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the beauty of the friend

by Eric Farr

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J Daggity
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J Daggity Eric is one of the best songwriters in the country, and so few people are familiar with his work. This needs to be widely shared, though I'll miss having his songs just for me and the handful of people in the know. Favorite track: The Good.
albertalopez
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albertalopez Always have been a fan of Eric's songwriting, this album has been well worth the wait. Intimate sounds, thoughtful lyrics and well crafted songs. Hope to hear more! Favorite track: Future(s).
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1.
Scotland 05:16
The valley was green But greener the shadow That cast across it each afternoon The ship’s rocking felt safe But safer in shallows I held my little sister and sang songs she knew But soon we’d all forgotten Every rhyme and melody We’d carried from Scotland And the green braided fern wreathes Dress the anchors like funeral garlands We’d meet under the trees The ash and the rowan We’d lie on our backs and look up through the leaves When my friend turned to me And asked, “where are you going?” I couldn’t speak, and I struggled to breathe But soon we’d all forgotten Every friend and family We’d left back in Scotland And the green braided fern wreathes Dress the anchors like funeral garlands Now who has the valley? And who chases the shadow? And who tends the trail to the rowan tree grove? And who will revive The earth that’s been fallowed? And what will I do with the things I’ve learned to grow? Great Mercy and Pardon Wait beyond this vanity And in no valley in Scotland And the green braided fern wreathes Will become ground beneath a garden The clouds are American cotton From this starboard balcony The sea, the rough wool from Scotland And the green braided fern wreathes Will become ground beneath a garden
2.
So long city lights Now dark before midnight So long, so soon, my home But now I can’t live there Try not to cry Or think too much on why My mind’s a pillar of salt Now that I can’t live there I miss my home If I can’t go home, Then where is my home? Count the weeks go by And thinking I might die Time is both the window and the wall But into I don’t know where I know I’m just passing though One of my Father’s many rooms But my mind’s the killer in the hall And he waits for me there Whispering, “you can go anywhere!” But if I can go anywhere, Then I don’t belong anywhere Don’t let them see Just what this means to me But bend like a willow beneath it all And make me lighter than air So long city lights Now dark well before midnight So long, so soon my home.
3.
Future(s) 03:04
Say all you want, dear We’re talking about our future here When calms this longing, dear? We’re talking about our future here I love you more than I can bear We turn to face our future here I know I swear I know I see a child who stands And holds our years in tiny hands Dear baby, bless these fortressed friends Whose future’s folded in your hands. “I love you more than I can bear” We whisper in two tiny ears I know I swear I know So Long ago
4.
Marigolds 04:25
I walked with Mary And I held her hand We were spurred on by wonder At a perfect made plan We wondered at a love We didn’t understand Some days we’d crawl And on others we’d run Move down mountain to valley To move up another one But the walking got harder And it cut up our feet Some days I’d carry Mary And some she’d carry me But carrying can’t keep A love that can’t stay Trailing bright yellow marigolds As it went away Gleaned like sheaves by the barrelful At the death of the day Before our paths parted We slept by a pond We wept big, toothy tears All wrapped round in arms I kept calling for Mary Long after she’d gone But calling can’t keep A love that can’t stay Blooming bright yellow marigolds On the banks where we lay Gleaned like sheaves by the barrelful And then floated away Now some nights I wander In search of my best friend Like love in clearing Beautiful and blest And always Mary reminds me To retrace my steps “Sweetest friend, how I love you. Now retrace your steps.”
5.
Oh Lord, have mercy Help me see your hand As it moves my mind above my brain Lord, won’t you make it new Or just break it in two? (But I thought I’d already been changed…) What will become of this love? It wells within and surrounds everything It’s just too much Have mercy, Master Help me see through these eyes These gypsum alabaster moons Twin spinning mirrors In the dead of night They see but by Thy reflected light What will become of this love? The lake that makes the wave Then swallows it up Have mercy, Maker Wake me from this restless sleep And with ready feet and hands respond To the Bell’s still ringing brass And the shrill twin trumpet blasts And this drum like chest you pound upon What will become of this love? Keep it safe and far away As a trust Heavenly will Move me Heavenly will Make me still Heavenly will Move me Heavenly will Make me still
6.
How many more steps left to come? How far? How many more away from? Does every pilgrim leave something behind? Do they serve too who only stand and wait? And must stay outside the city gates? Is a pilgrim only one once he arrives? I will find my way back to the shrine No beauty in the world compares With virtue, cracked and hurt, repaired Even if it hangs your sins out on a line We will wash them in the fountains That flow down that rolling mountain Into the bay that bleaches them with brine I will find my way back to the shrine Help is on the way! believe! The angels neither sigh nor grieve But silently surround the waiting line. I’ve turned my back on home and friendship For a chance to see a kerchief Waving from the window of a shrine Whose threshold I’ll collapse before I find
7.
You are dear to me, Alexander Tell me, friend, how well do you remember The glass jar to hold the frog and salamander To keep them breathing through the frost of mid-November? You said the air holes in the lid must look like stars to them And maybe our stars are just holes that let heaven’s light in Have no fear with me You are ever dear to me I hope you can hear me Alexander It is clear to me, Alexander, The way that shame can make us all pretenders After your family heard the scandal They packed and headed back to the panhandle Your thinning hair and body scream “surrender!” But you hold on to a hope you can’t remember But have no fear with me You are ever dear to me We can change by grace and mercy Alexander We’re all wounded animals, Alexander Who, without warmth, won’t make it through the winter Let’s not huddle and hide in homes of rotting timbre But rise upon their brightly burning embers Your broken brother’s love grows ever tender Love lives and breathes forgiveness, Alexander So have no fear with me You are ever dear to me We survive by mercy only Alexander
8.
The Good 01:53
Don’t stop to pack What could you bring? When you’re not coming back, You can leave everything. Leave all your memories In a grey duffle bag. Was I ever good Before I was bad? Don’t stop to say A word of goodbye. When you’re not coming back, They’ll only ask why. Was all of my virtue A bright shiny fad? Was all of my good Just bright shiny bad? Now, who will I ask For kindness and help? When you’re not coming back, You can’t trust yourself. Silently shaking In the back of the cab, Bear me on to the good In the arms of the bad

credits

released December 22, 2017

All songs written and performed by Eric Farr

Recorded and mixed by Michael Ferguson

Drums on "Pillar of Salt," organ on "The Lake that Makes the Wave", and accordion on "Futures," performed by Michael Ferguson
Background vocals on "Scotland" and "The Lake that Makes the Wave," performed by Simon Honeyman.

All songs recorded at Christ Church Aylmer with the gracious help of David Irving, except for "The Good," which was recorded at Michael's apartment.

Special thanks to: Michael who was exceedingly generous with his time and insight. A king among men; brother James and sister Tamsyn who were this album's first audience; my longtime steadfast friend and bandmate Simon Honeyman who shared his matchless voice.

This album is dedicated especially to my parents Deirdre Jackson and Tom Farr, with inexpressible gratitude for their unflagging encouragement, love, and support during the time these songs were written. And at all times. Forever.

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Eric Farr Toronto, Ontario

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