Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 1: "Entrance Antiphon"

Here is the lead track. It is a spoken word I performed for the album, and it reads similarly to a prayer or a creed. In a Catholic mass, the entrance antiphon is essentially the introduction to following set of rituals that are to occur. I view this as a secular prayer directed at the people in my life worth fighting for.

1.) Entrance Antiphon

I will not succumb to the fears of my father’s generation, nor continue to dwell on those of my own. I will walk down paths on which the fearful will not tread and steer clear of the shadows of history’s ghosts. When I come to the end of the journey through this place I will not shed a tear or regret. I will have no excuse to feel anything but joy, for at the end I know I will see your face.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 3: "Just Like You"

One of my favorite lyrics/songs that I've written without question. It's very simple and to the point, and the music carries the song by and large because the lyrics are short. As I said when I posted "Streetcorner", if there is any song off this EP that you listen to, please listen to this one.

3.) Just Like You

I laughed aloud when you caught on fire and did nothing to put you out because watching you burn is a far better sight than the feeling of being a hero. I felt no fear when I coughed up blood, I only kept on walking because risking my life is a far better venture than giving in to the same fears. I screamed in joy when the buildings crumbled, my head just went blank with the joy I felt because witnessing chaos is far from the horror of living my life just like you.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 4: "First Reading: As in the Void"

My friend Sam, who writes and performs trip-hop music as "The Revisitor", performed this spoken word for me on the EP. He has a style all his own, and while you may not agree with me I have to assert that I'm not kidding when I say that he makes some of the best and most interesting music I think I've ever heard and I've heard so much. Please check him out when you get the chance at www.myspace.com/madvisuals4u ; I can't wait for his album to drop!

4.) First Reading: As in the Void

I sit looking down on myself, observing behavior in ritual. I come to the realization that something massive has escaped me: my soul, my soul. I no longer have one. I’m living in a spiritual void, spiritual void. And everything seems empty all around me: spiritual void. And everyone is singing but it’s hollow, resonating not on tired ears. Everyone is trying to pile together, all into the void. They’re paranoid, paranoid. Into the void, paranoid. I am the void. Irreconcilable.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 5: "Alone on a Streetcorner"

I think the subject matter of this one is open for interpretation. I guess I'll let you decide. This is one of my favorite songs that I've ever written, and the actual process of doing so began when I was about 16. Most of the music was written then, and bits and pieces of the lyrics, but it finally all came together last year while recording the guitar. If you listen to anything on the EP, make it this song or "Just Like You".

5.) Alone on a Streetcorner

Play a song on the corner in the blistering cold. There’s a man all alone now because he’s got nowhere to go. Play a song on the corner, honor what you love. He’s gone away now. They decided where he’d go. I hate everyone because they all hate me, and it’s blocking out the sun and you won’t let me be. Play a song on the corner in the blistering heat. There’s a man at your feet now as you’re walking down the street. Play a song on the corner as the nation dies. Watch the scene unfolding. It burns your weary eyes. I hate everyone because they all hate me, and it’s blocking out the sun and you won’t let me be. He sings a song on the corner while he dies alone. So many walked by him, all going to some home. Play a song on the corner through your blistering hate. You’re all alone now, to this you can relate. Everyone hates me because I all hate them. The sun is blocking out me, and I won’t let it be.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 6: "In Pieces"

Another spoken word from the EP performed by Soda, one of my great friends and the vocalist in Deaf By Arms. He is an inspiring wordsmith, as well as one of the most subtly strong and overtly kind people ever conceived. As a man who has known and overcome struggle, strife, and the often convoluted opinions of the people who "know best", his style of living is an exercise in real, palpable freedom.

6.) 2^nd Reading: In Pieces

As I crumble, I know that I’m stronger than what I’ve become: a shell of a man, not much more than an atom. As I walk and I curse in the night as I search I can taste the remnants of what I’m no longer able to: victory, sweet victory. If only I had not stepped back. But there is always one more game to build my name or bring me shame, the latter not an option. I must rise above through my love and my passion like a dove. I can soar once more to the victory that is my freedom. The time is come, no not to run, but to piece myself back together.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 7: "Cincinnati"

This is a folk song about driving the north/south length of the state of Ohio from Cleveland to Cincinnati. During the course of this drive, you will pass through every major city in the state, and you will also find yourself doing alot of thinking because while there is quite a bit of interesting Americana located off of the exits of I-71, there's hardly anything to look at while driving on the freeway itself. Take a drive sometime for no reason other than discovering something new about yourself and your surroundings. I'm certain that you'll find the experience worthwhile after all is said and done.

