In “The Fisherman’s Net,” a riverbank showdown unfolds: a fisherman mends his craft while a stranger urges a wild, reckless cast. This bluesy folk tune threads free will through skillful hands, with a rolling melody and soulful grit. It’s a tale of bending with the current—because the river rewards those who listen. Ideal for a quiet night or a long, open-road drive.

Lyrics:
[Verse]
Down by the river where the waters bend
A fisherman sat with a net to mend
A stranger came
With fire in his eye
Said
"Cast it wide
Don’t question why."

[Verse 2]
The fisherman said
"I know my trade
The catch is meager
But it's honest paid."
The stranger laughed
“Let the river choose
Free will’s a cage if you're born to lose."

[Chorus]
Throw the net where wisdom flows
Follow the current where the truth bestows
Free will’s the line you weave with care
Skillful hands shape what grows there

[Verse 3]
The stranger seized the net
Cast it afar
Into deep waters
Where the shadows spar
The line pulled taut
But his hands let slip
The weight was too much
And the net would rip

[Verse 4]
The fisherman rose
With a steady hand
Pulled the net back
Brought the fish to land
Said
"It ain't the depth
But the patience
Friend
The river gives
When you learn to bend."

[Chorus]
Throw the net where wisdom flows
Follow the current where the truth bestows
Free will’s the line you weave with care
Skillful hands shape what grows there




The Fishermans Net

A slow blues ballad about the moment everything changes.

I spent so long trying to earn my way, step by step, brick by brick—keeping score, watching the clock run down, wondering if I'd ever be good enough. Then one single moment of grace broke through, and I realized: I don't have to keep trying anymore. I'm already home.

This song is for anyone who's exhausted from striving, anyone carrying the weight of not being enough, anyone who needs to hear that the long road ends in rest. It's about the vertical leap—when sudden grace replaces endless effort, when one heartbeat of believing burns away years of struggle.

Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, mournful harmonica, and honest vocals tell the story of liberation from the burden of self-salvation. Influenced by delta blues, folk storytelling, and the spiritual depth of gospel, but accessible to anyone who's ever felt the relief of finally letting go.

The journey from exhaustion to freedom. From striving to rest. From the long road to home.

If this song resonates with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. We're all walking each other home.

Lyrics: 
Verse 1
I walked that long road, friend, for longer than I know,
Tried to earn my way to heaven, step by step so slow.
I did everything they told me, kept my promises each day,
Gave away everything I had, just trying to find the way.

Verse 2
They said you gotta build it up, brick by heavy brick,
Count every single good deed, make the list real thick.
I watched the clock run down, tried to beat the setting sun,
Wondered if I'd ever make it, wondered if I'd ever be done.

Chorus
But that long road can't compare to the leap I made that day,
When the truth hit my heart and washed my fear away.
I heard it like thunder, and I believed it right then,
One single moment changed everything—I was home again.
That one thought burned away all the years I'd tried.

Verse 3
They told me He was gone, that He left us here alone,
That the story ended long ago, turned to dust and stone.
But a voice came out of nowhere, singing truth so clear and bright,
Said "That story was the doorway—now you're standing in the light.
I've been here all along, child, you don't have to chase,
You don't have to earn tomorrow when you're standing face to face."

Chorus
And that long road can't compare to the leap I made that day,
When the truth hit my heart and washed my fear away.
I heard it like thunder, and I believed it right then,
One single moment changed everything—I was home again.
That one thought burned away all the years I'd tried.

Bridge
No more looking back now, no more keeping score,
I don't have to wonder if I've done enough anymore.
I jumped right over all that counting, threw the numbers far away,
I got a promise in my soul now, and it's here to stay.
'Cause I found the truth and held it tight here in my hand,
My one moment of believing was worth more than all the sand.

Outro
You can build your towers high, you can work until you drop,
But I already made it home—I already reached the top.
'Cause I got the promise living right here in my soul—
Oh, I took the leap, yes I took the leap,
And now I'm finally whole...

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Already Home

A raw, heartfelt fusion of folk-blues soul and modern trap rhythm. Faith Alone tells the story of a weary seeker who learns that belief itself — simple, steady, and human — is enough to carry us home.

 Fingerpicked acoustic guitar and slide licks meet 808s, brushed snares, and gospel harmonies. The result is a prayer set to a pulse: intimate, grounded, and luminous.

