A Thousand Cathedrals Lyrics & Credits

From "A Thousand Cathedrals", released June 11, 2017

All songs written by John Lucas Kovasckitz
Produced by Everett Hardin/Red Yeti Audio
Engineered/Mixed by Everett Hardin
Mastered by Joey Deihl of War Height Audio
Engineering Assistance from Glenn Deuel, Brett Queen, Sam Utz, Casey Wells, Caroline Hardin
Tracked and Mixed at Harvest House Studio
Strings for Cathedrals recorded at RFG Studios, with assistant engineer Graham Saboda
Vocals, acoustic guitars: John Lucas Kovasckitz
Electric guitars: Justin Mower
Piano, background vocals: Benjamin James Roberts
Drums / percussion: Tim Roberts
Cello: Everett Hardin
Violin: Caroline Hardin
Background Vocals: Erin Deuel

Caesar

I have no spare change and I have not the time for your melodies
And here while you sit, the world is passing you by
And here you sing of peace and the wild like the frontier's still out there
But if we buried our guns in the earth we'd all die by the sword 

Oh everything's been bought and sold and bought and sold again
Dreams won't pay your taxes, and dreams won't feed your children
Dreams don't make the world go, dreams don't make the world go round
Go make a man of yourself, and put your stake in the ground

Turn the tree to timber, turn the earth to brick
Push the savage from the land with empty promises
Oh make a man of yourself, and put that ol' guitar down
For the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few
And son your promised land will not be handed to you 

Oh everything's been bought and sold and bought and sold again
Dreams won't pay your taxes, and dreams won't feed your children
Dreams don't make the world go, dreams don't make the world go round
Go make a man of yourself, and put your stake in the ground

Oh I asked you not for change and I asked you not for scorn
And you can hold my pity, for I was not just born
And you can hold the treasures that divide and destroy

Oh I know everything's been bought and sold and bought and sold again
Take what is Caesar's, but you will not touch my children
For the kingdom of heaven is hidden in a field
And though you pillage and plunder, for you it is concealed
For you cannot rob what your eyes cannot see
And you cannot love when your heart is not free
So make a man of yourself
And become like a child

Hope

I feel the earth trembling under my feet
I feel the waters churning, rising from the deep
I know the trees are swaying with their family's seeds
And I feel the harvest returning, no more dust and weeds

I've seen fathers running for their prodigal sons
And I've seen the nooses empty and the chains undone
I've seen beggars leaving their crumbs of bread
And I've seen orphans dancing with crowns on their heads

And I hear the King whistling through the trees
To meet Him at the sea, all the murderers and thieves
And there amongst the tide and all the judges of the land
He will wash every foot and take His children by the hand

And I've heard the forest singing as it prepares the table
For the feast to come, glimpsed in parables and fables
And between every mountain and every shore
And through every season we will hunger no more

All hope rises from the dead
All hope springs up from the ground

From a desert to a garden
From a trickle to a stream
From the dust, my love, you've risen
From the ground you've been redeemed

But you've always been my firstborn
And you've always been my prize
All creation has been groaning for
The waking of your eyes

All hope rises from the dead
All hope springs up from the ground

Hope CCLI #: 7136108  

Cathedrals

I have the dust on my boots of a thousand cathedrals
And I have taken my place with bended knees
And I have raised my voice with a multitude of angels
Whose nests are treasured by your trees

Oh, the music of your fingers
Oh, the heartbeat of your lands
Oh, the places where you linger
Oh, the beauty of your hands

And I have lit my candle in the folds of your forests
A spark of light amongst the fires of the night
And I have risen with the dawn and the thurible of gladness
Amongst the mist and the dew of your delight 

Oh, the music of your fingers
Oh, the heartbeat of your lands
Oh, the places where you linger
Oh, the beauty of your hands

You are the one who makes my paths straight
You are the one who leads me to the waters
And as I've cupped my hands
I know, I know, I've seen your face
For you've touched my eyes with waterfalls
You've touched my eyes with earth
You've led me home with moonlight
And you've whispered what I'm worth

You are the one who leads me to the waters
You are the one who leads me home
You lead me home
You lead me home

Cathedrals CCLI #: 7136110

 

Son of God

If you're the son of God
Throw yourself down
Surely your father will heed your call
Surely the angels will catch your fall

If you're the son of God
Then why do you starve? 
Turn the rocks into loaves of bread
Find pleasure in the evening within your bed

If you're the son of God
Then why is there pain? 
Are you weak, or are you not good? 
Oh will you be defeated by a cross of wood? 

If you're the son of God
Vanquish my enemies
Protect my borders and securities
And crush the heads of those who'd rob my peace

Oh praise the son of God
The one who has set me free
He is my passage from the gates of hell
He is my refuge from the infidel

Of praise the son of God
Who knows my every will
For pleasure is the blessing, child
And I must have my fill

Away from me, away from me
I never knew you
You are the cell that holds my child within
Fling open the doors and be made wild again

Away from me, away from me
I never knew you

Flesh of My Flesh

Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Like a story told you've always known
You took my breath in the daylight
You stole my heart like a thief in the night

And I am not a perfect man
I've unclean lips and soiled hands
But from the soil we will rise
For we are dust with a love that never dies

You are my shelter
You are my home
Flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone

You undress me of my bitterness
And roll away my pride with one kiss
For we are clothed in majesty
Beneath our rags of poverty

And I will spend my days beside you
For beauty that is shared is beauty true
We will share the wine, we will share the bread
We will share our home, we will share our bed

You are my shelter
You are my home
Flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone

Bruises

I have heard the news
And I have felt the crimes
And I've counted up the numbers
And I've crossed the battle lines

And I have smelled the hatred
For those that aren't the same
And I've pointed my own fingers
But I'm not clear of blame 

I've heard the promises of heaven
And I've heard the threats of hell
But maybe we're already living
Within the stories that we tell

For I have wept for bruises
On the backs of those too young
But I cling to the Father
Who calls us all His own 

May your heart never grow hard
May your eyes always see beauty
Though you sometimes need to weep
Though you sometimes need to fight
May joy come in the morning
May darkness find the light

And may you never give up, may you never give up
May you never give up on love

Bruises CCLI #: 7136111 

Thy Kingdom Come

Pass not the cup from me
If I do thy will
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
Where my blood is spilled

Make my heart brave
Make my back strong enough to carry my cross
For what I've gained for my own pride
I count as loss

May my life be poured out
Upon the feet of the poor
May orphans call me father
And may I never lock my doors

May I never lose hope
Upon the darkest night
May my life be a seed
And my spirit light

May those that come behind
Not linger at my grave
Plant me beside the waters
And may I offer shade

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On heaven and earth
May my life be poured out
And my death give birth

Thy Kingdom Come CCLI#: 7136112