A Fable Agreed Upon, by People of the Abyss

A Fable Agreed Upon

by People of the Abyss

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1.	The Fight 03:55	lyrics	buy track
Here I am you can take it or leave it I’m just trying to do my thing man you better believe it And trust me I know this world is tough Everyone trying to get a piece but they'll never get enough While the few continue to own the many And the many fight over those few leftover pennies I understand why this would get you down But best know that things are gonna turn around While the war machine marches to the beat Even that much power can’t keep down this beast What’s so wrong with a little peace and understanding? Man’s last stand versus the last man standing Where you gonna be when it falls into place And we make a little sense of this crazy rat race You can choose peace, you can choose war Better make it be known just what you stand for. You can’t get us down We keep waiting for you, we keep hoping for you Just when the sun sets over these hills A distant reminder of what remains still Every day it’s threatened just a little bit more Better understand exactly what you’re fighting for We all pay money to a master thief To roam around town causing misery and grief And everyone of us just trying to do our thing But its so damn hard to fly with clipped wings But when you’re down you’re never out Time to protect this town But when you’re down you’re never out Time to protect this town. Cuz my brothers we have much to do It’s time to stand up now and help get us through And my sisters we have much to gain Stand together now and release all this pain. You can’t get us down. We keep waiting for you, we keep hoping for you.
2.	At the Seam 04:09	lyrics	buy track
Look…I understand you’re stressed by that look on your face Wanna pull a Houdini... vanish without a trace But you gotta face that problem head on Dance to the tune of the commoner’s song While the wolf creeps in and strikes another sheep While you pull a forty for someone else’s keep man I can tell that you’ve had enough Looking for the smooth but you just get the rough Time to go back to square one You’ve made a living at being on the run but now its time to turn to those dreams The fabric’s ripping, it’s splitting at the seam That ground is splitting in two Stop and think what you really gonna do Cuz that fire is burning hot Understand what you really got. A true dilemma that’s growing as we speak That control you own is splitting at the seam. Stop just take a look around Put your ear to the ground and listen to that sound. All in the blue you disappeared And I understand why it’s crystal clear Avoid that heat that’s coming from the masses It’s not so myopic there’s many more facets With a payback aimed at your dome Gonna take back exactly what they’re owed With a wave of justice splashing on your door Those people a bit stronger than before. Them other fat cats can’t always hide you Better watch your back at who’s behind you They coming with a full head of steam The fabrics ripping, it’s splitting at the seam That ground is splitting in two Stop and think what you really gonna do Cuz that fire is burning hot Understand what you really got. A true dilemma that’s growing as we speak That control you own is splitting at the seam. Stop just take a look around Put your ear to the ground and listen to that sound. Sometimes I don’t know what’s in your head But I know you believe it And I wish that we could feel the same. And if you’d look at the consequences You may understand That we simply cannot afford you. Cuz these times they’re spinning fast And everyone’s holding to something Best believe we are too. And its times like these That make us want to rise up Man just feel that breeze Pushing you to that edge of the cliff They ignore those warnings of the continental drift And drift we are, and drift we will Till we be marching right over those hills We once had a unified dream but now the fabrics ripping its splitting at the seam. That ground is splitting in two Stop and think what you really gonna do Cuz that fire is burning hot Understand what you really got. A true dilemma that’s growing as we speak That control you own is splitting at the seam. Stop just take a look around Put your ear to the ground and listen to that sound.
3.	The Calm 00:17	lyrics	buy track
N/A
4.	Shipwreck 03:39	lyrics	buy track
It’s a shipwreck baby can’t you see These storms are flooding this deep blue sea I’m trying to steer us into something calmer something shallow, something better, something a little less wetter But I just sit there confused and it cripples me blind We can’t allow it to happen this time Cuz the thoughts and the feelings come racing like a storm And every time we’ve had enough we always want more And it’s a shame but if it keeps up at this rate We’re playing with fire and messing with our fate And as I look out past the storm and to the shore I feel this is something we cannot afford. So I turn away... I'll just turn away. See you sitting there baby and there’s nothing I can do but just turn away. Turn away... These waters have been calm for years And I don't know what it is about this growing fear It’s something that changed overnight And I can’t seem to give a strong enough fight But I’m trying to steer around those glaciers in our path If we hit those I hate to see the aftermath Cuz it ain’t nothing but a shipwreck And if you want to save us we should abandon this deck Cuz water is flowing all the way up to our knees And soon we’ll be sinking in that cold sea But we must struggle for that last gasping breathe As we all try to avoid this watery death. So I turn away... I'll just turn away. See you sitting there baby and there’s nothing I can do but just turn away. Turn away... It’s a shipwreck baby. No more I won’t let this sink me This ship won’t sink to the sea