 This is porchlight music for a digital age — where the rhythm of faith finds its beat in everyday life.


Lyrics: 
(Slow, steady blues — acoustic and warm.)

Verse 1
 Woke up this mornin’, heavy heart, tired bones, 
Been lookin’ for the truth in every book and stone. 
Tried to walk that narrow way, but I just fell behind, 
Till I learned that faith’s the road, not somethin’ you gotta find. 
Ain’t about the clever talk or how deep you pray, 
It’s just trustin’ the heart to show the way.

Chorus 
Oh, the Sutra says the door is open wide, 
You don’t need no gold, just step inside. 
Faith alone, brother, that’s the simple key, 
Just one spark of trust can set your spirit free. 
That single heart of conviction, it carries me along, 
To the Land of Tranquil Light, where we all belong.

Verse 2 
Old Shariputra, wise as the sun, 
Said, “All my knowing never got it done.” 
It took faith, not learning, to clear his eyes, 
Ain’t no ladder to heaven, just a moment that flies. 
And me, I ain’t learned, but I got one light, 
That flickers, but it still burns bright.

Chorus 
Oh, the Sutra says the door is open wide, 
You don’t need no gold, just step inside. 
Faith alone, sister, that’s the easy road, 
Just let the river take your load. 
That single heart of conviction, it carries me along, 
To the Land of Tranquil Light, where we all belong.

Bridge 
It’s a small fire in the cold, and I feed it slow, 
Chantin’ through the storms that come and go. 
They say it’s simple, but it sure ain’t cheap, 
You gotta keep singin’ when you can’t sleep. 
That Name’s my medicine, that chant’s my song, 
Every time I say it, I know where I belong.

Outro 
So I lay down my pride and my need to know, 
I got Faith Alone, that’s the way I go. 
Just chantin’, chantin’, soft and low— 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo... 
Faith alone... yeah, that’s the way home.

Faith Alone

“Fifty Aeons Long” by The William Altig Choir is a hauntingly beautiful folk-blues meditation on time, freedom, and perception. The song explores how our suffering often comes from clinging to minutes, regrets, and imagined futures—when the truth is timeless and already here. With finger-picked acoustic guitar, slide accents, upright bass, and a baritone voice that feels both ancient and intimate, the track unfolds like a prayer at sunrise. It’s blues for the soul awakening, a sound that dissolves the weight of the clock and lets eternity breathe through every note.

Lyrics: 
[Verse 1 – The Clock and the Soul: Solo guitar + voice—dry, intimate]
I woke before the whistle, sun still hid its face,
Coffee burned my tongue, dreams vanished without a trace.
Been fightin’ every minute like a war I can’t outlast,
But time just grins and slips away, laughin’ at my past.

[Chorus – Half-Day Blues: Add bass + light slide]
I’ve been countin’ fifty aeons, thinkin’ they were just half a day,
Got my mind all tangled in hours that fade away.
If I could see like the Buddha sees, I’d know the moment’s never gone—
I’d drop my watch and hum this tune, fifty aeons long.

[Verse 2 – The Ground Opens Up: Full rhythm section enters softly]
The dirt beneath my worry cracked and let some light shine through,
A thousand golden faces rose from everything I knew.
They whispered, “Child, your prison’s built of minutes and desire—
Step outside the ticking hand, and walk right through the fire.”

[Chorus – Half-Day Blues:]
I’ve been countin’ fifty aeons, thinkin’ they were just half a day,
Got my mind all tangled in hours that fade away.
If I could see like the Buddha sees, I’d know the moment’s never gone—
I’d drop my watch and hum this tune, fifty aeons long.

[Bridge – The Shift: Organ pad swells, drums drop to heartbeat pulse]
All my fears are echoes in a jar of borrowed time,
I finally saw that silence ain’t a void—it’s the rhyme.
Now I breathe in every second, let the whole world sing along—
The blues of now forever, fifty aeons long.

[Final Chorus + Tag: Choir + harmonica lift to E major for transcendence.]
I’ve been countin’ fifty aeons, thinkin’ they were just half a day,
Now I’m laughin’ with the sunrise, all my debts of time repaid.
When I see the world on Buddha’s scale, my heart beats calm and strong—

[Last line sung a cappella → single guitar harmonic fading out]
One breath, one song, fifty aeons long.


