The Music of Eli August

Sink, sink slowly down.

They won’t find us now.

To hopes we are enslaved.

Driftwood dead upon the waves.

Oh, oh the endless…

leaves you breathless.

Oh, oh the depths this

body roams.

You stretch on forever

in my memory.

We will be together

in the darkness of the sea.

(chorus)

Oh, how I was lonesome,

but you comfort me.

Oh, how calm and wholesome

the love of life can be.

My legs, my heart were never

meant to be on land.

These once distant waters,

now waves touching sand.

(chorus)

The new e.p. “The Bottom of the Sea” is available.
The first 100 copies are hand packaged with hand drawn calligraphy and wax seals. The only way to get yer hands on one of these is to come to a show or, if you really want one, then on the homepage of my site on the right hand side of the screen theres a paypal donate button, and they will run you $9 (shipping included).
http://www.eliaugust.com/

1.  A Nautical Mile

2. Dead Reckoning

3. The Deep

4. The Plunge

5. Waves

6. Steady

http://www.midnightcalling.com/wordpress-mc/wordpress-mc/2011/09/eli-august-man-of-many-talents/

I recently went to a one day Punk festival in Philly called Riot Fest.  It was mainly old bands from the 80′s and 90′s who had gotten back together for these shows.  The reason that I’m mentioning the festival is because it sparked in me a few emotions that had been burning low in the ole’ brain for quite some time.

…Damn if the punk crowd of a generation ago don’t love the merch!  CD’s, vinyl, t-shirts, stickers, posters, etc.  You name it.  We are losing a bit of our connection to the tangible.  To hold a cd in your hands, read through the booklet, put a sticker on your car, or a patch on your jacket.  Sure you can pass down a file of your favorite artist to your kids in 20yrs, but its not the same as handing them a record, and frankly not as cool.

Digital downloads are an awesome thing, don’t get me wrong, but they just don’t have the same allure as holding the real thing in your hand, but maybe I’m just an old man trying to hold on to a vanishing form of media…

When the world has grown against you,
and the morning has no sun,
Just know that you are safe here,
and someday sleep will come.
When you cannot keep your head,
and you’ve lost the one you love,
Clear your thoughts and mourn them,
and know that sleep will come.
When nights are drenched in doubt
over all the things you’ve done,
Know that you’re not alone here,
and slowly sleep will come.
When nothing more here moves you,
no dance, no art, no song,
Just know we cannot lose you,
stay here and sleep will come.
If joys and hopes are calming,
but you find your life has none,
Rest sure you are not drowning,
breathe deep and sleep will come.

This man!  http://www.escapetheclouds.com/

Escape the clouds.  He has even let me sing on one of his latest tracks, which you can download for free.  You can also purchase his entire album at the address listed above.

You won’t be disappointed.

Several Folks have asked me for the lyrics to this song, so I thought I would post them here for the time being.  The recorded version will be on the upcoming e.p. “The bottom of the Sea” which will be released in November.  For future performances, I will be strongly encouraging sing alongs!  Do not worry, I will be providing songbooks so there is no need for strict memorization.  I will be posting a youtube video or just audio of the song soon, so ya’ll can practice up real good.

Steady

In the hull of this ship, there’s a home that we’ve built
Myself and each soul of this crew.
And ‘most every night by the oil lamp light,
I still think of you.
 
The calm, quiet weather, it held us together,
but the skies, they soon changed their hue.
And in the black of the night, you vanished and I
was still in love with you.
 
Steady as she goes.
There are those that stay with us through each ebb and flow.
They are the ones we call home.
Steady as she goes.
 
You drifted away on tumultuous waves,
and your heart upon each new wind blows.
I’ll never forget, in your wake what you left.
Steady as she goes.
 
A piece of a man who could not understand
what would make you go,
While others who came through the same storm remained,
All you left were your clothes.
 
Steady as she goes.
There are those that stay with us through each ebb and flow.
They are the ones we call home.
Steady as she goes.
 
There comes a time in all of our lives
When we find out of what we are made.
In a sea of lost causes and all of these flaws
is there anything worth being saved?
 
Some stars shine bright, may not shed guiding light,
but delay us from courses outlaid.
But there are those, there are those
compasses that have remained.
 
Steady as she goes.
There are those that stay with us through each ebb and flow.
They are the ones we call home.
Steady as she goes.
 
I remember you.
You couldn’t hold on, you drifted away,
Well, I’ve done the same to a few.
 Oh oh oh… I remember you.
There’s no one to blame, but the wind and the rain,there was nothing we could do.

And we’ll find our own way home.
 
Steady as she goes.
There are those that stay with us through each ebb and flow.
They are the ones we call home.
Steady as she goes.

Steady as she goes.

In a matter of hours I will be making my first venture into the great land of Canada.  Wish me luck!

I’m off in less than an hour to the wonderful world of touring.  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone, some familiar faces and some new.

When I return in early July, I’m going to start working on the Victorian Dead project, but for now I will be doing more recording back in WI for a nautical e.p. that will be released at TeslaCon.

See you soon!

I have a bunch of family and friends here in Baltimore with me this week.  There is no thing quite as wonderful as not needing to turn your phone on, because everyone who would call you is already right there with you.  I know its not much of a post and a little sappy, but I don’t care!