Open [REA.04], by Roedel Et Alia

Open [REA.04]

by Roedel Et Alia

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$6 USD or more

1.	The War is Open (Neon Mix) 02:25	lyrics	buy track
THE WAR IS OPEN I’m pulling on my boots and mask I’m tired of the chore I’m driving down an empty street I’m going to a War My hands are raw, they choke the wheel My glove’s already torn My neighbor said the fight’s a steal If only we get born If only we get born I’m passing vacant parking lots I’m counting darkened doors I’m sure the News said I was shot And Wall Street lost its Lords My head is high and smothered My dollars with the poor My songs are from my brothers But they’re dying on all fours But they’re dying on all fours My thoughts are lonely drifters All blistered to the core I want the things we’ve whispered Written reborn as a roar I take a breath, could be my last I want to do much more I forgot just what was on my list I’m going to the Store I’m going to a War Yes, I’m going to a War
2.	The Wake Up Machine (Debris Mix) 02:00	lyrics	buy track
THE WAKE UP MACHINE I wake up restlessly I wake up memory I wake up and I see I wake up to debris I wake up wanting free I wake up bourgeoisie I wake up don’t agree I wake up referee I wake up pay a fee I wake up reality I wake up and decree I wake up chop a tree I wake up lose the key I wake up guilty plea I wake up deportee I wake up invisibly I wake up absentee I wake up forget me I wake up oh mercy When I wake up Then I’ll be
3.	The Haiku D'etat 01:10	lyrics	buy track
THE HAIKU D'ETAT Feet hurry to the fire Cicadas of passersby Stillness Freedom Rain
4.	The Fallin' Man 04:00	lyrics	buy track
THE FALLIN' MAN We’ve run so far but we’re still at their feet When every corner’s got a statue you just have to meet Why did this take so long? Why do we still feel wrong? Are these just tokens awoken to sing us a song? Did they think of all Americans when they held this man high With his sword and his signet and the longest war cry He just stares with a glare that don’t dare meet your eye I’ve seen stranger things, than delayed recompense Don’t schedule a parade for displays of some sense Yes, we watched his demise But they watched him arise Don’t tell me it’s heritage Swearing through grits, guns and arrogance I’ll strike right through that reconstruction fable As I watch the man drop like crumbs from our table Ship them all to a museum, let all the locals see ‘um But I won’t be in line, I won’t be looking up to Lee There’s better people on the streets that we all can be And if you go down to the river, that’s where you’ll find me I’ll be swimming, I’ll be kissing all that this kudzo could do When the man finally falls cuz his legacy falls, too.
5.	The Quiet Quarantine Scene 02:04	lyrics	buy track
THE QUIET QUARANTINE SCENE Taking stock of our lot The heartbeat, the head, the heat The ticking of the clock The drain sings drip drop Falling into the night Open this sight with jazz, more jazz, calling a sudden strike of the light Time to stop Time to chop Swap chalk for walk Drink into the hours When the storm takes our power And we feel like we’re dying We keep trying We keep trying
6.	The Black Eye (Connected Mix) 02:12	lyrics	buy track
This town has a black eye And we’re not even a mile wide Sit next to me -- let’s dream a while But half of us can’t see the sky The other half don’t wonder why This town blinks with black black eyes This dream sinks with black black eyes This dream of mine, in this stream of lies It’ll be all-right, just settle down, sonny Take this milk Taste this honey You can sell that soul for plenty of money Ignore the fight -- go head and try You think you can, your skin is white But this town has a black eye You see the truth’s gone out of style Walk next to me -- let’s work a while But half of us can’t reach the sky The other half don’t wonder why This town has a black eye This town blinks with black black eyes This town sinks with black black eyes This dream of mine, in this stream of lies Don’t look around Don’t ask questions Take our medicine, fake our suggestions Separation hits when we least expect it Reject it, suspect it, see these black eyes and connect it Connect and abide Turn up what’s inside Cuz this town has a black eye
7.	The Fight Club 02:41	lyrics	buy track
THE FIGHT CLUB Tracing the disappearance of the thing we need more Tell them all to come home Tell them open the door They told us forgiveness was weakness Resisting all their bleakness with our fists But it's fullness when I feel this So I open my arms and hug the truth Feel my blood pump like bourbon, a hundred proof Fuel for peace in this existence Forgiveness isn't weakness It goes the Distance It goes the Distance
8.	The Second the Street Lights Come On 01:14	lyrics	buy track
THE SECOND THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON I found a reason to reach out and tell you Your world’s closed off to everyone who helped you I want to wake up but don’t know what I can do I’m having visions of distance between all these places But a blur of their words have replaced all their faces So I’ll discard all distractions and call it all graceless I got to grab hold of that branch that won’t break I got to give a little more than my heart wants to take I got to open the door before it’s too late Before the pain sinks stones in your heart We got to get home before it gets dark I’ve been meaning to tell you I just want to help you We got to get home before it gets dark
9.	The Death of the Heart (Echo Mix) 05:23		buy track
10.	The Believe Her 01:33	lyrics	buy track
THE BELIEVE HER When will we listen? Where will we start? How do we eulogize the death of the heart? Who will stay sharp? What will depart? When will we listen? Where will we start? Why must we eulogize the death of the heart? Maybe it’s still beating. Maybe just broken Maybe believing should be more than unspoken Maybe it’s still breathing. Maybe tired of tokens Maybe our might is in the fight to be open Be open Be open Be open
11.	The Boxes 01:44	lyrics	buy track
THE BOXES There are two boxes. Open both boxes. See the sun inside. Sit down in the shade. When you are ready. Make one box. Let the box open itself. When it is ready. Feel the sun inside. Shine down in the shade.
12.	The Distractions 01:39	lyrics	buy track
THE DISTRACTIONS Roses have bled Violets change views It’s not elephants versus donkeys It’s tyrants versus you Their game is distraction, a dark money roux See, what got in my eye, I don’t think I knew While patience grew weary and friends felt like few But if I pay strength to the weak I’ll stay closer to true And as soon as we see that, the sooner we’ll choose To love one another with all that we do
13.	The War is Open (Vibe Vox) 03:30		buy track
14.	The Scratching Strawberry / I Wake Up 06:12		buy track

about

REA.04 / Album / Words, creative direction and executive production by Jeffrey Roedel

Six remixes of Distance tracks and eight previously unreleased pieces started during the Distance sessions and completed soon after. Contributors and conspirators are Barrett Black, Scott Campbell, Cohen Hartman, Benjamin Herrington, Casey McAllister, Mikey O’Rotel, Norbert Redmond, Emily Sholes Smith, and James West.

4 features writing and performance by O’mar Finley. 14 features writing and performance by Monique Lorden. Special thanks to the Jack Antonoff Studio, Keller and Waxie.

Album design by Damien Mitchell. Cover artwork is “First Light (Illuminations)” by Edward Pramuk, courtesy of the artist. Logo by Stay Gray Ponyboy.

© 2020, 2021 Woodstone Tiger. All Rights Reserved.