Fifty Aeons Long

🌕 The King of All Songs 
By The William Altig Choir

“The King of All Songs” by The William Altig Choir is a soulful, slow-burning folk-blues hymn inspired by Chapter 23 of the Lotus Sutra. A preacher’s whisper meets the river’s hum — it’s a song about awakening, mercy, and the healing power of truth.

Over warm acoustic guitar and haunting slide, a baritone voice tells of the mountain of wisdom that rises in every heart, the Sutra that cools our thirst and lights the dark. It’s gospel for the seeker, blues for the broken, and peace for the weary.

This song invites you to stand at the river’s edge, look toward the golden mountain, and remember: the King of All Songs is already singing in you.


Lyrics: 
(Tempo: 72 BPM – slow, rolling, meditative. Key: D major / Mixolydian feel.)

[Verse 1 – The Summit] There’s a mountain made of mercy, rising higher than the rest, Where the sun burns off illusion, and the moon lays down to rest. Every preacher, every seeker, every soul that’s ever tried— Finds that mountain in their heart, where the truth don’t ever hide.

[Chorus – The River of One Song] Oh, this Sutra’s a river, runnin’ gold through the pain, Cools the thirst of the weary, lights the dark like rain. It’s the song of all the Buddhas, wheel-turnin’ and free— The King of All Songs, singin’ through you and me.

[Verse 2 – The Crown] It’s the king among the scriptures, wears no crown but flame, Rules the hearts of the people, not their gold or name. The moon bows to its mirror, the sun kneels to its light— It’s the father of compassion, shinin’ through the night.

[Chorus – The River of One Song] Oh, this Sutra’s a river, runnin’ gold through the pain, Cools the thirst of the weary, lights the dark like rain. It’s the song of all the Buddhas, wheel-turnin’ and free— The King of All Songs, singin’ through you and me.

[Bridge – The Medicine] It’s a mother to the orphan, a fire in the cold, A boat for the broken, a treasure made of soul. A lamp for the blind man, a doctor for the sick, It unbinds your sorrow—slow and slick.

[Verse 3 – The Healing] Like a cool pond for the thirsty, or a torch in the cave, It don’t promise you escape, child—it teaches how to be brave. The chains of death and birth, they melt in its song, You ain’t gotta go elsewhere—you been free all along.

[Final Chorus – The Liberation] Yeah, this Sutra’s a river, rollin’ clear through the pain, Cools the thirst of the weary, lights the dark like rain. Every vow you been keepin’, every prayer you ain’t said— It’s the song that will raise the livin’ and wake the dead.

[Outro – Spoken, preacher-style] Now listen close, brothers and sisters, That mountain, that sun, that moon— They ain’t somewhere else. They’re hummin’ in your bones. That’s the Lotus singin’. That’s the Dharma groanin’. And it’s callin’ you home.

The King of All Songs

“Welling Up from the Ground” is a powerful gospel-blues folk anthem inspired by Chapter Fifteen of the Lotus Sutra—the moment when the earth itself trembles, and countless Bodhisattvas rise from the soil of suffering to bring light to the age of darkness. The song blends sacred soul with modern storytelling, featuring rich harmonies, Hammond organ swells, and a radiant choir that celebrates the truth that salvation doesn’t descend from above—it blossoms from within. This is music for those who’ve walked through fire and found their strength in the ashes. The hero isn’t in the clouds—the hero is in the ground, and the power’s in you now.

Lyrics: 
[Verse 1]
We gathered in the Ceremony in the Air
From countless other worlds, we traveled there
We saw the suffering in this sahā land
And raised a compassionate and helping hand
We made a vow, "After you’re gone, we will remain
Through the perilous age of sorrow and of pain
We will protect and preach this Sūtra true"
It was the noblest thing that we could do.

[Pre-Chorus]
But the World-Honored One just smiled and shook his head
"Your help is not required here," he softly said
"Don't you worry for this world of mine
This world of suffering can heal its own
There's a seed of power in the sorrow sown."

[Chorus]
And then the ground began to tremble and to break!
The earth tore open, for this world's own sake
And from the very soil of suffering and doubt
A million golden heroes started welling out!
And the truth just hit me, like a thunder sound
The greatest hero isn't from the clouds
The hero is right here, rooted in the ground.
I don't need a savior; the power’s in me now!

[Verse 2]
More countless than the sands along the Ganges streams
They rose up like the substance of our deepest dreams
With golden bodies, shining with a brilliant light
With all the marks of greatness, shinin' in the light
Led by Superior Practices, the chief and first
They’d been waiting for the proper time to burst
Not from some distant land, but right beneath our feet
The ones to make this broken, bitter world complete.

