"Poison Into Medicine" is a bluesy folk anthem about finding strength in struggle and transforming life's hardships into wisdom. Inspired by the Buddhist teacher Nichiren's teachings, this song weaves ancient philosophy with raw, soulful blues to remind us that our greatest challenges can become our greatest teachers.

Like the lotus that blooms from muddy water, this song celebrates the beauty that emerges from difficulty. With gritty vocals and heartfelt lyrics, it speaks to anyone who's ever faced adversity and chosen to grow through it rather than be broken by it.

Perfect for fans of spiritual blues, conscious folk music, and anyone seeking songs about resilience, transformation, and finding joy in the journey—even when the road is rough.

Key themes: Turning obstacles into opportunities • Buddhist wisdom meets American blues • Resilience and personal growth • Finding delight in the struggle • The lotus blooming in mud

Verse 1: 
Well, I woke up this morning, trouble at my door Same old heavy burden that I've been carrying before But the teacher said to me, "Don't you turn and run— The lotus blooms in muddy water, rising to the sun"

Chorus: 
Gonna turn this poison into medicine Let the struggle make me strong again Every trial is a teacher, every tear's a friend Gonna turn this poison into medicine

Verse 2: 
Lightning in the darkness shows you where to go Can't appreciate the mountain if you never climb the road The fire that tests you is the fire that makes you shine Your earthly troubles are the path to the divine

Chorus: 
Gonna turn this poison into medicine Let the struggle make me strong again Every trial is a teacher, every tear's a friend Gonna turn this poison into medicine

Bridge: 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, that's the ancient song Finding joy right in the middle when everything goes wrong The seed breaks open in the dark beneath the ground Before the flower shows its face, it's got to be broken down

Verse 3: 
So bring your storms and bring your rain, bring your heaviest load I'll be chanting through the pain, walking down this road 'Cause suffering ain't the enemy I used to know It's the gateway to the wisdom that will help me grow

Final Chorus: 
I'm turning poison into medicine Let the struggle make me strong again Every trial is a teacher, every tear's a friend I'm turning poison into medicine Oh, I'm turning poison into medicine

Outro: 
Delight is in the struggle, friend Delight is in the struggle, friend The lotus rises, and will rise again

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

A hauntingly slow Dark Americana ballad, "Same Bend,  Same Note" traps the listener in an eternal loop of futile repetition—swinging the same axe, driving the same bend, chasing unresolved notes that echo into infinity. With whispering layers, infinite slide guitar echoes, and a fixed twilight sun, this gothic folk nightmare explores hell not as fire, but as perfect, unchanging routine where beauty fades yet the motion never ends.  #DarkAmericana #GothicFolk #EternalLoop #RepetitiveHell #ExistentialBallad #TragicFolk

The same Bend, the same Note

Please like and share. 
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.

#SpiritualMusic  #LotusSutraMusic  #ContemplativeBlues  #BuddhistGospel #AcousticSlideGuitar  #GospelChoir  #Self-Discovery  #SpiritualAwakening  #Hope  #The_William_Altig_Choir

Cursed melodies. Family graves. Crossroads debts.
Southern Gothic nightmares & human heartbreak.
Welcome to 0165 Productions.
Leave pure or don’t leave at all.

New tracks tagged #Existential Folk