5.	No Escape 02:18	lyrics	buy track
You can't run away
6.	Hoping That Levee Holds 05:52	lyrics	buy track
There’s a storm that's coming our way Just enough time to get away Best fall in step to safety don’t you ever think to stray And the time is now so run and pack your bags there can be no delay Shut your eyes, clench your fist, flex your arms, think of a brand new day Cuz you know its bending man pretty soon something has got to give What’s more important than this life we live Don’t know but some people just watch as those pieces fall Fall they will, the water’s looming, gonna rise and make us all look small Like a single piece of sand scattered across the beach You try so hard, you’ve come so far but it’s simply out of reach. And the time has come to turn our worlds just upside down So grab onto something real tight hold your breath and try not to drown We’ve known about this wave Many years But we’ve misbehaved And now that it is finally here We can stand tall and face our fears Pretty soon we’ll all get wet When that storm comes on that last sunset And we look to the levees now To save us and protect our town
7.	Coup d'État 01:25	lyrics	buy track
N/A
8.	Gone Away 05:39	lyrics	buy track
Wake up and grab your things Can’t think about what the day will bring Last night still rings in my head With the waves leaving a trail of the dead But that was then this is now This grand experiment has been disavowed. Time to get out and leave this place Can’t wait to see the look on his face When we come marching back with force And take back this land, correct the course Utopia will not stand When lies and death spread across this land Open your eyes to this brand new day New king on the throne you must obey Try to run at your own expense Utopia pledge your allegiance It’s gone away Everything we knew Has been blown out to the sea And I hear the speeches over the radio Same basic song with slightly different notes Not the song that we like to hear We’ve had our share of lines and quotes. We must do our best to disappear This one is much worse than the last Ignore those whispers that you hear This war is approaching a little too fast. We bow down to no one And I’ll lead the alliance until its done. This land belongs to you As long as the grass is green and the sky is blue And no man should we ever allow To threaten us in the here and now. We fight to preserve this dream And we stitch to protect the seam. Open your eyes to this brand new day New king on the throne you must obey Try to run at your own expense Utopia pledge your allegiance We bow down to no one It’s gone away Everything we knew Has been blown out to the sea
9.	Paradox 04:41	lyrics	buy track
Damn this head of mine Spinnin’ around as I press rewind With one hand gripping a bottle of Jack The other…a pen to keep track Of all that’s taken place We must push on and make some haste The walls are closing in We must see this fight to the end. Leave that storm behind Let go of all those ties that bind A new problem greets us here We must let go of all our fear Cuz they preach peace but look for war When those bombs go off we hit the floor Then we stand up and come back for more And each time a little stronger than before. Yeah and that’s how we do it There’s no choice man nothing is fluid That rigidity that we’ve found Has run it’s course we are not bound To the laws of the illegitimate We must find a way to finish it. And it’s not that hard to believe As long as we share a common dream That dream is under attack We fight this war to take it right back The illusion of the ballot box Utopia is it’s own paradox A contronym, an antogonym We cut the power til the lights go dim We take on the storm til we all learn to swim Now sing that hymn We were never free And we are not free now. Son you best beware This burden is more than you should have to bare I never thought it would come to this Hunting people down if their names on a list It’s my fault though should have seen it coming With the distant buzz of the military drumming Make a stand It’s do or die all across this land Time to make it rain More common sense than Thomas Paine They refuse to see our point of view The time for diplomacy is through. No choice no other action Can prevent this chain reaction We fight with a heavy heart Since the day that storm tore this land apart And we fight for those we lost We’ll take back this land at any cost. The eyes of the world are upon you Their memories will guide us through Their deaths are not in vain. So now we fight holding onto that pain But we must fight for love I know she’s watching from above. We were never free And we are not free now. So many out to sea At least they’re free now
10.	Stitches 05:18	lyrics	buy track
With all the time and blood it’s taken to stitch up these wounds Just take a step back in the category of soon. Just watch that needle and thread do its job in vain Make you question what’s really sane Just stitch it up right at those seams And watch it come undone and interrupt your dreams I’m just a man trying to find my own way But don’t understand this modern day So I take a deep breath and I take it in stride Then my stitches come undone I just wanna hide Just wanna cry just wanna get high Just wanna fly anywhere else to reside We live this life not knowing where it leads But you put me in stitches Squeeze that stone until it bleeds But you put me in stitches Work so hard just sewing those seeds But you put me in stitches Give so much ain’t meeting those needs But you put me in stitches See I know we’ve known each other for a long ass time But that punishment don’t fit the crime See all I’ve ever wanted to see right in front of my eyes Is for you to spread your wings and just fly But the stitches on those wings just keep coming loose As you look up at God and try to find truce Just watch the seam as that material rips I can’t understand you with your hand over