[Pre-Chorus]
And the Buddha said, "Behold, these are my sons
The ones I’ve taught since time itself begun
They are my disciples from the remotest past."
A holy paradox, too deep and vast...

[Chorus]
And the ground began to tremble and to break!
The earth tore open, for this world's own sake
And from the very soil of suffering and doubt
A million golden heroes started welling out!
And the truth just hit me, like a thunder sound
The greatest hero isn't from the clouds
The hero is right here, rooted in the ground.
I don't need a savior; the power’s in me now!

[Bridge]
Even Maitreya, the "Invincible" one
He had to ask, "My Lord, how could this be done?
You’ve only taught for forty-some-odd years
How did you raise this host that calms all fears?"
His question was the key that opened up the door
To make the walls of history and logic fall
This is the mission for this final, broken age
When mappō’s darkness covers up the page
We are the ones who chose to be right here
To transform destiny and conquer every fear.

[Outro / Vamp]
And Nichiren said, "Listen! This is emerging from the earth!"
Every time one person finds their sacred worth
When first one chants, then two, and then a hundred more
This is the army welling up from the planet’s floor!
This is the work we do!
This is our vow!
Transforming the sahā world, right here and now!

[Ad-lib vocals]
We are the ones!
Welling up! Welling up!
From the ground! From the ground!
The power’s in me now!
The hero’s in the ground...
(Music fades)

Welling Up From the Ground

An intimate, raw acoustic blues meditation on the "Sahā-Loka Grind."

"Sahā-Loka Grind" isn't just about the suffering of the world; it's about the profound, compassionate choice to stay in it. It's the sound of the Bodhisattva's resolve, finding purpose not in escape, but right here in "the Bodhisattva's backyard."

Lyrics: 
[Verse 1]
Woke up this morning, same static on my soul
Stuck in this lifetime, feel it take its toll.
Star-King asked the Teacher, talkin' straight and true:
"Why's the Medicine-King walkin' where the pain cuts through?
He said, "Hey, Big Man, why you carryin' that weight?
When you got a first-class ticket past the golden gate?"

[Chorus]
Oh, this Sahā-Loka Grind, yeah, it's a world of static and pain
Trapped on the wheel, round and round, again and again.
Got that poison cocktail burnin' deep inside my head
All that wantin', all that hatin', seein' everyone in red.
But I gotta stay right here, though the work is bitter and hard
This world of fire is the Bodhisattva's backyard.

[Verse 2]
I saw that other place, shinin' in the distant blue
All neon crystal, diamond avenues.
The streets were all level, smooth as polished glass
'Cause the folks up there, they let all the trouble pass.
No addiction, no nightmares, no one clawin' at the door
But that kinda quiet ain't what I'm fightin' for.

[Chorus]
Oh, this Sahā-Loka Grind, yeah, it's a world of static and pain
Trapped on the wheel, round and round, again and again.
Got that poison cocktail burnin' deep inside my head
All that wantin', all that hatin', seein' everyone in red.
But I gotta stay right here, though the work is bitter and hard
This world of fire is the Bodhisattva's backyard.

[Bridge]
They call it the pressure-cooker, call it the forge
Where you build your backbone, just to stand before the horde.
Gotta take the garbage, the suffering, and the flaw
It's the raw material for a higher law.
"Why you stayin' in the mud?" I hear 'em loud and clear
'Cause love ain't got a job to do if there ain't no tears to spare.

[Guitar Solo]
(A long, gritty, wailing electric slide guitar solo)

[Outro]
Yeah, the road is cracked, but my will is strong
Stayin' in this Sahā-Loka, where I belong.
Gonna bear it, gonna bear it, gotta push on through
Till every last broken soul can stand up new.
The Sahā-Loka Grind... yeah. The grind...

Sahà-Loka Grind

A stark, bluesy folk ballad that tells a heavy story.

Inspired by the dramatic schism in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sūtra, "Twigs and Leaves" is a song about one of the most subtle dangers on the spiritual path: arrogance (māna). It recounts the moment when 5,000 practitioners, believing they had already achieved enlightenment, walked away from the Buddha's ultimate teaching. They mistook a milestone for the final destination.