7.) Cincinnati

Take 71 South for 250 miles. Take 71 South past the capital of Ohio. It’s a lonely drive, nothing to look at but fields and farms. It’s a lonely drive, nothing to think about but what’s been gone. Cincinnati, I’m coming today. Cincinnati, I’m not coming to stay. Cincinnati, wash my troubles away. In the river, I’ll drown today. Take the highway, roll the windows down. Take the highway, listen to the sounds of the engine humming, the wind rushing through you. Take the highway and drive toward what you’re trying to leave behind. Cincinnati, I don’t think that we’ll ever get over this. Cincinnati, you took something away. Cincinnati, wash my troubles away. Cincinnati, drown me in the river today. Cincinnati, don’t think we can ever get over this. Burning River, I’ll come back to you in a bit. Cincinnati, you took something away from me. Burning River, burn my troubles away.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 8: "Gospel/Homily: Walking Our Path"

This is a spoken word I wrote that is performed on the album by one of my favorite people, my cousin Chris a.k.a. Sleazy C a.k.a. the bassist in Deaf By Arms. He's more like a brother to me than anything, and also one of the most creatively inspiring people I've ever met. This EP is structured similarly to a Catholic mass as it is primarily an exploration of faith and the loss thereof. I believe very strongly in my own capacity to impact the world to a positive degree, and if you do as well, it's possible we could do it together. I have met many amazing people in my life, both religious and non-religious, and it seems like both sides butt heads all too often due to focusing on the differences between them rather than the glaringly obvious similarities like compassion, empathy, understanding, kindness, selflessness, etc. As much as I do not think it is fair to label someone "morally corrupt" because of a lack of faith in a deity, I think it is equally unfair to write someone off as "delusional" or "unrealistic" because of the presence and usage of faith as a guide in their life. With respect to my own faith, it rests within myself and the people I care the most about. Despite his misleading, tongue-in-cheek nickname, my cousin is someone in whom I have immense faith because he possesses the qualities mentioned above and more. His face mirrors mine and I believe we can lead. "Together, together! Defend our yesterdays! Defend our tomorrows! Together, together!" (Thomas Barnett of Strike Anywhere in "Sunset on 32nd Street")

8.) Gospel/Homily: Walking Our Path

They preached, I listened. They pushed, I reacted. Shoved against a wall and presented with a fight, you and I we will not bend, no not tonight. We are not masters of each other, although we counterbalance. At the end of the day, our patience is our strength. Your face is now my faith. It mirrors mine, a face that I believe in. A face that I believe can lead. A face that can reject this world’s greed and hate and self-absorption. A face that will join symbiotic, walk together til the end as we believe in each other. Sister and sister, brother and brother, friend and his other half. The end. Your face, a most beautiful sight. And in your eyes, a triumph. My faith has been affirmed.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 9: "Undeserving"

These are the sappiest lyrics I think I've ever written, or at least that I've publicly admitted to having written. I hate this song and will never play it live, mostly because I'm disgusted that I actually wrote it for the person whom it is about. That doesn't mean that I thought it wasn't musically good enough to put on the EP though. I do enjoy playing the music to it, especially the last couple of minutes.

9.) Undeserving

I’m so guarded, you’re so lovely. I’m so temperamental, you’re so perfect. Met you one fine day, moving out of your apartment. We started out just friends, never thought I’d want you so damn bad. Afraid to say these words, feels like I’m giving in. I’m falling for you. Afraid to say these words, feels like I’m giving in, I’m falling for you. I can be negative, but you inspire me. I see the good in life when I look into your (those) eyes. Your voice is heartening, your smile melts me. Your spirit moves my soul, your voice can heal me. Afraid to say these words, feels like I’m giving in. I’m falling for you. Afraid to say these words, feels like I’m giving in. I love you.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 10: "Floating with You"

This is about someone who used to be pretty special in my life. We've long since parted and I wish her nothing but the best. It's about walking down the beach on the shore of Lake Erie and feeling particularly alive. I love water, and this is only one of numerous pieces I've written about my fondness for lounging river-, lake-, and/or sea-side. It's even better when you have someone to share it with. This is also a very old song, and yes, I used to be a very lame romantic at heart. I'm definitely not anymore... ;)

10.) Floating with You

Stepped outside today and everything was different. Everything had changed. I felt something new. On the moonlit summer nights, walking the beaches and climbing the heights. Hand-in-hand we strolled along just floating away. With the waves that crashed upon the sand that we called Avalon, I wanted to experience this day after day. We float on the tide, catching clouds to ride. Feel all warm inside, and then we arise. When I’m all alone lonely by the telephone, you’re always the first thing on my mind. Everything you do for me makes me feel like somebody. I need to stay with you and my life will be complete. We float on the tide, catching clouds to ride. Feel all warm inside, and then we arise!

