Mike Little
Piano & Synth: Steve Dierkens

Recorded by:
Steve Dierkens @ Studio D, Calgary, AB
Lorrie Matheson @& Arch Audio, Calgary, AB

Album Artwork & Design:
Steven Baldwin, Jasmine Atay, Jake Shapka, & Steve Baldwin
Photography:
Breeze Photography and Manisha Ghooi

Executive Producer: Steve Baldwin
Album Producer: Steve Dierkens

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Shelter From the Storm Calgary, Alberta

In 2015, a group of staff, clients and volunteers at Canada's largest homeless serving agency - the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre - joined forces to write songs, share experiences and transform the way their stories are told.

The project has since resulted in concert performances, an ongoing TELUS web-series, and 2 full length studio albums.

This is the music of Shelter From the Storm.
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