This is a song about the Buddha's silent, powerful reaction—watching the "twigs and leaves" depart from the assembly, purifying it for the final truth. It's a mournful warning about the price of certainty and a call for the deep endurance (Kṣānti) required to stay the course.

Told with just a voice and an acoustic guitar, it's an intimate, raw, and hypnotic story for anyone who has ever wrestled with questions of faith, progress, and humility.


Lyrics: 
(Genre: Bluesy Folk Ballad)
(Intro) (Slow, mournful acoustic guitar...)
(Spoken, in rhythm):
Here's a song 'bout a crowd...
Who thought they were done,
'Fore the final truth had even come.

(Verse 1: The Revelation)
The Master rose up from his deep samādhi rest
Said, "My skillful means were just a temporary test."
"Those three small roads you traveled, the vehicles you knew,
"Were just a clever shelter, 'til I revealed the truth to you.
"There's only one Great Vehicle, one single road to ride,
"The journey is the goal now... there's no final place to hide."

(Verse 2: The Five Thousand Depart)
Five thousand souls stood up, and they started to go.
They bowed their heads politely, but their feet were movin' slow.
They had that sickness of the soul, that spiritual pride (māna),
Attached to what they'd reached, but with nothin' left inside.
Convinced they'd gained the final Law, while the job was incomplete,
They thought they'd attained... what they'd never reached... and stumbled on their own feet.

(Chorus: The Buddha’s Silence)
Oh, the Arrogance Trap, it's a lock on the deepest door,
It's thinkin' that you're done, when He's askin' you for more.
The Buddha watched them leave... He didn't argue or coerce.
He said, "The assembly's purified, it's free from somethin' worse."
He said the "twigs and leaves" are gone, just the truthful souls remain.
That self-imposed exile... the price of all their spiritual pain.

(Verse 3: The Price of Certainty)
They built a life on certainty that couldn't stand the shock,
Mistook a restin' milestone for the true top of the rock.
So tragically faithful to their own constricted view,
They judged the Master by the little road they knew.
Their pride was just a high, high wall, built from their own good works,
That old, deluded arrogance... where the deepest shadow lurks.

(Bridge: The New Armor)
To the faithful ones who stayed, the Master gave the key.
He told Maitreya, "Listen... here's what you're gonna see...
"You gotta wear the armor of Endurance, deep and true,
"You gotta practice patience when the insults come for you.
"From those same arrogant people... who think they've found the way...
"You must remain unswayed, don't you listen to what they say."

(Outro)
The slander that they throw... that's just fuel for wakin' up.
The aggressor is your teacher, fillin' up your merit cup.
The Buddha gave his final lesson in the silence of that room...
Just watchin' the twigs and leaves fall... and walkin' to their doom.

(Guitar fades out slow)

Twigs and Leaves

"The Monkey, the Cow, and the Crown Jewel" is a musical journey into a profound spiritual paradox from 13th-century Japan. Inspired by Nichiren Daishonin's letter, the Urabon Gosho, the song tells the story of Lord Jibu, a priest described as lacking wisdom and dignity—like a "monkey or a cow". Yet, he is praised in the highest terms.  

Why? Because his one redeeming quality is his simple, unshakable faith in the Lotus Sutra.

This orchestral folk-rock epic explores the theological concept of "derived sanctity." It's not about our own perfection, but the power of the ultimate truth we hold dear. Through the powerful metaphors of a "snake holding a gem" and a "dragon guarding sacred relics," the song builds from a sparse, intimate confession into a soaring anthem for the imperfect. It is a testament to the idea that pure faith is the one jewel that can make any flawed vessel sacred, transforming a life of shadow into a source of brilliant light.  

(Verse 1 – The Lament of the Flawed Vessel)
[sparse fingerpicked guitar, Hammond drone] Not one of two hundred fifty precepts kept, Three thousand rules of conduct, all unkept. My wisdom’s dull — like a horse or a cow, A monkey’s dignity is all I’ve got now. A broken vessel in these latter days, My strength’s a whisper, lost inside the maze. No merit gathered, nothing I can claim, Just a flawed old priest who barely speaks his name.

(Chorus – The Pivotal Faith)
[add upright bass, soft brushed snare] But nevertheless, my heart holds one thing true: I revere the Buddha, and the Sutra too. My only treasure is the faith I hold — A story for these latter days retold. For broken vessels shine with borrowed light, And in devotion, find their sacred might.