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 11: "Closing Hymn: On Guard Til the End"

I wrote this one day while driving through and around Fostoria and Arcadia, Ohio. The a' cappella track "Change in the Air, Change on the Wing" was also written that day. When I'm driving through places as depressing as these towns I tend to sing alot and make up my own songs if I get tired of what's playing on my stereo. Most of the time, it's way more interesting than what they force upon you through the radio. I suppose that day was destined to be a productive one, since I saw it coming early that morning. To make a long and not really that interesting story short, I woke up early that morning and thought to myself "damn my circadian rhythms are all messed up". Because of this, I started trying to figure out what that town out in Northwestern Ohio that sounds like "Circadian" was called. I remembered that it was Arcadia. When I arrived at work, I found out that I was to be sent out to Arcadia to make a delivery. Weird.

11.) Closing Hymn: On Guard Til the End

Asleep inside my room to rest your tired eyes, I’ll protect you with my life. I’ll stand here by your side, tough times we can abide. We aren’t running, we won’t hide.

Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 12: "You All Around"

This is the last song from my debut EP "Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate". It was recorded on a tape a few summers ago so the recording quality isn't dynamite, but I have always liked it because the lyrics were improvised as I strummed some chords. At the time I was going through a rough patch in a relationship and that theme dominated the ramblings spewing forth from my mouth that night. I particularly dig the line(s) about Suburbia. It's part my feelings on the institution that is Suburban living, and part a subtle homage to my friends in the now-defunct Willoughby, Ohio punk band "The Disgustings", who penned a song entitled "Suburbia" that was definitely my favorite. Even though it was improvised during a rough time, it still brings back great memories every time I hear it.

12.) You All Around

You think that this was gonna be a happy song. You were wrong, you were wrong. Think our ending would turn out for the…the better. Settle down somewhere in the woods, just you and me. Listen to the howling of the wolves, and walk down and look at the sea of stars. Sometimes I feel like I’m falling apart, you’re so far away. Do your goals really line up with true happiness? This is not a time for you to be indecisive. Once you let it go, you never know. It might be gone for good, the wounds might be too deep to repair. So think twice, think hard. Make sure you don’t want me anymore. Before you close this chapter in your life, I’ll close it for you. It’s hard to reduce this hate I feel, not towards you, and not towards me. It’s about the way we’ve set our dreams all up bounded by the fences of Suburbia. This is not what I want for you. This is not what I want for me. This is never what I wanted myself to turn out to be. I don’t know where to go, where I’ll find you next. When I look around, that’s where you’ll be. But probably not. Just go away.

"Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate" is Dropping Very Soon!!!!

Not that I actually think that anyone reads anything I put on here, but if you do, you probably know a thing or two about me. I'm in a couple of bands here in Cleveland, both of which are about to release albums. I play solo under the name Soapbox Prophet, and my debut solo EP, entitled "Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate" will be available at the beginning of August. It will feature 6 songs, a few a' cappella tracks, and some poetry/spoken words that I have written that some of my best friends (Soda and Sleazy C from Deaf By Arms, and independent hip-hopper The Revisitor) performed on the album for me.

For anyone paying attention to that project, I am going to begin posting the lyrics/poems up here for people to read if they happen to want to sing along. I'll be doing it in reverse order from 12 to 1 and I should have them all up here before I leave for the small mini-tour I'm doing between August 7 and August 15 with my good friends Presque Vu, Mush Mouth, and MC Homeless & Jinx. Keep your eyes open for them and leave me some love somewhere in the comments if you care to do so. And if you're actually reading any of this stuff, thanks for contributing to my therapy. The arts seem to be all I care about, and I'll argue with anyone that they're all that should ever be cared about. Peace, love, and liberation from the societal chains that bind us!

~Ray