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Thirst

by Randy Stonehill

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1.
Hand Of God 04:16
Can you confront these shadows? Can you face your fears up close? When you look them in the eye, you'll see they're just a lie, an imaginary ghost, Can you embrace your sadness, taste the salt of your tears? Start laughing when you cry, 'cause it means that you're alive; and thank God you're standing here. And there's a road through the mountains high, There's a boat that can take you across the river wide, For every heart love has healed, every hope faith makes real - in all these things, oh, I have seen the hand of God. Can you confess your darkness? Gaze in the mirror of your soul, then rise above the shame, for mercy is a flame and its light will lead you home, Will you lay down your anger, ah, the wayward sons of Cain? And fall upon your knees, for truth will set you free and forgiveness kills your pain. And there's a road through the mountains high, There's a boat that can take you across the river wide, For every heart love has healed, every hope faith makes real - in all these things, oh, I have seen the hand of God. Jesus is standing before every man, shining bright as the sun, All of creation cries out His name; from the stars in the heavens, the blood in our veins, Only one glimpse of His face - the whole world has changed. And there's a road through the mountains high, There's a boat that can take you across the river wide, For every heart love has healed, every hope faith makes real - in all these things, oh, I have seen the hand of God, yeah, In all these things, oh, I have seen the hand of God.
2.
Fire 05:52
Fire, holy flame, walk with me, walk with me, Fire, holy flame, take my heart and burn away this darkness in your fire. I did not know that I was blind until I looked into your eyes, I did not know that I was lost until you found me, I did not know I was a fool until I heard the words you speak, They are Spirit, they are life, they are... Fire, holy flame, walk with me, walk with me, Fire, holy flame, take my hand, and I will follow you into your fire. I did not know my savage thirst until you lead me to your well, I did not know I lived in chains until you freed me, I did not know I was afraid until you gave your perfect love, Love that casts out all my fear. Fire, holy flame, walk with me, walk with me, yeah, Fire, holy flame, take my soul, that I may dwell forever in your fire. And when I feel the flame within this burning, white-hot light of truth, my body trembles 'til I fear my flesh will leave my bones, My soul is filled with mourning such as I have never known, A piercing, aching sorrow, heavy as a grave stone, And I cry out, "I am ruined, oh, I am undone," Then, like Ezekiel, you bring burning coals to touch my tongue, cleansing me from my iniquity, Under the shadow of your cross, you shelter me, You shelter me... In your fire, holy flame, walk with me, walk with me, Oh, fire, holy flame, take my hand, take my heart, take my soul, Fire, holy flame, walk with me, take my hand and walk with me, walk with me. I will follow you, And I will follow you, I will follow you.
3.
Sleeping 04:12
I see the world as a perfect place, No tears, no fears, no dizzy fall from grace, No hungry mouths, no one in pain, No naked orphans in the rain. But I was only sleeping, Safe and warm in bed while the world was weeping, hanging by a thread, I was only sleeping. Sometimes a voice whispers in the night about the river of souls running through my life, Lives in the balance, see them sinking down, Will I reach out or watch them drown? But I just go on sleeping, Safe within my dream, yeah, while the world is weeping, bleeding at the seams, I just go on sleeping. Sleeping. The harvest is ready and ripe, but the fields are on fire, The workers deserted to chase the mirage of desire, And I was only sleeping. (sleep) Sleeping. There's a mournful dove at my window sill, If I don't wake up, who will?
4.
Shining down from the Father of Lights, every good thing in my life, Raining down from the Father of Lights they come down from the Father of Lights. One bright star burns away my darkness, One true hope gives me strength to stand, And my soul has found a resting place in the hollow of God's hand, Every river I could not cross, Every dream that the wind has tossed, Sting of failure, the pain of loss - they all just fade away, And love comes down. Shining down from the Father of Lights, every good thing in my life, There's no doubt about it I can see, Raining down from the Father of Lights, through the sacred sacrifice, Now He pours His blessings down on me, down on me, They come down from the Father of Lights. I have learned to embrace the laughter, to see the beauty in simple things, And my heart has found the freedom a childlike faith can bring, Faith in more than I see or feel, Faith in something that's much more real, The one thing even death can't steal - it never fades away. And love comes down. Shining down from the Father of Lights, every good thing in my life, There's no doubt about it I can see, Raining down from the Father of Lights, through the sacred sacrifice, Now He pours His blessings down on me, down on me, They come down from the Father of Lights. Down from the Father, They come down from the Father, Down from the Father of Lights. This pearl, beyond all price, is worth every sacrifice, Give my soul, and not think twice, It never fades away, Love, not fade away, And it all comes down. Shining down from the Father of Lights, every good thing in my life, Raining down from the Father of Lights, They come down from the Father... down from the Father of Lights, Shining down from the Father of Lights, through the sacred sacrifice, Raining down from the Father of Lights, They come down from the Father... down from the Father... down from the Father of Lights.