(Verse 2 – The Sacred Metaphors of Derived Sanctity)
[slide guitar enters with call-and-response] I’m like a serpent with a priceless gem — Its light redeems, though it’s not mine, but them. A dragon guarding relics, pure and bright, My being changed by the Dharma’s light. The jewel is perfect, though the snake may crawl, Untouched by mud, it sanctifies us all. My hands are empty, yet I guard the Law — The greatest treasure this world ever saw.

(Chorus – The Pivotal Faith) But nevertheless, my heart holds one thing true: I revere the Buddha, and the Sutra too. My only treasure is the faith I hold — A story for these latter days retold. For broken vessels shine with borrowed light, And in devotion, find their sacred might.

(Bridge – The Boundless Promise)
[choir harmonies swell, organ opens] A wisteria vine around a mighty pine, I climb to heights that never could be mine. My strength may fail, but clinging to this grace, I’ll save my kin and find their sacred place. For seven generations, I can bring them peace, A fine jewel of a grandson — granting release. Through faith alone, I soar on borrowed wings, And hear the song the Tranquil Heaven sings.

(Outro – The Mantra of Faith)
[fade with gospel humming — mantra-like repetition of “borrowed light…”] The monkey, the cow, and the crown jewel bright — A flawed man’s faith in eternal light. The monkey, the cow, and the crown jewel bright — Borrowed light becomes my own tonight.

The Monkey the Cow and the Crown Jewel

A Blues-Folk Testimonial for Anyone Who Ever Got Told They Were Already Lost

This isn’t a hymn for saints — it’s a rallying cry for the bruised. Change Poison into Medicine walks the razor’s edge between despair and awakening, hammering the old karma-chains with a raw acoustic spark and a harmonica that won’t stop crying until it can finally soar.

The narrator questions the old fear-based religion that promised endless punishment — then flips the script. The Lotus Sūtra drops like a thunderbolt — revealing a “Mystic Law” already raging in his bones. No waiting for heaven. No cosmic warden counting sins.

Just the courage to take the worst you’ve lived… and alchemize it into strength.

Firelight vocals. Scratched-up guitar. Stomping kick and tambourine driving the chorus like a second chance pounding at the door.

A blues of rebirth. A sermon for the skeptics. A reminder that the medicine and the poison are often the same— depending on who you decide to be now.

Lyrics
(Verse 1 – The Heavy Chain) Woke up this mornin', sun wouldn't shine on me Felt the chains of my past, far as my eye could see The old preachers told me the debt was way too deep Said I’d pay for a million years, even in my sleep. They said, "Son, gettin' clean is a long, hard road." Felt my soul gettin' heavy, carryin' that load. I was shackled by a story that I couldn't change Just a ghost in my own life, lost on a lonely range.

(Chorus – The Good Medicine) But the Lotus Sūtra came like a hammer on the stone Gave me one true sound to call my own Said the power of the Law was right here in my soul It’s the great physician’s cure, Lord, to make a man whole. Yes, it's true, my friend, I finally understood Gotta change the poison into medicine, and turn the bad to good.

(Verse 2 – The Vanishing Dew) My debts were piled as high as a mountain in the sky Thought I’d be carryin' that burden 'til the day I die But the Sūtra said my faith was a deeper root And this one true practice set my soul loose. That old, bad karma didn't need to be pulled out piece by piece It vanished like the frost or dew when the sun brings release. Yeah, it wiped the whole slate clean in the twinkling of an eye Gave me the nerve to face the things I was too scared to try.

(Chorus – The Good Medicine) But the Lotus Sūtra came like a hammer on the stone Gave me one true sound to call my own Said the power of the Law was right here in my soul It’s the great physician’s cure, Lord, to make a man whole. Yes, it's true, my friend, I finally understood Gotta change the poison into medicine, and turn the bad to good.

(Bridge – The Vow) I ain't no prisoner just payin' for my sin This very hardship is where my real work begins I chose to be here, to take on this pain Like the soul who made a promise, walkin' through the rain. My suffering ain't a sentence, it's a promise that I made Right here in this muddy world, my foundation is laid.

(Outro – Right Here, Right Now) I'm gettin' my reward right here, in this present life No longer bound by that old, endless strife Oh, the Mystic Law, it's a burnin' light Turnin' all my darkness into something bright.

Oh, that medicine... (Poison into medicine) That sweet, sweet medicine... (Poison into medicine) I'm changin' it now... Right here... Right now.

