We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

My House Is Orange

by Paul Gerard

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
Africa Life 06:24
Africa Life by Paul Gerard Wake up in a village, full of life and the newborn day playful children peek at me and whisper "Buma, ente, ente!" (white man, hello) Cooking on a wood fire, no kitchen, no cars and no TV just old men in woven robes: the eyes of Africa looking back at me Oh, Africa, I hear your call oh, Africa, tell me all Walking to the market, down a timeless, well-worn jungle path graceful, gentle women with head loads, smile as they shyly pass Evening comes to Gbamundu, children chase the full moonlight Palm wine passed in bamboo cup: "God is good, we'll dance tonight!" Oh, Africa, I feel your call oh, Africa, tell me all Tell me of your might warriors, who made your people strong at night, their spirits guard the village, and keep the fires warm Sitting on a hillside, with Africa meandering below breathing a peacefulness, that my world will never know
2.
My House Is Orange by Paul Gerard My house is orange – and the door is blue Everyone is welcome here – and darling, so are you The windowsill is painted – blue to match the door And through the glass I see a world – I’ve never seen before And I’ll live in this house all my life The chimney leans a little, but the fireplace is warm Nights are not so lonely now… The streets outside are cobblestone – and wind their way along They find themselves at my front door – and ask me for a song The curtains catch the morning light – and hold it for awhile And when they have to let it go – they hate to say ‘goodbye’ And I’ll live in this house all my life. The chimney leans a little, but the fireplace is warm Nights are not so lonely now… Instrumental verse… The chimney leans a little, but the fireplace is warm Nights are not so lonely now… My house is orange – and the door is blue
3.
Condor 04:21
Condor by Paul Gerard High – so high in my heart The timeless condor flies She flies – on the breath of the air Soaring wings spread wide Feathers sifting the wind Sailing through the heavens Heaven – through the heavens Through all creation Where is the condor? Where is the condor?
4.
Presence of God by Paul Gerard Sitting in the presence of God – under a tall, tall tree Swaying with the movement of wind – bringing my heart to its knees Here is a being 2,000 years old I can’t imagine the stories it holds How many have wandered below, here in the presence of God… Sitting in the presence of God – under a high waterfall A river running down through the air – from a soaring mountain wall Here is the water that quenches our thirst Here is the water that christens our birth Here is the love that blesses the earth: here is the presence of God… Ah… ah… Sitting in the presence of God – here is my lover’s gaze Living in this moment of love – may it last all my days Here is the one to have and to hold Here is the love that fills up my soul Here is the one, great mystery of all: here is the presence of God… If I could wander the whole universe If I could pass between heaven and earth I would return to the love I knew first: here in the presence of God… Ah… ah…
5.
Green 05:06
Green by Paul Gerard This forest was here before you and me for thousands of years, a shelter of green And what is it worth to cut it all down and make a desert what was once solid ground All that is beautiful in this world is green it’s the only miracle I’ve ever seen The length of our days is held deep within this tree of knowledge, this ancient friend refrain: Let my blood run green – right through my soul and come up through the trees in the valley below Let me limbs reach out – and catch the sunlight on the leaves as long as I breathe let my blood run green Have you ever laid down on the green mossy ground and felt your only heart beat – without a sound and looked up through the trees, where the jet trails pass to wonder how long this green will last? refrain bridge: For hundreds of years, we had our way the trees were tall and we made them pay But those times are passed – the forest won’t last if we don’t change our ways I could not sing without this guitar and I’d never trade it for the shiniest car ‘cause its made of wood, like the ancient drums and I pray when I play it – I know where its from refrain
6.
House of the Sun (Hale a kala) by Paul Gerard I’m sitting ten thousand feet high above the sea blue Pacific surrounding me with its embryonic ocean fluids nurturing schools of brilliant, bright-colored windsurfers on the wing Something inside calls them to this place it’s the winds of Paia that they chase something inside bid me to come to Hale a kala, the House of the Sun Let us go to the House of the Sun… and bow down… to creation Underdressed, sun-seeking tourists push to the top following asphalt road winding and climbing they never stop ‘til they’re running and racing round and round to see the view flocking like seabirds to rock cliffs they’re coming home to you Let us go to the House of the Sun… and bow down… to creation If only they’d stop and listen to imagine you rising for ages the blood of the earth forming you into a paradise home for the people of the sea Oh, they’d put down their camera attitudes and they would sing Hale a kala, Hale a kala These rocks are alive with thought vibrations of our souls imbued with a love and a wisdom all may know The presence of power divine wells up in me The sacred, crater cathedral calls me to sing Let us go to the House of the Sun… and bow down… to creation Hale a kala, Hale a kala
7.
Don't Cut It 04:09
Don’t Cut It by Paul Gerard Who needs the trees in the forest? maybe Japan wants our old growth timber right down to the last stand And when the millworkers lose their jobs to export and machine we sacrifice a way of life for the sins of industry And we cut it, cut it down Yeah, we cut it, cut it down, down, down, down Who needs the trees in the forest? maybe a greedy man playing games on Wall Street with his hostile take-over plans He’s a junk bond bandit But he owns the land and it’s the trees that will pay for his excessive, capital demands He’s gonna cut it, cut it down He’s gonna cut it, cut it down, down, down, down In the forest cathedral, there’s a holy war it's brother against brother it’s the trees they’re fighting for Cain will kill Abel just to get more but will he cut his mother down forevermore? Who needs the trees in the forest? maybe you and I Maybe the air we breathe is a gift from them to the sky Maybe a million creatures some we’ll never know Maybe a way of life we thought was gone long ago Don’t cut it, don’t cut it down Don’t cut it, don’t cut it down down, down, down
