Harmonium

by Patrick Ames

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1.
No People Are Supreme 03:16
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- No People Are Supreme- © 2022 by Patrick Ames. It’s time to show up for this democracy It’s time to wake up No people are supreme It’s time to show up It’s time to see <Your spirit binds thee> It’s time to show up for this democracy <Your spirit binds thee> Your spirit it binds thee Your spirit it binds thee It’s tie to show up It’s time to see It’s time to ban the hate That Keeps us from being free <Your spirit binds thee Your spirit binds thee> No people are supreme No people are supreme No people are supreme No people are supreme No people No people No people No people are supreme
2.
Sometimes 02:49
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- Sometimes- © 2022 by Patrick Ames. Sometimes I wish the world / would re- ally really try Sometimes I stay up all night / and worry till I cry Sometimes I think about /the end of modern life Somehow I choke it down / but it burns just like the fires Sometimes I wish the world would really really try Sometimes I wish the world would listen to its youth Just take a look outside and admit there’s no excuse Sometimes I wonder how this world even exists Somehow we lasted this long despite our laziness Sometimes I wish the world would be- lieve in their youth Once we lose wonder We lose all hope Once we blame others We fail to cope Sometimes I wish the world would really really try Put away the differences that come with being alive Sometimes I can’t explain the writing on the wall Except to say it’s coming fast even though we seem to crawl Sometimes I wish the world would really really try Sometimes I wish the world would really really try
3.
Will I Ever Be Noticed 03:35
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Will I Ever Be Noticed - © 2022 by Patrick Ames. You posted your picture Your mask was in your hands I rated it super highly Because I like those kind of thangs Will I ever be noticed / by you? I was at that vegan restaurant When you showed your vax card and got in you rushed right pass me in the bar To a table full of your maskless friends Will I ever be noticed by you? why can’t I be noticed Might you recognize me I’ve had this same mask on For the past several weeks Can I ever be noticed by you? You know I took the bus home from work And sat in the seat right next to you But you phone-talked the whole time With your sister who lives in Duluth Will I ever be noticed by you
4.
DontChaWanna 03:05
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Dontchawanna - © 2022 by Patrick Ames. Dont Cha Wanna be Famous Dont Cha Wanna be a Star Dont Cha Wanna Dont Cha Wanna Wanna quit your job Dont Cha Wanna Relax Dont Cha Wanna Be in Charge Dont Cha Wanna Dont Cha Wanna Wanna quit your job Too many days in quarantine That virus has changed my life The years are racing in front on me / I don’t wanna to live to work I’m leaving that job, I resign Dont Cha Wanna have back all those years Dont Cha Wanna Dont Cha Wanna Wanna quit your job Dont Cha Wanna Meet less Dont Cha Wanna travel far Dont Cha Wanna Dont Cha Wanna Wanna quit your job Too many days in quarantine That virus has changed my life The years are racing in front on me I’m changing jobs, I resign / Dont Cha Wanna Dont Cha Wanna Wanna quit your job
5.
Is It Okay to Complain 03:42
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Is It Okay to Complain - © 2022 by Patrick Ames. Look at you now, you’re all grown up Practical hair frames a face I’ve thought of Your shoulders are square defiantly straight You smile when you speak as if thankig the fates But those eyes have never and that stare remains the same: Is this what time does to us? Is this how things change? Is this how I age with you? Is it okay to complain. Look at you now, you’re all grown up Kids at your feet, their faces need scrubbed Your body is used as it carefully waits For your family to grow up and escape their fates But those eyes have never changed and that stare remains the same: Is this what life does to us? Is this how families change? Is this how I age with you? Is it okay to complain? Look at you now, you’re all grown up Your spouse and you have broken up You call every week and we talk until late You squirm in your seat as if delaying the fates eyes have never changed because that stare remains the same: Is this what God does to us? Is this how things change? Is this how I age with you? Is it okay if I complain?
6.
Last Night Was No Mistake 03:13
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-Last Night - © 2022 by Patrick Ames. You know last night you and I escaped we left the party early and we found a place Last night / we stayed up late talked the / whole night long talked about what’s / right and wrong Last night / I was blown away by your / vision and grace And your / passions and taste So don’t you believe We were meant to be Last Night was no mistake That’s what you told me So, don’t you know, we were meant to be Last night / was no mistake We were / meant to be here We were / sent to be steered Last night / we stayed up late talked the / whole night long Even asked / the stars along So don’t you believe We were meant to be Last Night was no mistake That’s what you told me
7.
Grace 01:39
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Grace ©2022 by Patrick Ames. All rights reserved. Thank you for the food on the tableWe especially like the cheeseAnd thank you for all those things we ignoreLike clouds and birds and treesThank you for these thumbs that movePass the primordial soupThank you for this taste of eternity Oh Thank you Thank you Oh Thank you Thank you from me Oh Thank You All I wanna do is thank you Thank you God Thank you Can I get some more butter on my toast?

about

Harmonium is the title of Wallace Stevens’ first book of poetry (1923) and I happened to be reading it while in my music studio about a century later, during the 2021-2022 Omicron virus wave. The poems were inspiring so I borrowed the title for a new music project and then buried myself alive for about three months trying to emulate the inspiration. I was also trying to ignore the news, the virus wave and then the war in Ukraine, trying to be positive, inspired, busy. As such, there are no grand overarching themes in this new LP. Only a purposeful exploration of what I want to matter again. That’s why there’s Grace, the LP’s finale.

Producer Jon Ireson propelled Harmonium within this minimalistic songwriting space. He kept it intact. He kept it curious. His bass lines throughout the whole LP are gorgeous and deserve their own listen. But he also played or programmed almost all the instruments, continuing our long-distance collaboration left over from the Virtualistics LP.  What a wonderful joy to work with such a talented musician and producer! His guitar soloing on DontChaWanna is classic and his arrangement and mix on No People Are Supreme is mesmerizing. Every song has something special and you’ll notice right away that Jon changed my voice microphone setup – finally we could get down into some raspy crevices.

Chana Matthews joined us at the end to record and her voice and spirit are beautiful and soaring and we had fun in the studio as you will hear.

Harmonium is a well-produced mashup of poetry, art, music, and 2020’s social commentary. It’s where I went to heal and it’s what I came out singing.

credits

released June 1, 2022

Produced by Jon Ireson
Patrick Ames: Guitars and vocals
Jon Ireson: Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming, Producer
Chana Matthews: Backup vocals

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Songwriter Patrick Ames continues to evolve his potent lyric signatures with new singles for 2023.

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