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Blues For A Holy Ghost

by The Reverend John DeLore

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  • Streaming + Download

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

      $8 USD  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    A digital download of the album now & your 12” vinyl copy of the album will ship early 2017.

    **This will be a small run, limited pressing, and to get the vinyl presses rolling, I need to pre-sell a few of copies. Makes a great gift for a vinyl lover in your life!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Blues For A Holy Ghost via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 90 days
    edition of 200 

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    A digital download of the album now, and then in early 2017 you’ll receive a 12” vinyl pressing of "Blues For A Holy Ghost" PLUS! a 12" vinyl copy of my album "Little John the Conqueror."

    Includes unlimited streaming of Blues For A Holy Ghost via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 90 days

      $30 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    A digital download of this album now, and then in early 2017 you’ll receive: the 12” vinyl pressing of Blues, the 12” vinyl pressing of Little John the Conqueror, plus CD copies of my THREE other albums: Songs From Church Avenue from 2012, Sweet Talk for Pretty Daughters from 2012, and Ode to an American Urn from 2009

    Includes unlimited streaming of Blues For A Holy Ghost via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 90 days

      $45 USD or more 

     

1.
Battle/Feel 03:36
Battle/Feel Words & Music by John DeLore Down in the battlefield naked as a jaybird Don’t put me down till you had enough Sufferin’ in the sunshine, laughing in the shadows Don’t really matter till you let it all go Nobody loves a hero baby until they’re dead and gone. And peace may come to the people on the mountain But they don’t really know how it feels to be Born in the battlefield, livin in the battlefield, Lovin in the battlefield, learnin' to feel. Laughin in the battlefield, cryin’ in the battlefield. Lovin in the battlefield, learnin' to feel. Back in the neighborhood, bodies on a backbeat. We are the daughters of a holy ghost. Hands up, hands down, candles on a higher ground, Don’t really matter till you let it all go. Nobody loves a hero baby until they’re dead and gone. And peace may come to the people on the mountain But they don’t really know how it feels to be Born in the battlefield, livin in the battlefield, Lovin in the battlefield, learnin' to feel. Laughin in the battlefield, cryin’ in the battlefield, Lovin in the battlefield, learnin' to feel. Runnin' from the sunshine, she don’t care. Runnin' from the sunshine, she don’t care.
2.
House of Cards Words & Music by John DeLore We were raised in a house of cards. Our father was afraid of the wind. But every night we prayed & we prayed, “Oh, Mother let the storm begin.” The walls were made of cups and spades, the diamonds were used for the floors, But there has not been a heart in this home since a long time before the war. It’s a house of cards. Won’t you blow it down? And while you’re at it take this whole damn town, if you please. We tried to live on love alone, but love couldn’t pay the rent. Well, neither could we live on water and bread, so we lived on our dreams instead. They said Jesus was a gambling man. He bet it all on red. But when he woke up broken and gone, his Daddy raised him from the dead. It’s a house of cards. Won’t you blow it down? And while you’re at it take this whole damn town, if you please. We have loved just to stay alive, some who did not deserve our love. We gathered up what was left of our home. It’s a song and you’ve heard it. I know you’ve heard. It’s a house of cards, and it’s blowing down. Don’t you be a fool. Take a look around. There’s a brand new day comin’ round. There’s a brand new day comin’ round.
3.
Graceland is Burning Words & Music by John DeLore The panic in my heart, it started in the fall With all the stallions saddled up and steaming in the frost. I lost you when I left the ground. I’m sorry but I couldn’t turn around. The streets of Memphis were paved in gold. At the end of the night, at the edge of what we know At the end of the line when there’s nowhere to go, We’ll go out of our mind. Graceland is burning. I passed above a freeway that was running out of town. I saw a hundred thousand cars and trucks in rows. Strolling on the shoulder was a woman not much older than a child. She was with child juxtaposed. At the end of the night, at the edge of what we know, At the end of the line when there’s nowhere to go, We’ll go out of our mind. Graceland is burning.
