1. Your eyes black with tears 
Are hills of rock and stone 
Unflinching in the wind 
Impenetrable to sun 

Ch. He sings hope into misery, and joy into pain 
With words of healing, sung like rain 
He sings light into mud 
And peace with his blood 
With melodies of healing 
Melodies he’s sung 
To you… 

2. Your face wrinkled up 
Is sand in harsh sun 
Confused in movement	
And coming undone 

3. Reminders of birth 
Of your eyes first open 
Of light’s first intrusion 
The beginning of desire

Black With Tears

heavy knocks upon my doorway 
there's no way the deadbolts can stay 
you might knock right through 

heavy steps upon my ceiling 
there's no thinking, there's no feeling 
you might fall right through 

heavy hits upon my forehead 
there's no rest there's no warm bed 
you might break right through

Right Thru

they’re the poor and the dead 
that we’ve ignored 
they’re the screwed in the head 
the ones knocking on doors 
the unpretty the undesired 
the undressed, the undone 

they’re the hungry the alone 
that we’ve ignored 
they’re kneeling on stone 
just begging for bones 
the unpretty the undesired 
the undressed, the undone 

come back 
and see with eyes of water 
clearer than streams 
come back 
and hear with ears less hollow 
ready to dream 

of days in gardens 
and time spent together 
of hours embracing 
safely held in warmth 

our father won’t forget the least of these 
friends torn and ripped and scraped, diseased 
he won’t neglect the raped and the wronged 
he won’t forget his kids he’s not gonna run

Family

surely i was sinful 
from the day that i was born 
surely i was broken 
before i could even tell 
surely you don't want 
to leave me like this 
surely you don't want me 
to fall down in my mess 

i wanna be cleansed 
from the wrong that i've sown 
i wanna do battle 
on these weeds that have grown 
i wanna feel joy 
and gladness wash over me 
i wanna see my broken bones 
stand up and sing 

create in me 
a clean heart o god 
don't take your holy spirit 
so far from me 
restore to me the joy 
of your salvation 
grant me a willing spirit 
to sustain me

Fifty One

Melee

blow out the wick 
it's time to quit this circus 
it's a trapeze pinned down 
it's a carnival without clowns 
it's a town without houses 
a forest without trees 
it's the opposite of identity 
a world without sound 

we need you 

you step into town 
with a staff in your hand 
you're a shepherd with a word 
it's sharp like a sword 
you're a breath of fresh air 
you're a reason to look up 
a clean piece of dirt 
an electric chair unplugged 

we need you 

pull out the cork 
it's time to roll this parade 
you're a message in a bottle 
the drink in this song 
you're the red on the page 
the gold in the streets 
you're the soul's first stirring 
a lion that can sing

Blow Out The Wick

my pride has been quenched 
by my failures i’ve been broken 
my mind has been stilled 
by these thoughts unspoken 
my eyes have been dimmed 
by my straining in the dark 
my strength has been faded 
these nights just don’t end 

my back has been broke 
by the help that i’ve refused 
my hands have been bloodied 
by walls i’ve punched through 
my voice has been worn 
by useless songs i’ve sung 
my heads always aching 
empty words, things undone 

i don’t trust myself 
who, who, who 
who can i hope in 
who, who, who 
who can i trust in 

i’ll lift my eyes up 
up to the mountains 
from where does my help come from 
from you oh father 
maker of the heavens 
i’ll find myself in you

One Twenty One

Procession

SHOVEL SONG #1 - DARKEST OCEAN - Psalm 33 - Worship@8500 - 6/25/2011

LYRICS: The darkest ocean set aside in jars//Defined in your words brighter than the stars//Your strength forms my heart (2x)
The tallest mountains pointing to the skies//Defined in your words, "My God, how they cry!"//Your strength forms my heart (2x)
Where could we go, where you are not with us?//Where could we go, where could we go?
Surrounded by//All you've made//In Your arms//Home I've gained

WRITERS: Justin &amp; Melissa Murphy, Mary Arnold, Bekah Smith, Scott Kavli, Renee Swick, Vince Ackerman, Bill &amp; Gayle O'Hair, Aaron Strumpel

PSALMIC CO-LAB #1: DARKEST OCEAN

This is a song off my January Journal that my friends in St. Paul have adapted into their band and worshipping community.  They have offered their versions of several other of my songs, each time making them sound way better than the originals, haha!  :)  Recorded live, late night, living room, iPhone capture - long live Matchy Matchy!

Like You - January Journal - Matchy Matchy

SHOVEL SONG #8 - Psalm 77 - I Am Yours - Worship Team, Salt Lake City, UT - 10.23.2011

*We worshipped with this song the night we wrote it and it was awesome.  We combined it with one of our favorites by the United Pursuit Band, "Nothing I Hold Onto" and were thrilled with it.  One of the song-writers in that session was none other than Asher Seevinck from Loud Harp.  Good Times!

Chords: G-Em-C-G
LYRICS: Am I yours
Am I really yours God
Have you forgotten me
Am I yours

Too troubled to speak
Too tired to dream
I groaned, I mused
Refused to be comforted

Am I yours
Am I really yours God
Have you forgotten me
Am I yours

To this I'll appeal
To this I will hold
You were with me
In the darkest of storms

Waters writhed, the depths convulsed
The clouds poured down
You called them forth
I’ll remember you (2x)
Lightning crashed, thunder shook
Mountains fell
Right under foot
I’ll remember you (2x)

I am yours
I am really yours God
You have remembered me
I am yours

WRITERS: Tate McCallum-Law, Lawrence Camfield, Dave White, Asher Seevinck

PSALMIC CO-LAB #8: I AM YOURS & NOTHING I HOLD ONTO - Live at The Mount

SHOVEL SONG #10 - High Place - Psalm 18 - Village Gathering, Woodland Park, CO - 6.29.2012

*This brilliant group of people had more talent than most small nations.  It's not always like those nor does it have to be, but I really love this song and these folks - long live Matchy-Matchy.

LYRICS: You have delivered me with your strong right hand
You have set me upon the rock and made me strong

He sets me on a high place and makes my way blameless
He sets me on a high place and makes me blameless in my ways

The Lord is my strength, I will rejoice
The Lord is my strength

WRITERS: Lauren Taylor, Anthony Ashley	, Jessica Smith, Danny Churchill, Ben Hall, Matt Axelson, Julie Presley, Abbie Troyanek

PSALMIC CO-LAB #10: HIGH PLACE

I'm a songwriter and performer.  But I also like to teach and equip people who are or are wanting to write songs.  This profile is currently used to showcase these 2-3 hour collaborations.  The people involved are from all over the country and these were recorded in their living rooms, backyards, and mountain escapes.

Aaron Strumpel

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