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Lieder ohne Worte (songs without words)

by Immortal Machinery

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1.
(In which a mathematical genius contemplates his failure to understand the humans around him) (Electric Piano Intro) Drifting through a crowd of empty souls I am but a breath invisible Their faces change but I don't know what it means Their laughter and tears, a foreign language to me (Violin Solo) If I could make you understand the universe within my hand Would you stay by my side? If you could see inside my mind, would you fear the myriad things you find Would you run from me? (Violin / Double Bass Solo) Please don't think my words to be unkind When I speak of things so far beyond your grasp Though I probe the mind of God and His creation I'd relinquish all for normality with you (Violin Solo) If I could make you understand the universe within my hand Would you stay by my side? If you could see inside my mind, would you fear the myriad things you find Would you run from me? The mysteries of the stars are mine The fabric of space, the ripples of time But finding the words to describe the beat of my heart When thoughts of you enter my mind is a step too far A step too far (Violin Outro)
2.
3.
(In which a young woman, exiled from her community, visits her home town in secret) (Violin Intro) Silently I glide through streets familiar the darkened pathways of my youth With sunken eyes I watch him make his journey home Oh father if you but knew the truth I close my eyes and I am eighteen once again For all the world alone but for the love you showed I remember wind in face as I ran I remember how it snowed This what nightmares are made of This is what nightmares do This is what nightmares are made of This is the price for a life of freedom with you (Violin/Bass Solo) This what nightmares are made of This is what nightmares do This is what nightmares are made of This is the price for a life of freedom with you He never turns around to meet my cold and weary eyes A ghost in my home town, my memory tarnished by their lies Honour forsaken, rejecting my kin A crime unforgivable, cardinal sin This what nightmares are made of This is what nightmares do This is what nightmares are made of This is the price for a life of freedom with you (Violin Outro)
4.
(In which the Hebrew book of Ecclesiastes is given a modern re-telling: a rich, successful individual reflects upon past glories with doubt and cynicism) (Violin Intro) I, I was the King I, I was the preacher I, I had it all, to the people a spiritual teacher On an unfeeling earth man's body breaks in toil No inheritance, no legacy, only nature's endless turmoil Havel Havelim (HEBREW: meaningless, all is meaningless) (Violin Interlude) I, I was the King I, I was the architect I, I was their luminary A man of renown, worthy of praise and respect And though I walked proudly as chief among the wise The fool and I are destined for the very same demise Havel Havelim Havel Havelim Havel Havelim A time to be born and a time die I surrender to the power that no man may dare deny A time to sow and a time to reap He may strike me where I stand or He may take me in my sleep A time to kill and a time to heal I bow before your majesty and accept the hand you deal Havel Havelim Havel Havelim Havel Havelim Havel Havelim
5.
(In which the Hebrew book of Ecclesiastes is given a modern re-telling: a rich, successful individual reflects upon past glories with doubt and cynicism) Havel Havelim, still the lament of my heart I wished for the comfort of those who depart Better to be poor and know wrong from right Than to reach for the throne, for Earth's foolish might And the growl in my stomach, it never dies down The hole in my pocket's never sewn In the palace, in the field, in fine suits or rags Makes no difference when you're on your own The fool says much and breaks from his word The poor man sleeps well while the rich is perturbed Yet down they all go, bare just as they were born Champagne and caviar, or a bowl full of corn And the growl in my stomach, it never dies down The hole in my pocket's never sewn In the palace, in the field, in fine suits or rags Makes no difference when you're on your own Build it up or tear it down Do you feel any joy when you wear your crown The more words you say, the less it seems to mean Beginning and end, questions in between And the growl in my stomach, it never dies down The hole in my pocket's never sewn In the palace, in the field, in fine suits or rags Makes no difference when you're on your own
6.
(In which the Hebrew book of Ecclesiastes is given a modern re-telling: a rich, successful individual reflects upon past glories with doubt and cynicism) (Violin Theme) Do the tears in your eyes make you feel afraid Do you run from the funeral bell? When the wise man pleads, o heed his words For fools laugh their way into hell The day of joy belongs to the Lord But so do the days of toil I've seen the truth in its beauty and pain And I cannot help but recoil The money you saved has lost its worth Your house lies haunted and empty No kings, no deeds in the land of the dead Sheol laughs at your times of plenty (Violin Theme) In the court of the king I can but kneel I only await His command While war and wind, destroyers of man All mock the things that we'd planned Fate, capricious, unfeeling, blind Leaves riches at iniquity's door So drink for today, drink for tonight Tomorrow only sees you wanting more The money you saved has lost its worth Your house lies haunted and empty No kings, no deeds in the land of the dead Sheol laughs at your times of plenty (Violin Solo) (Bass Solo) No might, no power, no riches, no honour Nothing greater than time and chance Every beast, every army, every man, every king To its cold, cold beat we dance The money you saved has lost its worth Your house lies haunted and empty No kings, no deeds in the land of the dead Sheol laughs at your times of plenty (Drum Solo)
7.
(In which the Hebrew book of Ecclesiastes is given a modern re-telling: a rich, successful individual reflects upon past glories with doubt and cynicism) (Violin/Organ Intro) The words of the teacher, the preacher, the sage In sorrow, in rage, remain the same From whence he came, ring in the night In fevered dream “Havel Havelim” The fool can corrupt, make you lose your way Interrupt and beguile the discourse of the wise As drowning flies carry rot on their wings A folly so small can destroy many things Upon what you build, and that which you pursue Your blood may be spilled, may cause you to fall And nothing at all shall break your descent They only shall tell of how far down you went (Violin Interlude) Create, invest, grow your empire Plans laid best, He may yet bring to dust Rot and rust, it may rise, it may fall The Lord Almighty owes you nothing at all And the vigour of youth, may it gladden your heart Before the day of truth, the darkness overshadows When man knows, at last that he means nothing at all When man knows, at last that he is ever so small (Violin Interlude) He will reveal, He will expose When great men kneel, when the stars grow dim Before Him, aligned in mourning procession Blinding wisdom and justice offers little concession Has not all been said, and not all been done? Under the sun, is there anything new? O righteous few, on the path you tread You are washed, you are clean, because He bled The words of the preacher, the teacher, the sage No sorrow, no rage, remain the same From whence he came, ring in the night, in fevered dream Havel Havelim ​(Violin/Organ Outro)

about

UK-based instrumental trio Immortal Machinery present "Lieder ohne Worte (songs without words)". Inspired by classical pianist Felix Mendelssohn's compositional series of the same name, the band paints a bleak soundscape powered by the dark tones of the electric organ and melodic lines carried by piano instead of the human voice. This release also contains two companion pieces, both available at www.immortalmachinery.com/songs-without-words

1) written word – “lyrics” for each song that follow the cadence of the piano lines but are intended to be read rather than sung. In separating music and lyrics, the aim is to give the listener space for their own thoughts and reflection. A PDF containing the lyrics is available as a bonus item when downloading the album.

2) A gallery of artwork submitted to us by listeners in response to the music. Interpretation is open-ended and left entirely up to the artist, and we continue to welcome new submissions of all styles and media at immortalmachinery@gmail.com

credits

released July 6, 2020

Steph K - violin, piano, organ, composition
Mat G - upright and electric bass, composition, production
Jamie P - drums (Universe in My Hand, What if I'm Wrong, What Nightmares are Made Of)
James Wise - drums (Kohelet Parts I - IV)

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Immortal Machinery London, UK

Dark, atmospheric instrumental trio from the UK

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