4.
Fools Gold 04:42
Fools Gold Words & Music by John DeLore and Matthew Kubacki Tell me what’s the use of your golden voice If you must sell your words just for the chance to be heard? I been on my heels. I been sweet and low. Oh, I been black and blue, And I been fighting all night to get through. And I was once like you. I never believed that anyone could ever touch the truth. Let me tell you now, that when a line gets drawn. Carry what you can when you go to step across. Cos I was once like you. I never believed that anyone could ever touch the truth. Fools gold. It’s cold to the touch. It shines pretty good but it ain’t worth too much. Oh, you are such a beautiful fool to me.
5.
Blue Is The Color (Of My True Love’s Hair) Words & Music by John DeLore Oh, there she goes. That’s the one I love. A shovel in her hand and the smoke in her lung. A blossom from the briar casts a shadow on the sun. She still remembers how the west was won. Bright red lips, a grey metal gun. Running with the wind in the midnight sun. She cut across the county line, where the wine of error runs so free. She cut across her Daddy’s farm. She cut down his cherry tree. Bright red lips, a grey metal gun. Running with the wind in the midnight sun. I understand she been underground On a Greyhound bound for nowhere. That’s where she learned her heart was true & fair. Oh, blue is the color of my true love’s hair. Oh, there she goes. That’s the one I love. Rolls away the stone and brings the calling back to us. Summer come to Autumn, push come to shove. We still remember how the west was won. Bright red lips. Lay down the gun. Runnin’ with the wind in the midnight sun. I understand she been underground On a Greyhound bound for nowhere. That’s where she learned her heart was true & fair. Oh, blue is the color of my true love’s hair. Yeah, blue is the color of my true love’s hair.
6.
Myth of Rebellion Words & Music by John DeLore Diamonds on a television, trouble on my mind. But this trouble ain’t nothin’ next to what I left behind. Heaven is a sweet thing, beauty is her crime. But this heaven ain’t nothin’ like the one she left behind. This is the myth of rebellion. This is the eye of the storm, baby. Out here in the ocean You better find a body who can keep a body warm. Whiskey for the woman, honey for the child. But this mercy ain’t nothin’ like the mercy out in the wild. Soldier, can you spare a moment? Mother, could you sing? Could you sing the one about the mockingbird And the diamond ring? This is the myth of rebellion. This is the eye of the storm, baby. Out here in the ocean You better find a body who can keep a body warm. Diamonds in another vision. Diamonds in my spine. Diamonds in the air around me. Diamonds in my mind. Diamonds! Diamonds! Mercy! Mercy! This is the myth of rebellion. This is the eye of the storm, baby. Out here in the ocean You better find a body who can keep a body.
7.
Hillbilly Pilgrim Words & Music by John DeLore Hillbilly Pilgrim, don’t get stuck on me. I swore I’d never love again but when you’re next to me The sun’s a little brighter, the wind is feelin' good. Hillbilly Pilgrim, go back to the woods. If I were you and if you were me. We’d build a lighthouse out of ivory. You’d paint it red and you’d cry for me When the yellow roses bloom by the sea. Your father’s eyes and your mother’s nose. Your sister’s grave and your teenage prose. You sing like an angel when your feelings show. California bluegrass, sweet Texas rose. A woman’s made of powder, an owl’s made of stone. The wind chime goin’ crazy I’m tired to the bone. But evening is the hour for your heavy feet. Hillbilly Pilgrim skippin' down my street. Yeah Hillbilly Pilgrim skippin' down my street. The general is cryin' for his drummer boy, But he’s far gone, far west of Illinois. The army defeated the old world was done. Hillbilly Pilgrim is laughin’ in the sun. Yeah, Hillbilly Pilgrim is laughin' in the sun.
8.
