Schemers

The Sunken God

Someone is haunted by violent thoughts (Violence Came for Us). An expectant father feels uncertain about his future (Somewhere, Somehow). A woman wants to leave her partner (Unsung Love Songs). Someone witnesses a shift in behaviour in someone they love (Alive in the Mind of Another).

The characters in this album have a sense of uncertainty, and do not feel at ease in the world. It's not that these characters don't care about anything, they care a lot, but they feel disoriented about what their caring means.

Somehow, Someday, Everything Becomes Something Else

Strangeness

We Used To Live

Sightlines

Devotion

Restless Wind

I wrote this song thinking about how words can betray intentions and slip from under our grasp. We try to share how we feel but we run up against the limits of language and find a lack of fidelity between our language and our experience.

But love is passed between us in channels that flow deeper than words. And so there is no reason to despair when our words don't get it right. I find that to be a comforting thought. 

----

Some orchards bloom 
Hidden from sight 
Kept out of view 
Alive by the night 
Under the cover of love 
Behind locked doors 
Humbled by time and change 
Quiet to the world

I’m sorry if I never loved the way I mean to I guess, 
I’ve been running from you. I’ve been running from you 
I try and try to say what I mean but the words 
Slip outta my hands, slip outta my hands

Move in time with me 
Rhythm and light 
Your siren call 
Pulled me aside 
Not everything can stand 
Not everything can last 
Not everything can go 
And not everything will pass

I’m sorry if I never loved the way I mean to I guess, 
I’ve been running from you. I’ve been running from you 
I try and try to say what I mean but the words 
slip outta my hands, slip outta my hands

Got me I’m running out of your view. 
Got me I’m running out of your view. 
Got me I’m running out of your view. 
So let me step into your view

God is here among us 
In the silence between phrases 
In the infidelity of language 
Deep beneath our knowing glances

Beneath every hopeful sentence 
Beyond every probing question 
There are rivers that are flowing 
They are colliding in this moment

Become estuaries between us 
As our bodies tangle into one 
Your water is my wine, your heat 
burns my furnace bright.

The Infidelity Of Language

A Laughing Heart

Surrender

Silence isn’t about one thing in particular. It’s more of a collection of thoughts (and sometimes phrases that I just like the sound of). Mostly the thoughts are meant as encouragement. Sometimes I’m writing to people in my life and sometimes I’m writing to me— trying to reassure and fortify myself.

Silence

Purification Ritual

Still In Love With You

Manhood

Loverboy

All Your Love

2018

Circles

No More

New Stories

Mushroom

Morning Prayers

Lullabies For Little Crimes

A love song about partnership rather than possession. ❤️  

The line I really like is "I refuse love lacking symmetry." To me that's the heart of the song.  

 Symmetry is part of a three-song series that I wrote during quarantine in the spring. I wanted the songs to feel energetic, spontaneous and in the body. Basically the opposite of what life feels like in quarantine!

Symmetry

Kinetic

Storm

Reservoir

Anticipation

I think this song is about the ways we avoid the most difficult parts of love: vulnerability and tenderness. Sometimes we are dishonest in our avoidance and sometimes the people who pay are the ones we love the most.  

I've been sitting on this song for a little over a year but have been reluctant to release it because truthfully the song makes me feel sad! And maybe Covid-19 soured my appetite for sad songs 😊. 

At any rate, I put a lot of work into the song so I still wanted to release it— hope you like it! 

LYRICS

Gulugod explored
All the unknown world
Cities gone unclaimed
Hidden and away
All those quiet lives 
Held back in disguise 
Like the laws of man
Drawn as pictures in the sand

She cried out, let me go
From the secrets deep below
Heard dogs singing songs
About the soft under belly of love
She searched high
She searched low
For what love songs seem to know
That all men sing for what they lack:
So they sing about love

Gulugod withdrew
It was hidden in plain view
Even quiet lives
Were living in disguise
So she held out an open hand
Told everyone she knew:
"I need you loving me
Just let your love to be true." 

She cried out, let me go
From the secrets deep below
Heard dogs singing songs
About the soft under belly of love
She searched high
She searched low
For what love songs seem to know
That all men sing for what they lack:
So they sing about love

She saw men speak on high
Holding secrets, down below
She saw saints, use their tongues
And a house with the lights always on
Naked dancers, drawing close
Giving only their clothes, only clothes
And all men sing for what they lack:
So they sing about love

The Soft Underbelly Of Love

100 Miles

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Email: steve@stevebenjamins.com

Steve Benjamins

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