your lips Sticking with this may be suicide but I really don’t know nuthin' else And if you give me that bottle for the sutures I promise I’ll put it right back on the shelf. We live this life not knowing where it leads But you put me in stitches Squeeze that stone until it bleeds But you put me in stitches Work so hard just sewing those seeds But you put me in stitches Give so much ain’t meeting those needs But you put me in stitches Not one to fold not one to quit Not one to silence my mouth and not one to sit See I’d tell you where I’m at now baby But I’m scared you’d throw a fit So I tell you everything’s cool now baby Maybe then things would click If you put enough spit on those lies now baby Maybe one day they will stick See all I really wanna do is really run away from you But you consume me to my core And as I guide us here in this free fall baby I wonder when I’m gonna hit that floor. Like drop… Now stitch me up.
11.	Last Call 03:42	lyrics	buy track
A return to the past once again The battle of good deed versus sin Cuz this time it counts for real Time to pay up forget prior deals Cuz now is the time where all things end So pay up your tab and suck down that gin Its way past last call It’s been decided that you’ve had your share Push that envelope if you dare Or take it as the way it has to be And end all to finally be free Not without sacrifice or pain The sky opens up to allow in the rain Will they miss me? Will they even mind? I remember so many amazing times These pictures on the wall remind me Of something greater, something free I recall my purpose and rejoice I may pass but long live my voice. Give me the strength And I try so hard But I could have done more While the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. And now there’s nothing I can do. I gaze upon my leathery skin Now they’ll be looking for my next of kin To take my place in this crazy dance Run away boy I can’t take that chance Either live on your knees or die on your feet This freedom has always been a one-way street But you’re on the right side kid See this tide’s been turning so fast This government wasn’t built to last Not when the people stand up and scream This was always more than just a dream And remember that through my voice And see me in that flag you hoist This battle will be my last I will go out with honor Give me the strength You may not remember Before the storm hit our shores There once was an idea That was worth fighting for knock down these concrete walls There’s no time to mourn We’ll give them all we’ve got Tonight we bring the next storm.
12.	Dark November 05:14	lyrics	buy track
My people you must listen here For the enemy draws dangerously near We draw from our ancestor’s dreams To elect presidents, not to bow down to kings As we take this fight to the steps of their door We take aim and let those arrows soar The still night comes alive with a blast In this moment where the present meets the past And the future looms for the taking As we rush the enemy, the ground starts shaking Bombs on our left and tanks on our right We rush the middle, we stay out of sight We creep to the palace on the hill Staying low and out of sight with precision and skill The diversion works to a tea And lets us storm right up to our enemy Like this In the laws of the new It’s like this You only represent the few With a flash we burst through the entrance And declare this day as our new independence The troops are approaching fast The element of surprise makes them slow to react Glass shatters as the bullets fly The truth comes alive to extinguish the lie With their numbers starting to decline The king is the one I’m determined to find As our reinforcements arrive I bolt to the stairs trying to stay alive And on this day of this dark November We accept nothing less than full surrender I peak around the corner to where he hides Right then I feel a searing pain in my side I react with a forceful strike And end tyranny on this fateful night. The flag still waives… It’s like this In the laws of the new It’s like this Your control is through And I will see you soon By the end of this moon Everything is in tune As the sun begins to fade...
13.	My Sunset 05:22	lyrics	buy track
These days these years seem to pass on quick And these ups just don’t seem to do the trick And I’ll just keep marching forward till it sticks. And these days these people seem to pass on too fast And I can’t seem to hold on to my grasp We look forward to deny the past. Damn man just look at us now You ever feel like we ain’t really gainin no ground? Just floatin around? Just makin some sounds? Just acting like clowns? I don’t know. Maybe I’m overreactin Damn well seems like the latest fashion. But what the hell happened to that burning passion? And lately I don’t wanna be me And I think you feel the same from everything I can see But things will get better and what will be will be. And everything happens for a reason And loneliness happens this time of season All these clichés…I’m just not believin These days these years seem to pass on quick And these ups just don’t seem to do the trick And I’ll just keep marching forward till it sticks. And these days these people seem to pass on too fast And I can’t seem to hold on to my grasp We look forward to deny the past. Please stop please just go away I don’t really know what it is about this modern day Makes me wanna do anything but stay And I still feel that dying fire burn Even though perhaps just maybe its missed its turn What is this lesson that needs to be learned? Cuz I’m just at a loss these days Searching for love, searching for praise Searching for meaning in any kind of way I'm searching for the sun’s rays. And I want to be strong enough for you But there’s so many truths that just ain’t true I wanna look up at the sky and still see blue. This is my sunset This is my sunset This is my… This is my…