Change Poison into Medicine

A blues-folk meditation on the exhaustion of trying to earn your worth through endless striving. This song walks through the valley of good intentions gone sour, calloused hands and hollow prayers, until a stranger by the roadside offers an ancient truth: the light you've been climbing toward was inside you all along.

Written in the tradition of confessional Americana, "Lay Your Shovel Down" explores what happens when our attempts to help others become mirrors for our own ego, and how grace arrives not as a reward for effort, but as a gift to the weary.

Inspired by contemplative spiritual traditions but rooted in universal human longing, this is a song for anyone who's ever tried to light their own house with the fire they gave away.

For the broken-down, the burnt-out, the ones still climbing in the dark—this one's for you.

[VERSE 1 – The Labor and Dissatisfaction]
I woke up this morning, 
climbed the highest hill, 
tried to make it right.
Dug every garden, 
gave my neighbor water, 
waited for a sign of light.
I hauled stone and timber, 
built a fire to keep folks warm,
But when the long shadows stretched and the day was gone, 
I was empty, soaked, and worn.
I found my kindness was just a mirror, 
cracked and gray, Tryin’ to light my own damn house with the fire I gave away.
Yeah, I worked all day long, but when the moon rose high— My spirit still wasn’t satisfied.

[CHORUS – The Cry and the Lifeline]
My hands are calloused, 
but my prayers taste like a lie,
I’m standin’ in the dust, 
watchin’ every good deed drift on by. My giving was hollow, 
hidin’ what I hoped to get, I’m drownin’ in my own well-meaning, 
and the shore ain’t found me yet.
Practice ain’t enough, Lord—
I need the truth I can’t achieve,
I need the word that saves me from the man I thought I had to be.

[VERSE 2 – The Scene of Collapse and Grace]
I tried to pull the world up clean from the mud,
But the weight of their sorrow mixed in with my blood.
My high aspirations sank down in the mire,
My water turned bitter—
I forgot the true fire.
I fell by the roadside, 
cold dread in my chest,
When a stranger laid a parchment right upon my weary chestc.
He said: “You been tryin’ to earn the daylight, 
climbin’ in the dark,
The wellspring you been diggin’ for’s already in your heart. Now close your weary eyes, child—
let these words carry you home.”

[CHORUS (REPRISE)]
My hands are calloused, 
but my prayers don’t taste like lies, I’m standin’ in the dust, 
watchin’ grace come rollin’ by. My giving was hollow once, 
hidin’ what I hoped to get, But I’m drinkin’ from that same well now—
and I ain’t drownin’ yet.
Practice ain’t enough, Lord—
but faith is what I see, I found the word that saves me from the man I tried to be.

[BRIDGE – The Revelation and Assurance]
Then a whisper cut through the drought,
Said, “The gold you’re diggin’ for—
it’s what you’re made of, child, no doubt.”
You been pullin' on a door that never was locked,
Bleedin’ for the light when it’s burnin’ inside.
The fire was in the wood all along,
The song was in your skin.
The debt was paid before your birth—
You just gotta let the mercy in.

[OUTRO – The Final Release]
You don’t gotta carry nothin’, 
just lay your shovel down and sigh.
The worth you were lookin’ for, child, 
was shinin’ in your own eye. You don’t gotta earn the grace—
just stand still and breathe.
I climbed that high hill, 
but now I sit down flat, And the quiet that holds me deep—
is the peace I chased at last. I stopped the striving, let the light just stay—
I walked out of my own shame today.
“No more... cold dread..."

Lay Your Shovel Down

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Welcome to the musical world of The William Altig Choir, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary sound.

Inspired by the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and infused with deep spiritual themes, my music blends the rich traditions of blues and folk with modern elements, creating a unique fusion that resonates with both the heart and soul.

I've been captivated by the Lotus Sutra's messages of compassion, wisdom, and transformation since my youth. It's a journey of self-discovery that has found its voice in my music. Each song is a reflection of my own spiritual awakening and a celebration of universal truths.

My style is characterized by emotive storytelling, powerful lyrics, and a commitment to exploring the depths of human experience. Featuring contemplative blues, acoustic slide guitar, saxophone melodies, and the harmonies of a gospel choir, my music reflects a quest for enlightenment and a better understanding of the self.

Join me on this musical journey. Together, we can explore the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, finding solace, hope, and a deeper connection to the world around us.

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