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Simple Toil

by Tim Koehn

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    All proceeds from the sale of this album will go to Celal Karadoğan who runs Genç Engelliler Gençlik ve Spor Kulübü, a facility in Turkey that trains young people with disabilities to become athletes. He is now expanding his training to young Syrian refugees with disabilities, and he hopes to build more training centers. Celal's perseverance, leadership, humility, and compassion are very inspiring.
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1.
I don't want to sink to the bottom But I don't mind sinking with you Life will float us clear to the surface Riding undercurrents of truth I thought I'd rather fly in the sky so high But that was never part of the game Until you said you'd swim in the sea with me Well, now the rules have totally changed Sink to the bottom with you Rise on a current of truth Flying high was never the game With you the rules have completely changed
2.
Marie trempe ton pain Marie, trempe ton pain Marie, trempe ton pain dans la sauce Marie, trempe ton pain Marie, trempe ton pain Marie, trempe ton pain dans le vin Nous irons dimanche À la maison blanche Toi en nankin, moi (z) en bazin Tous deux en escarpins Le long de la Seine Allons à Suresnes Pour manger des gâteaux Et pour voir passer les petits bateaux
3.
You, in that time of the year-- cold season, dry season, when dormancy's here-- keep that dark feeling deep down: nothing inviolate could ever be found. But it waits under ground, then up in the crown of that most patient tree like whom we'd all like to be, to be both rooted and free, to be just like a tree. Strange we don't feel that we feel love first deep down for the fundamentally real, not apparitions of need: urgency, tragedy, the sweetness of greed. The chorus of voices believed. Change, well, for that we'd have to personally bleed Into the ground... Then up in the crown of that most patient tree like whom we'd all like to be, to be both rooted and free, to be just like a tree. Just like a tree.
4.
Estuary 04:06
Barefoot walking on that road every step pressed all the holidays into red of Africa, then it spread through all the hues of gray reflected on the lake, the sky about to break. Breath-stirred hem of Bangladesh at your knees and hair across your face-- clothed like estuary birds in the warmth of estuary days. They'll push us past the waves. They'll push us out to sea. Whate'er will be will be. If you will walk with me, we'll always keep each other free. Clothed like estuary birds in the warmth of estuary days.
5.
One little juniper Two little junipers Three little junipers Four little junipers One little hummingbird Two little hummingbirds Three little hummingbirds Four little hummingbirds Four little junipers Four little hummingbirds Juniper, hummingbird One little butterfly Two little butterflies Three little butterflies Four little butterflies One little buffalo Two little buffalos Three little buffalos Four little buffalos Four little butterflies Four little buffalos Butterfly, buffalo Juniper, Hummingbird, Butterfly, Buffalo Four little junipers Three little hummingbirds Two little butterflies One little buffalo
6.
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8.
Simple Toil 05:00
Mary Magdalene and her basilica-­‐wrapped bones brought a fancy fame to the village of Vézelay. But I like to think of her in her cave of cold, wet stone, meditating on her man all night and day, who Gibran says looks upon her like the Seasons look upon the fields of hay. What work-­song started then amidst the juniper and sage, sprouting seeds of memory folded in the soil? Then aromatic legend came out baked by sweat and age— it took a song to wring out the sacramental oil. Now we remark in wonder, blind to what went under, “How blessed, pure, and holy”— what might be made of only simple toil. Sacrament is holding you and me; Tighten up unless you want to be free to love this dirty damn family.
9.
10.

about

Memory,
native to this valley, will spread over it
like a grove, and memory will grow
into legend, legend into song, song
into sacrament. The abundance of this place,
the songs of its people and its birds,
will be health and wisdom and indwelling
light. This is no paradisal dream.
Its hardship is its reality.

- Wendell Berry, from Part 2 of "Work Song"

credits

released February 16, 2018

Guitar and vocals and recording: Tim Koehn
Trumpet on 'Trempe Ton Pain' and 'Into the Ground': a big thank you to Meghan Guss
Cello on 'Simple Toil': a big thank you to Felipe Forero
Trumpet on 'He Hideth My Soul - Reprise': a big thank you to Ross Bradley

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Tim Koehn Nicosia, Cyprus

Tim Koehn, currently based in Cyprus, teaches for a living but writes and makes music any chance he gets.

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