about

People of the Abyss is the brainchild of Portland-based hip hop artist Trevor Brown. Trevor is a multi-instrumentalist who utilizes live instruments, percussion, and original samples to create his unique and smooth sound. Having spent several years playing in different bands and venues across the Pacific Northwest, Trevor created a new solo music project aimed at voicing the discontent many of us feel with the status quo of our political and social systems.

On the debut album from People of the Abyss, Trevor rallies the troops while defiantly expressing his frustration over our seemingly endless need to repeat previous mistakes. His visionary dreamcrafting on this album is bold, mesmerizing, and inventive, all while telling a story that is both compelling and evocative. Staring at the abyss ahead, Trevor takes us right to the edge and poetically dives right in.

credits

released October 6, 2017

All songs written by Trevor Brown
All instruments and vocals performed by Trevor Brown, except:
Hans Twite – guitar on "The Fight"
Kristin Brown – vocals on "Gone Away"
Chris Cullman – bowed bass on "Stitches"
Produced by Hans Twite, Trevor Brown, and Greg Mattson
Recorded, Engineered, and Mixed by Hans Twite
Mastered by Adam Straney @ Breakpoint Mastering, Portland, Oregon
Artwork by Chaz Brown @Storyville Studios, Portland, Oregon
Physical duplication by Saturn Duplication, Portland, Oregon
Recorded at Ether Room Studios, Seattle, Washington and Beam Me Up Music, Portland, Oregon