The Bells of Change

Every season, right around this time I revisit some words I wrote 5 years ago.  It is a song that continues to have redefined meaning in my life because of the reflection it causes in my heart.  While on the road I have continued to re-connect with this song as Holiday season approaches, because of it reminding me what matters most in life:

When those bells,

Ring and you see,

You are here,

Here with me,

Hold my hand, 

Don’t let go, 

Even when it’s cold

And we’re alone,

Wherever you go, 

I’ll be there,

No matter time, 

Whatever Year,

Look at the sky

See my face,

Look at the ground

Feel my grace,

Time for a change

Break those chains,

   Find that dream,

You and Me,

Times running out 

Find what you want

Find you who love,

Hold on tight,

  Pray that prayer   

Sleep that night,

      Keep that faith

Bring that light,

Summon that strength   

Bring that might,

When you Wake 

We'll Be alright...    

The timeless and haunting melody of this original piece has always created a feeling in me, and I've always known I wanted to infuse a more universal message into the piece.  With the help of Joseph "Swordmaker" Figueroa in with arrangement, production and composition, and Alice Issac who lend her angelic voice to all the parts of the choir, we set out to create a chilling reminder of what or who is truly important as the weather freezes up and we rely on our hearts to warm us and the people around us.  One of my favorite aspects of this song is, you get to decide what truly matters in your heart.

It also gives us a moment to reflect what we are doing in our life, but sometimes even more importantly - what we aren't doing and says, the time is now...

In the recent year, we made the song a ringtone (which I personally am very excited about) because the notion of being able to set it as the calling jingle for the one or many of the people you care about is extremely appealing to me.

The ringtone must be downloaded on a smartphone via i-tunes. 

While the entire song can be  purchased here: 

Please enjoy this piece: 



Hark....The Bells of Change.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hark...the-bells-change-feat./id408913594

Verse 1:
It’s that time of year, People always fear,
People always love, Friends come here!
Let me break it down, Whisper inya’ ear,
Close to the fire, seat real Near,

There’s those who have none, those have some,
These are alone, them who have love,
Them who have loved, them who have lost,
These are the stories, I stumble across:

There’s that man, by the trash can,
Got no home, Damn he’s alone,
I could be him, he could be me,
But we’re not, each got his own,

Some of us rich, Some of us real,
Poor as they come, can’t afford shit,
Just hold on, count your stars,
Families bond, Memories strong,

Hark....The Bells of Change.


Verse 2:
That time of year, money is tight,
Couples fight, and it’s cold,
Makes things worse, Makes rain pour,
Everybody got, somewhere to go,

We succeed, and it’s hard,
Bundled up tight, skinny ass tree,
Watch mama hustle, get those gifts,
Christmas list, get those kicks,

Oh didn’t get ‘em, don’t mean shit,
Still got you, still got her,
Still got brotha, still got Pops,
Bad ass kid, more that I deserve,

And they slave, and they work,
Daddy did good, buy that shirt,
Take the hurt, turn into something,
Take that dirt, keep the pain comin,

Hark....The Bells of Change.

Verse 3:
I’m tired of being that local cat,
Messed up car, dope ass hat,
Messed up kicks, sick ass flow,
Watch him do, watch him blow,

Reset the clocks, just you watch,
It’s gone be, hip hop and me,
I member when, I was a kid,
I had no one, I was a bum,

Time came and went, then I grew,
Met some friends, never kept a crew,
Studied real hard, got 2 degrees,
All he ever wanted, sick emcee,

3, 4 jobs, just to get away,
1 day a week, in the studio,
People pass away, some still here,
Sometimes I don’t, Sometimes I care,

News still sucks, people givin up,
Buildings fallin down, people blowin up,
We still at war, Religion run a muck,
Give a little more, Still not enough,

We’re growin up, We’re growin old,
Throw those coins, Dump that change,
New years come, Make that change,
Tired of the race, Tired of the wish,

Tired of the hope, Can’t even cope,
Candle burned out,  All outa rope,
Tired of the climb, Gonna get mine,
Always tell myself, Wait for better times,

No more time, Ya not gonna’ find,
In your prime, Stakes are high,
Step up or Stand in line,
Watch that bell, Hear those chimes,

Hark....The Bells of Change.