Silence is a collection of simple, acoustic songs, recorded in my dark and lonely basement, born out of a four year season of darkness, struggle and loss.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (49:10) !
Related styles: Folk: Fingerstyle, Folk: Jazzy folk, Type: Acoustic

People who are interested in Amos Lee Jamie Cullum Kings of Convenience should consider this download.


Details:
The songs on this album were primarily composed during a long season of darkness, struggle and deep personal loss. They tell some of the story and I hope, reflect some of the deep emotional, physical and spiritual wrestling that has gone on during the years leading up to this project. I have included the lyrics here and hope they will engage your heart, mind and soul at some level as you struggle your own way down life's road.

SILENCE - ©2011 Anthony W. Archer


Childish Game
(Anthony W. Archer ©2011)

Where are You, why do You hide from me
Feels like some childish game, Iâve no desire to play
Iâve got no energy to look for You today
So stop this childish game. Iâve no desire to play

Iâve been waiting here for what seems like years
The silence is so loud, a constant ringing in my ears
Seek and you will find, I swear I heard You say
So stop this childish game. Iâve no desire to play

(Chorus)
Where do I go when Youâre nowhere to be found
To whom will I run when my world comes crashinâ down
And You are not around
Iâd cry out for help, just to find that there is none
So who will be my Savior if the Savior never comes

My prayers have hit a wall and fallen hard upon the floor
My knuckles bruised and bleeding from pounding on the door
Iâd sing another song, but what would be the point
A host of empty words and a melody like noise

(Bridge)
Who will rescue me if You wonât
Hope itâs not up to me if You donât


Out Of This Silence - Inspired by Henri Nouwen's book "The Way of the Heart"
(Anthony W. Archer ©2001)

Buy this, sell this, drink this, eat this, stay here, go there, get one, take two
Feel better, get rich, be smart, eat well, save money
Special offer, try it today, two for one, new and improved

(Chorus)
Empty words, shattered dreams, broken hearts
Have you heard, do you see, can we start
Out of this silence my heart speaks, can you hear my words
Out of this silence my heart sings, can you feel my song

More time, less work, great value, new look, super size
Grand prize, wellness matters, genuine leather
Slow roasted, order now, limited time, lowest price ever
In style, hot deals, act now, look your best

(Chorus)

Find peace, walk slow, breathe deep, go far, look around
Make time, find space, live smart, listen


Watch Over Me - Living the 23rd Psalm
(Anthony W. Archer ©2008)

I am tired, my eyes are heavy, my heart is heavy too.
My feet are weary, mouth so thirsty, my soul is thirsty too.
Iâm so sick Lord, my head is foggy, the road is foggy too.
I am broken, my strength is fading, the light is fading too.

(Chorus)
Oh make me lie down in green pastures, rest a while with me.
Shepherd lead me by the still waters, come and drink with me.
Prepare the table, Iâm ready to feast amidst my enemies.
Let me sleep now, long and heavy, while You watch over me.

In this valley, death looms heavy, my soul is heavy too.
The sun is falling, shadows rising, fear is rising too.
In this darkness, evil haunts me but You are with me too.
The crook of Your staff brings me comfort,
I just might make it through.


Still Considering - Penned at 2:30am on a sleepless night
(Anthony W. Archer ©2011)

A whole lot of things Iâve been worryinâ about
Up half the night tryinâ to sort it all out
If I donât find work under one of these stones
How will I tell my babies, âWeâre losinâ our home!â
Itâll break their sweet little hearts⦠my worldâs cominâ apart

Woke up again with this pain in my side
Known for a while that somethinâ aint right
Afraid of the doctor, so I just donât go
Donât want to hear somethinâ I already know
Lord, Iâm scared for my beautiful girlsâ¦Youâre crushinâ my world

Open my window, the song of a dove
Carryinâ a meal to her babies above
She lasted the winter, it was brutal at best
But love found its way to this broken down nest
And they might just be okayâ¦no worries for today

My eyes are caught by somethinâ below
A tulip is pushinâ itâs way through the snow
The most brilliant red on a backdrop of white
A breathtaking sunrise after the night
And it might just be okayâ¦no worries for today

And we might just be okayâ¦still worryinâ bout today


Sing Again - Written in open space taking in the Rocky Mountains
(Anthony W. Archer ©2007)

You ride on the clouds and you breathe in the wind
The mighty woods hear the sound and they wave their hands
The tender grass bows itâs head to the land
You ride on the clouds and you breathe in the wind

You ride on the clouds and you sing in the wind
I have heard you before, speak again
This long, cold silence is no longer my friend
You, who ride on the clouds, sing again

