Scotoma EP (2007)

Spacetime Traveler's Lament [2:44]

Instrumental.

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitar, melodica, bass guitar.
© 2007 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

Fortunate Dystopia [4:30]

Golden men weave golden drops of hope that trickle down
Though not so far that they might quench the thirsty dust upon the ground
And who can say that we don't mean well when we try?
And who can say that it won't work out in time?

This is a fortunate dystopia we've made
And if you're staring at the palace walls, the beggars fade away
While the root of things unholy lies well hidden underground
'Til it breaks your path
Snares you in its grasp
And you fall

Golden glasses filter out the worst of all the world
Though they won't work well when they're lost among your swine encrusted pearls
And who would say that our dream is such a crime?
And who would say that it won't work out in time?

This is a fortunate dystopia we've made
And if you're staring at the palace walls, the beggars fade away
While the root of things unholy lies well hidden underground
'Til it breaks your path
And snares you in its grasp
And you fall

And you fall
And you fall
And you fall

But who can say that we don't mean well when we lie?
And who can say that it won't work out in time?

This is a fortunate dystopia we've made
And if you're staring at the palace walls, the beggars fade away
While the root of things unholy lies well hidden underground
'Til it breaks your path
And snares you in its grasp
And you fall
And you fall
And you fall

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitars, lap steel, doumbek, bass guitar, vocals.
© 2007 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

1000 Words [4:09]

You were beautiful today
and I said so
to the you inside
I just could not look away
but you don't know
how I closed my eyes

I can hear a thousand words in my mind
But I'm afraid that if I speak...
I fear these thoughts so unconfined
And I'm afraid that if I speak...

You tried hard enough today
but I missed you
despite myself
I tried hard to get away
and you let me go
it's the same farewell

I can hear a thousand words in my mind
But I'm afraid that if I speak...
I fear these thoughts so unconfined
And I'm afraid that if I speak...

I can hear a thousand words in my mind
But I'm afraid that if I speak...
I fear these thoughts so unconfined
And I'm afraid that if I speak...

If I speak...
If I speak my mind
If I speak my mind

I can hear a thousand words in my mind
But I'm afraid that if I speak
I still fear these thoughts so unconfined
And I'm afraid that if I speak

You were beautiful today
and I said so
despite myself

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitars, doumbek, bass guitar, vocals.
© 2007 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

Five Years of Silence [4:32]

Stark terror on a cloudless day
Confusion, anger had their way
The lawless one with unmasked face
Dared us to love in deed

Stark terror on a darkened day
As friends denied or ran away
The Perfect One with bloodstained face
Showed we were loved indeed

A perfect love that casts out fear
There is no place for torment here
There is no fear in love, there is no fear in love
Perfect us in your love

A love made flesh through sacrifice
A treasure cheap at any price
Stands firm against selfish fight
To win this war our way

A tree is known by its fruit
Compassion grows from love fed roots
And true religion demands proof
In truth and words and deed

A perfect love that casts out fear
There is no place for torment here
There is no fear in love, there is no fear in love
Perfect us in your love

To hate your brother and devise
To seek a world of vengeful strife
How can you love with all your life
A God you cannot see

Now silent on a summer day
Our hearts shut up and turned away
The innocent have been betrayed
By brothers who won’t see

A perfect love that casts out fear
There is no place for torment here
There is no fear in love, there is no fear in love
Perfect us in your love

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitars, melodica, doumbek, bass guitar, vocals.
© 2006 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

Silent Languages [4:57]

When I gaze up at the sky, I see your hand
And I ask, and seek, and find, and I still can't comprehend
How the more I know
The less it seems
And through it all
This evidence breathes

If I could read this canvas of images
What stories you would tell
If I could speak your still silent languages
What stories you would tell
What stories you would tell

As I stand under the sun, I'm living free
And I take, and walk, and I fall unwittingly
And the more I try
The less I see
But through it all
This evidence breathes

If I could read this canvas of images
What stories you would tell
If I could speak your still silent languages
What stories you would tell
What stories you would tell

see the life in perfect teaching
see the wisdom, be the wise
see the upright called to action
see the dawn before your eyes

see the truth outlast all time
see the truth outlast all time

If I could read this canvas of images
What stories you would tell
If I could speak your still silent languages
What stories you would tell
What stories you would tell

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitars, cuatro, doumbek, bass guitar, vocals.
© 2007 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

Broken Hands [6:49]

A gathered crowd is certain now
that they could have tried
and they would have won the day

it's not a question of the how
since they have hindsight
and it's so clear anyway

these instant experts checked it out
and you lost it early on
and it stayed that way

these balanced pundits talked it out
and they know where you went wrong
where you lost the game

it's pretty clear your situation's not alright
it's disappointing when you see it in this light

let's hear it for the ones who mold the world with broken hands
and for the long lost sons who've gone astray through best laid plans
if we had the time we'd try to cross that span
if we had the time we'd take that stand

a righteous host can see it all
and they'd like to help
but you've asked for this campaign

they're not the ones bound up in thrall
and they want to help
but you're learning more this way

it's pretty clear whose actions got you to this place
it's disappointing when you can't keep up the pace

let's hear it for the ones who mold the world with broken hands
and for the long lost sons who've gone astray through best laid plans
if we had the time we'd try to cross that span
if we had the time we'd take that stand

Karl Bailey: acoustic guitars, bass guitar, vocals.
© 2007 Karl Bailey/Fearsome Bear Music (ASCAP)

Fortunate Again [2:25]