The Wages of a Man Unbound Words & Music by John DeLore The wages of my honesty was a cold and empty room, But the wages of my white lies was an overflowing cup. I drank it up and I swallowed it down. I spun around in circles until I fell to the ground. Words of a prophet and the tears of a clown. These are the wages of a man unbound. I chased a running rabbit to a far and distant town. I had the same dream a hundred nights until I wrote it down. I set it to a melody, and I liked the way it sounds. When I sing it on a corner all the people they gather round. A pallet on some stranger’s floor and I pass the hat around. These are the wages of a man unbound. We built a couple towers and they swayed up in the clouds. We broke an ancient mirror and the towers came a tumbling down. You danced for forty nights in a blood red hand-me-down. You never been too good for me, but you’re fun to have around. The blood above my doorway, the ashes on the ground. These are the wages of a man unbound. You said charity is like a window that lets the arrows through, But an arrow through the heart is better than a room without a view. And it’s true what you say when it’s somebody else’s town. I guess it’s just another way to keep a body down. Strange birds in the sky and the ashes on the ground. These are the wages of a man unbound. A season for the dreamer, an army on the ground. These are the wages of a man unbound.
9.
Soldier of Fortune Words & Music by John DeLore Light a candle, put it in your window. I’ll see it from the road. I’ll come a-walkin’ right down your driveway. I’ll help you carry your load. I been away too long I would steal for your touch. Such is the life of solider of fortune. I hold your picture in my mind. Time is on my side. Nine lives & six wide horses when I return. Why do bridges burning leave me yearning for your touch? Light a candle, put it in my window. You’ll see it from the sky. When I am dreaming your body leaning in the corner of my mind. You been away too long I would steal for your touch. Song of the lone dove I would kill for your love
10.
Blue Moon (Part 2) Words & Music by John DeLore How did you know I’d be sitting here waiting for you With a half dozen daisies and a half-finished bottle of booze. You win some you lose some and sometimes you don’t make it through. You saved me from the valley, but who’s gonna save me from you. Now they’re beating the drum for the age old myth of rebellion. And they’re ringing them bells to call all the old spirits to. The spies were all listening in when I whispered I missed you. So you taught me this spell to help me make it through. Don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon. Let him bring you all the light that you need And sing his praise in June. But don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon. Now are the days when the old angels start to fall Like that cold hard rain they said would drown one and all. For they’ll cry you a river and they’ll still have an ocean to spare Cos they can’t stand our music, our clothes, or the bows in our hair. And the truth is I’ve never been one for the singing of sweet songs That don’t have a part where the heart rips apart at the seams The farther I travel from home the larger it seems. Well I am who I am. Who am I but a slave to my dreams? Don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon. Let him bring you all the light that you need And sing his praise in June. But don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon. It was just after noon the war chased the bluebird away. I heard him singing, but you swore that you heard him say, “This may be a dream, or it may be the one thing you fear. But you’ll never know which one until it draws near.” And the truth is I’ve never been one for the telling of stories That don’t have an ending to plant a few seeds in the mind. Now there’s blood everywhere. Don’t worry I don’t think it’s mine. If this war’s ever over, I’d like to take you out dancing sometime. Don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon. Let him bring you all the light that you need And sing his praise in June. But don’t ever let the old devil catch you staring at the moon.

about

Blues For A Holy Ghost,
Words & music by The Reverend John DeLore,
except "Fools Gold" by John DeLore & Matthew Kubacki
Copyright 2016

credits

released August 8, 2016

*See individual song credits for the musicians that play on them*

Mastered by Justin Shturtz

Tracks 1, 5, 7 mixed by Bryan Pugh
Tracks 2, 4, 8 mixed by Rick Kwan
Tracks 3, 6, 10 mixed by Jason Finkel
Track 9 mixed by John DeLore

Recorded by John DeLore, Bryan Pugh, and a few other souls

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The Reverend John DeLore Brooklyn, New York

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