(Chorus)
Ahh----------------
Ohh----------------

Sing peace, sing joy, sing love, sing again


Gift of Love - A Lament
(Anthony W. Archer ©2011)

I will never forget the day you brought it home
It was a dream come true, the coolest toy weâd ever seen
Itâs all we talked about, all we dreamed about for years
We would sit and imagine how our lives would be
If our dream came true then life would be all that it could be
We begged, âOh Daddy please, would you, could you Daddy, pleaseâ

(Chorus)
I couldnât believe you gave this dream to me
We were children at Christmastime, look at us
Laughing with joy, our hearts were running free
Holding so tightly to this precious gift of love

The day that you brought it home we ran outside
To tell the whole wide world the news, âItâs time to come and play!â
They came from everywhere. Magic was in the air that day.
I will never forget those days, they were so much fun
To watch their eyes light up with joy, just playing in the sun
Our hearts had been set free. It was plain for everyone to see.

(Chorus)

I will never forget the day you took it back
We would kick and scream so hard, it felt like an attack
We said âOh Daddy please, please donât take it, daddy please!â
You spoke not a word, just walked right out the door
We watched our dream come true get smashed in pieces on the floor
It was a cruel day, we had been betrayed by love

(Chorus 2)
I canât believe you would take this dream from me
We are children whose spirits are crushed. Look at us!
We were laughing with joy, our hearts were running free
Why would you ever revoke this gift of love


Silence - Inspired by Stephen W. Smith's book "The Lazarus Life"
(Anthony W. Archer ©2011)

I lie here dying slowly in silence
I hear voices, fading to silence
My heart, once strong and brave is slowing now to silence
My mind once very sane is growing dark to silence

I dream of better days, You walk with me in laughter
You speak so tenderly, say âfollow meâ and I came after
I thought youâd come and save me from the bitter taste of silence
This waiting game, You never came and now thereâs only silence

I lie here consumed with fear, overcome by silence
My breathing slows, God only knows what lies beyond this silence
I am alone, so very alone, not at all at home with this silence
So take my hand, please, oh please my friend, this is the endâ¦.

My name, I hear my name, You call me from the silence


Naked
(Anthony W. Archer ©2011)

I came to You wounded badly,
War-torn right through, limping sadly
When I found You I was barely standing,
Bones showing though, seeking safety

I was so weak, my skin so tender
Fell to my knees in surrender
I felt exposed, afraid Youâd reject me
Vulnerable, hoping Youâd protect me

(Chorus 1)
One by one You remove my rags, bloodied bandages
When Youâre done, here I stand feeling taken advantage of
I am exposed, I am naked, I am afraid, I am ashamed
But You know, You lift my head, look in my face, speak my name


âI have made you with my own hands,
Shaped and formed you, built callouses.
You are naked, as you should be,
Look in mirrors, see what I see!â

âDonât be ashamed, Iâm so happy.
Please look deeply, see what I see.
I am so pleased, bursting with pride.
You are so free, but hurting inside.â

(Chorus 2)
âAnd so, I will give you new clothes,
And after a while send you from here
But know that under these clothes,
You are my child, with nothing to fear,
Thereâs nothing to fear.â


You Laugh
(©2010 Anthony W. Archer)

Some days I trust myself, today I disgust myself
No big surprise that Iâve made my way here again
The thing that Iâve come to fear is how I find comfort here
Piling on shame upon shame upon shame again

Oh how heavy this sorrow is.
Oh how dark this place I hide away
Oh how violent tomorrow is.
Oh I beat myself up for one more day

(Chorus)
And you laugh, laugh over me
Saying my child , come laugh with me
Iâm smiling, smiling at you, canât you see
I was beaten and broken and bruised that you would be free
So go and be free

Itâs Groundhog Day again, my patience has found itâs end
Anger it swells and then blows like a hurricane
What good does âsorryâ bring when Iâm sorry for everything
This hell weâre living Iâm sure Iâm the one to blame


Set Your Affection
(Anthony W. Archer ©2002)

There's a thought that amazes me
A simple truth that'll set me free
Too deep for words, too bright to see
There's a thought that amazes me

(Chorus)
You set your affection on me
Though you hold the earth and the heavens above
You set your affection on me
Shatter all my fears with your intimate love
You set your affection on me, you set your affection...

Never thought I would know such peace
This tortured heart has found release
The words that beat me down have ceased
Never thought I would know such peace

(Chorus)

How should I respond to a King
With no flowing robes, no signet ring
Some people curse, some people sing
How should I respond to a King