8.
Dreamtime/Walkabout On the morning, of the first day, the first man and woman played at creating the world the walkabout way They sang of the mountains far and high They sang of the rivers – full and wide They sang with a love in their eyes They sang of the ocean’s salty air They sang of the heavens – way up there They sang of the love going on forever They sang the world into being – along the songlines they’re dreaming Sang the world into being – with love – with love… And when the dreamtime – all was over And all the world had been sung into the womb of their dreaming – they crawled back in They left the people to sing the songs Of sacred sites and waterholes To sing the songlines of their homes To sing the world into being – along the songlines they’re dreaming Sing the world into being – with love – with love… I was taken to the desert – I was taken to the wilderness I was hungry, I was thirsty –– I was naked, I was dirty But they told me how to get along and they showed me how to sing their songs They told me everything they know and they told me they were going home Going home – they were leavin’ – going home – forever… And I sing of the mountains – far and high I sing of the rivers – full and wide I sing of the love in your eyes I sing of the ocean’s salty air I sing of the heavens – way up there I sing of the love going on forever I sing the world into being – along the songlines we're dreaming I sing the world into being – with love… Sing your world into being – along the songlines you’re dreaming Sing your world into being – with love – with love… And when I wake up – every morning now – of every beautiful day I can see the world – the walkabout way
9.
White Deer 05:49
White Deer by Paul Gerard The old man had a story he told me it was true of when he was a young man in the fire of fifty-two He would've been ashes if he went up that ravine but standing there before him the strangest thing he'd seen The image of a white deer moved through the smoke and trees leading him to safety and the refuge of a cool stream All his life he wondered just what it was he'd seen a vision or a creature a ghost or just a dream He said "I saw the white deer watching over me. Looking like an angel, looking out for me. Deep within a forest deep within my dreams, moving like a spirit always there for me." The I got a phone call "The old man passed away" leaving me a hole as big as yesterday Leaving me with questions and things we'll never say leaving me with only what I have today We used to laugh and kid around I held your hand, but now you're gone Just a memory -- now a mystery slowly fading, fading away The earth is full of wonders a human cannot know Full of questions and things we can't control We think we're driving but there isn't any road Only companions until our time to go Then I saw the white deer watching over me Looking like an angel, looking out for me. Deep within a forest deep within my dreams, moving like a spirit always there for me.
10.
Within Your Life by Paul Gerard Within your life the pain will often find you the struggle of your heart will wear you down the dream will seem to fade away into the pale dawn but love will linger on yes, love will linger on Within your life your lover will surely leave you carelessly for another point of view the journey's long the forces strong that tear away at two but love will see you through yes, love will see you through Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah Within your life the joy will come from knowing the goal is only a song along the way and where the earth is cold our hearts will hold the union of us all and love will fuel our song yes, love will fuel our song Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
11.
Land of the White Volcanoes by Paul Gerard I come from the land of the white volcanoes I am a dweller in the heart of the sacred, ancient forest I have crossed the mighty river on the backs of countless salmon and I give thanks to the creator for every breath I’m given But my heart is full of sorrow and our world is full of pain This wealthy, wild land now lays empty, used and tame We put dams upon the rivers where the salmon need to spawn We cut down the trees like grass and wonder why they’re gone And as these sorrows I survey in my only heart I pray to remember, to remember that there is another way… I walk through forests older than beliefs I learned in schools I am baptized by the rain and healed in mountain pools The forest is my shelter, like the silent deer I run And the most sacred day of days is when the first salmon comes And as these wonders I survey, I’m shaken to my core I live and breathe this life, but what am I here for If not to love, to love, with a deep and lasting love The mountains and the forest, the rivers and the sky The place where I am born is the place where I will die For there’s beauty here before us, beauty all around Let us breathe this holy air, and walk this sacred ground And say “We come from the land of the white volcanoes We are dwellers in the heart of the sacred ancient forest We will cross the mighty river on the backs of countless salmon And we’ll give thanks to our creator for every breath we’re given And as these blessings we hold forth, this hope we now declare To see this world as our maker with compassion and with care And with love, with love, with a deep and lasting love Yes, with love, with a deep and lasting love

credits

released August 14, 2014

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Paul Gerard Seattle, Washington

Rich, warm voice, thoughtful lyrics, and a kind heart all come through on Paul Gerard's first-ever digital release of My House Is Orange. Seattle born singer/songwriter who sings of the Pacific NW and exotic places and love songs from around the world.

contact / help

Contact Paul Gerard

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Paul Gerard, you may also like: