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on the brink of it all

by Greg Englesson

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1.
Life's Simple Dance 03:47
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Life's Simple Dance by Greg Englesson Is it not this World that we love so dear the sky is falling this we forget to fear why’s it so much hotter when the sun don’t seem to shine we can not drink the water but we sip the blood like wine the air is thick with questions the answers can’t define we move across the stations as we watch ourselves refine But if we see now we may have a chance to stop the foolish squander of life's simple dance we can turn around the tide and all take a stance stop the foolish squander and let life simply dance Poignant pleasures placate more emptiness, devoid as we pray to sick suck hates we buy another toy toxins fill the blood stream vomit upon the banks the head grows sore in false dreams income tax buys more tanks keep us under their siege while they fight another war there is no air to breath but they want that more and more But if we see now we may have a chance to stop the foolish squander of life's simple dance we can turn around the tide and all take a stance stop the foolish squander and let life simply dance Cut down all the trees throw the paper in a can watch the rising degrees desecrate the land blossom in a cob web dried rainbow in the sand must we watch this life ebb can’t we lend a hand caress that loving nature rescue the mother from the grave look to her to nurture and let the spirit show the way Let life Dance!
2.
Homo Sapien 02:18
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Homo sapien by Greg Englesson The alarm rings at 6 am I gotta remember what I am I gotta job a pay check and a boss I brush my teeth and dental floss Homo sapien that’s what I am Homo sapien that’s what I am I live in a house and drive 2 cars I eat food fast from cans and jars I run in circles and I exercise let machines run my whole life Homo sapien that’s what I am Homo sapien that’s what I am Naturally I want to have free choice but others seek control of my body and voice they belong to religious sects make the cross to the TV set Homo sapien that’s what I am Homo sapien that’s what I am Put that computer in my bed and hook that keyboard to my head I’ll think a thought, it will react I’ll lie here all day on my back Homo sapien that’s what I am Homo sapien that’s what I am
3.
Hungry 'Cause of Greed 02:58
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Hungry ‘Cause of Greed by Greg Englesson Tires burn the rubber as fire smells my soul rise up from the gutter and pay another toll driving on the highways of asphalt and concrete gut another forest put in another street and we’re hungry ‘cause of greed hungry and there’s no where left to feed hungry ‘cause of greed hungry and we breed and breed and breed and breed Got to have more oil spreading out to sea we’ve screwed up all the soil with too much chemistry fishing in your sewers that were once your streams I’d like a breath of air you know what I mean and we’re hungry ‘cause of greed hungry and there’s no where left to feed hungry ‘cause of greed hungry and we breed and breed and breed and breed Driving on the highways of motor motion row had to many x rays there’s nothing left to grow orange hue the sun is setting in this here hemisphere stuck in the steel mental netting we slip right out of gear Hungry cause of Greed!
4.
Kingdom of the Lord 02:26
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Kingdom of the Lord by Greg Englesson I came into the Kingdom of the Lord he drove around in a beat up 60 ford he slept beside a stream under a tree woke up in the morning and did tai chi someone’s Jesus is another’s Pan and one Goddess is a woman the Buddhas belly has a zen mind the yogi stretches as the tao unwinds he picked his food from natures grocery store he always shared his excess with the poor they kneeled down and prayed that he save them he said now don’t start that nonsense again someone’s Jesus is another’s Pan and one Goddess is a woman the Buddhas belly has a zen mind the yogi stretches as the tao unwinds hey ho... you know... it’s inside the thought that’s in your heart just as though... the embers glow... don’t get caught up in what’s been taught just think that thought, that thought that’s in your heart that heart that taught that thought that taught that thought, that thought that’s in your heaaaaart...
5.
On the Brink Of It All 03:53
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On The Brink Of It All by Greg Englesson On the brink of it all I stand so tall and fall and fall into it all and rise up on my knees to crawl here the echoes call and call I find stuck up into my sight a vision of perilous flight the ship they call upon to sail the fuel burns in the sky so frail up I rise to see this sight the vision of perilous flight On the brink of it all I stand so tall and fall and fall into it all reach out into space so empty and we wait for its reentry splash down in the sea so fluid by the moon once watched by druid now we just force reach to grab maybe build up a moon lab to study rock craters and dust and hold ourselves still with lust On the brink of it all I stand so tall and fall and fall into it all here upon the womb I grow and watch these men against the flow they force their way into the brain and call those who resist insane they tell us they are not the they and we look and say OK! but who then is it; I do this? you can’t say that is how it is for here I stand upon the brink and wash my dish here at my sink
6.
Science Says 04:29
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Science Say by Greg Englesson I Take the shoes of my feet I lay down on my car seat I peek out of my wind shield gaze at the moon across an open field space race satellite spin on day and night flight up in the sky artificial men search for artificial high telescope out the scene fingers punch views on computer screens experimental minds trying to seize the times back down to the earth she is the one to put first space well it can wait why waste the mother in a blind haste doctors speak out of tune diseases loom mathematicians calculate on the state of the environmental fate science says close your eyes science says terms in disguise science says change your heart science says split apart split it split it split it split it... science was once a tool science now is the god of the fool.
7.
Climb 02:33
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Climb by Greg Englesson Climb a little higher, Climb on to the top Climb a little higher, Climb until you drop Buy a big house in the suburbs go and shop inside the malls learn to mouth all of the right words pay someone to answer all your calls Climb a little higher, Climb on to the top Climb a little higher, Climb until you drop Kiss some butt, make some good impressions tell them what they want to hear see a shrink for your fears and depressions and shift your life into a higher gear Climb a little higher, Climb on to the top Climb a little higher, Climb until you drop Sleep less, work more, and skip vacations your clothes, car, hair, It’s all in vogue live your life for the wrong reasons now climb, climb, climb you foolish rogue Climb a little higher, Climb on to the top Climb a little higher, Climb until you drop Climb...Climb...Climb...Climb!
8.
Song to my Father 04:47
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Song to my Father by Greg Englesson When I was just a little bitty kid my daddy he did say now Greg E you had better listen to me and obey you go and get an education, now that is that and when you go for a job interview remember, take off your hat little did he realize they ain’t got no job for me for I got my degree all right but it’s in Philosophy now I have swept the floors of the local factory I’ve done my share of social work and I served coffee and tea drove the bread truck morning and night made the deliveries worked in the cooperative signed up to cut the cheese I knew that it’s true what you had said but sometimes words can’t feed you a crust of bread come on my father can’t you see some how they’ve blinded us into slavery Now I’ll tell you dad If I write one of them there hit songs I’m going to take you and mom for a ride to kingdom come we’ll do just about anything that you want to do because you’ve both worked so hard your whole life through maybe we’ll look at the ski, see what the stars convey and if it’s clear in the morning I’d like to hear what you say because you’ve always had good advice and I know you still do because as we grow older wisdom comes to bloom the two of you have given your lives so selflessly to give your children the chance to set themselves free now I know I should not feel any-kind of remorse but I know that our freedom has a limited choice I knew that it’s true what you had said but sometimes words can’t feed you a crust of bread come on my father can’t you see some how they’ve blinded us into slavery
9.
Sick Building 03:28
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Sick Building by Greg Englesson Streets wind down town the carbon monoxide hangs around the homeless and the hungry abound in the wretched dark side of town sick sick building slowly but surely its killing but up inside the tall office space florescent lights brighten up the place stagnant air from shafts sucked in by machines the air may be dead but the office looks so clean sick sick building slowly but surely its killing formaldehyde asbestos who know what the water and the odor hits the gut wall to wall the carpet looks so nice synthetic textile attacks another life sick sick building slowly but surely its killing polyester polyurethane latex paint hair cream perfume I’m about to faint carbon paper copy machine outgassed my backs in pain I’m pissed off got a rash sick sick building slowly but surely its killing sick sick building slowly but surely its killing
10.
Blame it on the Weather 03:41
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Blame It On The Weather by Greg Englesson as the food supply spoils in the market place because the price is high it all must go to waste disease is running rampant through the city streets the criminals wage war in alliance with police politicians promise to set the nation straight while the culture screams and cries that it’s much too late they tell us to keep watching the statistical collapse while the economic structure crumbles right into our laps Blame it on the weather / there’s a problem outside Blame it on the weather / you just can’t run and hide Blame it on the weather / must be something we can do Blame it on the weather / because the sky don’t look so blue following the footsteps of greed and avarice while the lavish streets outside open up into abyss military chaos runs through the country side while the humble wisdom of good souls must run and hide flaming cities burn out in black holes of disgrace while the rich and famous flee way up into space the atmosphere can’t sustain the natural life forces as we slave in cubicles as blind as work horses Chorus where there once were flowers there is an ugly scene the ozone layers thinning and acid fills our streams the rain forest is stripped and raped to make McDonald’s meat the automated rationale can never miss a beat the politicians rattle at my window sill asking for more taxes to pass another bill I ask about the rich and our economy why so many homeless when the buildings are empty Chorus what could be the problem with our society are we not imprisoned while they tell us we are free there screaming at the window to just shut up and destroy we slave and work and toil to buy another toy what is it that is wrong with the way we are we try to find salvation in the image of a star going to infiltrate the masses with some idiotic term as they sit in front of TV just as though they wish to learn
11.
3rd World Blues 03:58
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Third World Blues by Greg Englesson We send them guns not butter they starve the child’s mother with terror to those human beings to wish for freedom this song does sing Poor hungry peasant man just trying to free the land as the woman loves and nurtures growth the dictators cut these peoples throats In ignorance and bliss as steam from the engines hiss we see and hear no news from the third world blues for one buck a day they have no time to play they sweat and toil in the sun and live their life underneath the gun they call them terrorists all those who raise their fists against the death squads who rape and kill make them live a life against their will In ignorance and bliss as steam from the engines hiss we see and hear no news from the third world blues We sell to them our goods our goods that are no good we send our work from the factory its so cheap to pay with slavery so the work we don’t have here we give to them for tears and prop up what supports fews needs it is hatred that such an action breeds In ignorance and bliss as steam from the engines hiss we see and hear no news from the third world blues Our banks say take a loan so we give the dog a bone and we ask for them to pay us back so they black market cocaine, we make crack and they rape the rain forest because they can’t resist the powers that force them to pay back the loan, what is this anyway
12.
Roll On River 04:24
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Roll On River by Greg Englesson I Walk down to the river drifting rolling out to sea I catch a chill through my shiver looking off into what will be seen in the land of the foolish living, dying in luxury caressing silken lavish rolling fields of poverty Roll on roll on river roll on out to sea mountain rain soul giver bury me beneath that tree I’m looking up on a mountain I fall down on to my knees I throw my arms up to the rain I reach out and embrace the breeze the sunlight breaks through the clouds streaming down a kiss upon me I feel myself crying out loud for I feel oh so free chorus The thunder comes in clearly now the lightening cracks and splits a tree that is who and when and how that is where I wish to be let the seeds of destruction plow then we plant and grow and see rise up till tomorrow brings now and we see all must be free Roll on, roll on, roll on, river...
13.
Alone Together 04:02
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Alone Together by Greg Englesson I came into the room I took off my hat put on my shoes right there I sat that’s when I left my mind intact I walk these walls I jump this track you say I must listen I hear your noise the moonlight glistens I feel it’s voice All alone, underneath, and through and through it seems All of us alone beneath unstitching seams All in one self not flesh, blood, bone are we All alone together in one dream I came outside took off my mask opened my heart what a task naked I shivered arms hands embrace warming my body caress my face I merged inside you you swallowed my soul we became one, two, three as we let go All alone, underneath, and through and through it seems All of us alone beneath unstitching seems All in one self not flesh, blood, bone are we All alone together in one dream sipping coffee on a couch we curse and argue television blasts the house as we profess points of view we spin webs of confusion spit words of a fluke conceptualize intrusions and bitch of all the work that’s why we must leave our minds in tact whistle our wisdom look ahead not back Alone Together

about

© ℗ 2011 Greg Englesson
“on the brink of it all” came about while pondering a follow-up to Mr. E Demystified …I started listening to my archives and realized I had a perfect album of material written and produced between 1990-2004 as or perhaps even more relevant today as it was then. A couple tracks were recorded on my 4 track immediately after having written music to two poems. Freshly written and recorded in one take in the wooden room in the old stone house at the end of a gravel road in Woodstock NY. A few tracks were recorded at Fred Hands studio on the side of a mountain in the vastness of greenery. My former band mate and friend Ken Miller had come up and put down some harmonica and Keyboard tracks (like fine wine these had improved with time). The rest of the tracks were recorded at Todd Levine’s Magnetic North a stones throw from Woodstock 94 (25th Anniversary) the commercial Mud Bath.
“Sure did like it! This is very good for your country” Lord Litter's Magic Music Box International

credits

released December 25, 2011

This 2011 release was written, produced & performed by Greg Englesson in and around Woodstock NY between 1990-2004.
Recorded on Greg's 4 track in the wooden room in the old stone house and at Handworks studio & Magnetic North.
Mastered by Ed Butler. Special thanks to Ken Miller harmonica and Keys.
Photos by Suzette Lebel

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Greg Englesson (Mr. E) image

Greg Englesson (Mr. E) Kingston, New York

Chronic Citizen Greg Englesson
is a Funky Roots Rocking Poet playing Topical Lyrical Folk Rap 
spiced with social satire wound in a Zen blender. Greg E a Prolific songwriter/ storyteller has a background in Ethical Social & Political Philosophy. ... more

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