5.
I'm gonna lay myself down in that sweet, rolling river 'til the cool, flowing water has washed me clean, And, when I rise in the sunlight, I will gaze ever homeward, for there'll be no need to look back again. And angels' wings were fluttering over my shoulders, And they lifted me up above all this darkness and dust, And my heart was on fire when I heard the song they were singing, They sang, "Don't you remember you were born to be free, just like us?" And I dreamed of a meadow filled with beautiful flowers And silvery white horses, I was watching them run And all of my loved ones who had gone home before me, They were there by my side, we were there, everyone, oh yeah. And angels' wings were fluttering over my shoulders, And they lifted me up above all this darkness and dust, And my heart was on fire when I heard the song they were singing, They sang, "Don't you remember you were born to be free, just like us?" Now the devil was waiting, standing there at the crossroads, he smiled like he knew me, and I hung my head down, Then a white dove descended, shining bright as the morning and, though Satan was shouting, he could not make a sound, yeah. I have struggled so long on this strange pilgrim journey, And the wild wind has cut me as the sands of time blow, But it all will be worth it when I kneel before Jesus, And His face has been carved in the stone of my soul, oh yeah. And angels' wings were fluttering over my shoulders, And they lifted me up above all this darkness and dust, And my heart was on fire when I heard the song they were singing, They sang, "Don't you remember you were born to be free, just like us?" "Don't you remember you were born to be free, just like us?" Don't you remember? Don't you remember? Remember. © 1998 Stonehillian Music / ASCAP.
6.
Hey, hey, hey. Oh, my girl loves surprises, so I bought a pair of tickets and we went to see the greatest show on earth, where everybody comes to have a really good time underneath the big top, Oh, she seemed so delighted with the lions and the tigers, and the men on the flying trapeze, Oh, but when the clowns come around, she clinches her fists, she looks as if she's catching a disease. Baby hates clowns and the tricks they do, Baby hates clowns in their great big shoes, Baby hates clowns with their polka dot clothes, Baby hates clowns with their big red nose, Now I get a little nervous every time that the circus comes to town, I don't know why baby hates clowns. Hey, hey, hey. Well, I gingerly suggested she was over-caffeinated, or perhaps she had a simple case of nerves, She said, as she glared at me with eyes like knives, "You gotta a lot to learn, boy," So, I quick dropped the subject like a flaming hot potato, but it didn't bring her any relief, Oh, and it's so hard to pretend everything is just swell when she's muttering and grinding her teeth. Baby hates clowns with their stubby cigars, Baby hates clowns in their little toy cars, Baby hates clowns when they tumble and they flip, Baby hates clowns with their painted on lips, Now it's no exaggeration and there's not an explanation I have found, I don't know why baby hates clowns. She gets so traumatized, and I feel paralysed, In the midst of her psycho drama, I don't know what to do, It's such a mystery: all this hostility, I tell her she should lighten up, but all she does is tighten up and come unglued. It's so unsettling. My girl loves surprises but I never realised she was vexed with a complicated mind, And I'm not sure whether it's a colourful quirk or some flavour of dementia, How I wish I could say there was a moral to the story, something cute about venting her angst, Oh, but let the truth be known: I'm in the twilight zone, Some guy dressed up like bozo gets the thanks. Baby hates clowns; it's truly bizarre, Baby hates clowns; it's the way they are, Baby hates clowns; man, it's making me nuts, Baby hates clowns, she hates their guts, Now I get a little nervous every time that the circus... I get a little nervous every time that the circus... Get a little nervous every time the circus comes to town, Oh, I don't know why baby hates clowns, hey. Hey, hey, hey, Hey, hey, hey, yeah. She can't stand them.
7.
Mighty Father of creation, You who stand outside of time To Your beauty no other can compare While I still cast a shadow in these precious days of grace Your countless tender mercies I'll declare Perhaps it is the wisdom only weariness can bring But I've come to distinguish what is real from what it seems I've danced just like a dervish to the symphony of liars But Your voice of love rose above that desolation choir Desolation choir Won't you take me as Your child of light Break me if You must, I won't despair 'Til every breath I breathe is a song of praise Every heartbeat is a prayer 'Til every breath I breathe is a song of praise Every heartbeat is a prayer Oh, speak to me in the silence Come to me in my dreams Call me through the clutter of these days If I should turn to blindness Oh, let the church bells ring Pull me back before I fall away For I have stumbled down many a dark and crooked mile Where seduction and destruction have dogged me all the while And the very things that I've embraced to medicate my pain Turned out to be impostors and poison in my veins They were poison in my veins [repeat Chorus] From the day we are born to the day they close our eyes We are aching for belonging Won't you take me as Your child of light Break me if You must, I do not care Til every breath I breathe is a song of praise Every heartbeat is a prayer 'Til every breath I breathe is a song of praise Every heartbeat is a prayer
