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The Basement EP

by Ben Nelson

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1.
Pews 05:22
On Sundays I sat close to Dad Aftershave and starch Perfuming the pews as we listened Flipping through those thin-edged leaves That held the word, the flesh I guess In the pews and we listened And I knew the gentle pull of his arm around my shoulder I knew the gentle pull of his arm around my shoulder Holding me together, as if he knew the future Sometimes I'd trace the lines on his hand with the ring Trapped Inside the pew of his fingers. (So damn confident that he believed) And I knew the gentle pull of his arm around my shoulder I knew the gentle pull of his arm around my shoulder Holding me together, as if he knew the future Knew how I would break--knew the bond he'd fake His last business trip lingered on his lips: A green vine blooming fast around his neck And I was blind; we were blind
2.
Sands 03:02
You're a river growing faster in my head Running over mountains, around the bends And the land is changing, but your current only grows I'm still wondering where you go The summer's fading faster into fall My legs are growing weary after all You and I are like a saddle on the wall: Have we run our race after all? Did we fall too fast, my love? Did we fall too fast? The sun's in the sky but the moon aint far behind And the sands are running faster after all Do you think that time would slow if we asked? Or could we simply try to break his grasp? I've got a hundred years or maybe a hundred days to make you mine or lose you in the pace
3.
Orchard 05:37
My body is tilled with rake and hoe Exposing the musk of fertile loam All is only life, budding in the ground Birthing light and glory, shedding warmth around A planted peach to swell, bloom, and fuzz the branches with bark unfit to snap Where are you planted? My body is cracked from loin and limb Starved of water, the famine of winter All is only worms, burrowing to the core birthing blight and chaos that only begs for more A kind of pit to feed the cold and barren void A meadow ripe for rot Where are you planted?
4.
5.
She was 21 Found her baby birds on the front step Three nestlings dead Broken bodies thrown down from their nest A vacant cradle Flightless chicks taken from their beds A cold act of nature Momma bird's gone crying, lost her kids She swept them into the flower bed And tucked them in goodnight Tears fell from her eyes: This wouldn't be put right Underneath the cherry tree A house wren flew away She lost her sweetheart melody Never sang again This was not the plan When will sad things come untrue?
6.

about

All humans long for renewal, stability, and fulfillment. Nothing makes this more apparent than the grief of broken things or waiting for beautiful things to be fully realized. In 2020, I sat in my basement and wondered what I was longing for.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

credits

released October 21, 2020

All songs composed, performed, and recorded by Ben Nelson.
All songs mixed and mastered by Kevin Beck.
Lyrics of "Pews" and "Orchard" adapted from poetry by Parker Hunt.
Album art by Sophie-Earle McGraw.
Album cover design by Luke Morales.

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Ben Nelson Winston Salem, North Carolina

Ben Nelson dabbles in multiple instruments, including guitar, brass, and keyboards. Based in his basement in Winston Salem, NC.

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