8.
Lonely House 03:33
I want to tell you everything; tell you who I am, I need to be the one you trust, and take you by the hand, But when I try, you pull away, and I don't understand. Here we are in the lonely house, We can't talk about it, because the anger might come out, Here we stay, crying hidden tears, Days turn into years in the lonely house, the lonely house. We can touch, but even then it doesn't bring us close, All the things we've left unsaid hover like a ghost, To be a stranger in your arms, that breaks my heart the most. Here we are in the lonely house, We can't talk about it, because the anger might come out, Here we stay, crying hidden tears, Days turn into years in the lonely house, It's a lonely house. There's a shadow in the room, There's a shadow in the room, Let's just ignore it, though it's choking out the light, We're too afraid to fight, so we'll ignore it, And hope that someday it will just fade away. Here we are in the lonely house, And it's sad, but true: I can't say these things to you.
9.
Little Rose 05:18
An angel walks beside her through the dusty Haitian streets, Her school books get so heavy, and she's weary from the heat, But she looks for all the beauty she can trace, In a harsh and hopeless place, there's a reason for believing. And, oh, how you blessed my soul as I've watched a holy love entwine you, Faith, like flowers, grow, And now all the blossoms bloom, I believe in miracles each time I look at you, Heaven knows you're a little rose, my little rose. On the morning I first met her, she was just a child of ten, An orphan, like so many others, lost upon the wind, And I knew my world would never be the same, She said, "Dina is my name," and I held her like a daughter. And, oh, how you blessed my soul as I've watched a holy love entwine you, Faith, like flowers, grow, And now all the blossoms bloom, I believe in miracles each time I look at you, Heaven knows you're a little rose, you're my little rose. Though the land and sky, and water, stand between us, still a father's love can reach across the miles, Yeah. And if we never meet again, you can be sure - when we finally step through Heaven's shining door, of all the saints, all the faces, you're the first I'll look for. And, oh, how you blessed my soul as I've watched a holy love entwine you, Faith, like flowers, grow, And now all the blossoms bloom, I believe in miracles each time I look at you, Heaven knows you're a little rose, my little rose. Now an angel walks beside her through the dusty Haitian streets.
10.
You may know the ways of this world like the back of your hand, be as shrewd as a serpent in Eden's tree, But all his tempting substitutes cannot compare to the simple truth. You can turn the right, turn to the left, 'til you turn to the one who gives us breath, Everything you do, everything you are, everything you know is incorrect. You may be a techno tycoon, just like William Gates, You may travel the world like a Rolling Stone, But if the truth don't set you free, you'll only be a refugee. You can turn the right, turn to the left, 'til you turn to the one who gives us breath, Everything you do, and everything you are, everything you know is incorrect. Pull out that rotten wisdom tooth; now that's a wise extraction, For all the good it's given you, you still can't get no, get no, get no satisfaction, no. You may know the roar of applause and the spotlight of fame, have a face that could grace every magazine, You may be the president, and think you're power is Heaven sent. Oh, you can turn the right, turn to the left, 'til you turn to the one who gives us breath, Everything you do, everything you are, everything you know is incorrect, You can turn the right, turn to the left, 'til you turn to the one that loves you best, Everything you do, everything you are, and everything you know is incorrect.
11.
I am the keeper of the bear, I bring him here, I take him there, Oh, what a special bond we share, The truth is plain: we truly care, And if you see us on the street, there is a bear you'll love to meet, Why, just to pet him is a treat - no reason to be scared, oh. I am the keeper of ... I am the keeper of... The keeper of the bear. I am the keeper of the bear, When winter comes, I am prepared, He keeps me warm in all his hair - you think he'd mind, but au contraire, And though it seems a little odd, we're like two peas within the pod, To me he is a gift from God: a joy that we both share, yes. I am the keeper of ... I am the keeper of... The keeper of the bear. When someone comes a-prowling, my bear begins his growling to let them know their plan was not so bright, And though he'd always rather use his bark and not his bite, if push comes to a shove, he'll never shrink back from a fight, It's best to heed our warning, lest you meet a grizzly end, For, to be sure, we'd much prefer to have you as our friend, yes, I am the keeper of ... I am the keeper of... The keeper of the bear.

about

A Street Level Records Production

Produced by Rick Elias (courtesy of BMG Productions)
Executive Producers: Dean Diehl and Ray Ware
String arrangements by Tom Howard
Recorded at The Whitehouse, The Carport, Buya and Soundstage Studios
Engineered by Russ Long
Assisted by Chris Grainger and Tara Wilson
Additional Engineering by Gregg Jampol
Mixed by J.R. McNeely at The Sound Kitchen
Assisted by Todd Gunnerson and Mat5t
Mastered by Hank Williams at MasterMix
Loops courtesy of Spectrasonics

Musicians:
Guitars – Rick Elias, Jerry McPherson, Randy Stonehill
Guest guitarist on “Hand Of God” – Stuart Adamson
Drums – Bob Sale, Chris McHugh
Bass – Jackie Street, Matt Pierson
B-3 and accordion – Phil Madeira
Piano – Tom Howard
Percussion – Russ Long
Indian lap dulcimer, banjo, and portachord – Jerry McPherson
Strings – Nashville String Machine
BGV’s – Linda Elias, Rick Elias, Tom Howard
Violin – Tammy Rogers

Art direction – Jimmy Abegg, Scott Hughes
Illustration © Jimmy Abegg 1997
Design by Provident Music Group, Shawn Stewart
Photography – Ben Pearson

Special Thanks to:
My wife Sandi and my daughter Heather for being supportive through yet another crazy recording schedule. Ray Ware for wise counsel and true friendship. Sue Ware for always making room at the “Ware Hilton.” Holly Benyousky and Street Level Agency for faithfully keeping me alive. Dean Diehl and the team at Brentwood Records for all your hard work and enthusiasm. Rick and Linda Elias (the Duke and Duchess of cool) for more than I can say. Russ Long and J.R. McNeely for your professionalism and friendship during all the long hours. Mike Johnson and all my friends at Compassion International for your real servants’ hearts. Bob Carlisle for your generous spirit and guitar loans. Dan Keen at ASCAP… you are “the real deal.” The D’Angelico Company for the great guitar strings. Zach “Keeper Of The Bear” Elias for the inspiration.

credits

released May 19, 2021

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Randy Stonehill South Carolina

Randy Stonehill has been busy delivering heart-driven, relevant Christian music for more than 50 years. His first album "Born Twice," produced by Larry Norman was released in 1971, marking 2021 as Randy's Golden anniversary.
He’s written hundreds of songs with 27 releases and counting, and he’s responsible for some of the most authentic, influential Christian music ever written.
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