I started this song on the 50th anniversary of Silo's public talk "The Healing of Suffering" which he gave in Punta de Vacas, Argentina (high in the Andes) since public gatherings were not permitted in Argentina by the dictatorship which ruled at that time. Thanks to Kate Neuman. CW
Chris Wells is a songwriter, actor, teacher and Siloist based in New York City.
lyrics
Silo: May 4, 2019
Translation of audio - “Spurred by desire, the violence in a person does not simply remain like a sickness in the consciousness of that person—it acts in the world of other people…”
50 years ago today a man said what he came to say
No more, no less
Cow Point, what a place for a sign of hope to surface
He made a mess
He named the violence ready to explode
Pointed to the exit, it was down the inner road
And all these years later, it echoes in my bones
Echoes in the deep space with faint overtones
A simple truth but a rocky path and every day we start
Change yourself and change the world
The light of meaning heals the heart
The junta said talk to the stones and so he went but not alone
He knew his way
Hundreds gathered in the heights, machine guns had ‘em in their sights,
who was more afraid?
He told a tale about the baggage of desire
How suffering and pleasure turn and drown the sacred fire
And all these years later, it echoes in my bones
Echoes in the emptiness that hums a silent song
A simple truth but a muddy path and every day we start
Change the world and change yourself and change the world and change yourself
The light of meaning heals the heart
Bryant Park, 2010; just a gentle breeze
Closed my eyes to say goodbye, store my thanks inside
Saw him getting younger as he walked along the path
Turned into a ball of light and flew
Celestial gymnast
And in the stillness, as if on cue, a sudden wind
Like in the Andes
Many times I’ve lost the way,
failed to say what I came to say
Or do what’s right
Felt the violence inside
stink up the place like something died
Infect my life
The old world is over, yes, and many mourn the dream
We have failed and failed again “pero insistimos” (but we insist)
And all these years later it echoes in my bones
Echoes there where freedom lives and nobody walks alone
A simple truth, we share the path and every day we start
Change yourself and change the world and change yourself and change the world and change yourself
The light of meaning heals the heart, heals the heart …
Translation of audio: “My brother, my sister, keep these simple commandments, as simple as these rocks, this snow, and this sun that bless us. Carry peace within you, and carry it to others.”
Silo, 4 de mayo, 2019
Audio -“La violencia en el hombre, movida por los deseos, no queda solamente como enfermedad en su conciencia, sino que actúa en el mundo de los otros…”
Hoy hace 50 años un hombre dijo lo que vino a decir
Nada más, nada menos
Punta de Vacas, vaya lugar para que un signo de esperanza emerja
Y armó un lio
Le dio nombre a la violencia que ya estallaba
Indicó la salida por el camino interno
Y durante todos estos años me retumba en los huesos
Retumba con suaves matices en el espacio profundo
Una verdad simple pero una senda pedregosa y cada día comenzamos
Cámbiate y cambia el mundo
La luz del sentido sana el corazón
La junta dijo, háblale a las piedras y allí se fue, pero no solo
Conocía el camino
Cientos se reunieron en las alturas, ametralladoras apuntándolos
¿Quién tuvo más miedo?
Contó una historia sobre el bagaje del deseo
Y cómo el sufrimiento y el placer giran y sofocan el fuego sagrado
Y durante todos estos años me retumba en los huesos
Retumba en el vacío que musita una canción queda
Una verdad simple pero un camino barroso y cada día comenzamos
Cambia el mundo y cámbiate y cambia el mundo y cámbiate
La luz del sentido sana el corazón
Bryant Park, 2010; solo una leve brisa
Cerré los ojos para decir adiós y guardé adentro mi agradecimiento
Lo vi rejuvenecer cuando se alejaba por el camino
Se hizo un bola de luz y voló
Acróbata celestial
Y en esa quietud, como si fuera una señal, un viento súbito
Como en Los Andes
Muchas veces he perdido el rumbo
Dejé de decir lo que vine a decir
O hacer lo correcto
Sentí la violencia adentro
Apestar el espacio como si algo hubiese muerto
Infectando mi vida
Si, el mundo añejo se acabó y muchos lloran tal sueño
Hemos fracasado y fracasado “pero insistimos”
Y durante todos estos años me retumba en los huesos
Retumba allí donde vive la libertad y donde nadie camina solo
Una verdad simple, compartimos el camino y cada día comenzamos
Cámbiate y cambia el mundo y cámbiate y cambia el mundo y cámbiate
La luz del sentido sana el corazón, sana el corazón…
Audio- “Hermano mío: cumple con mandatos simples, como son simples estas piedras y esta nieve y este sol que nos bendice. Lleva la paz en ti y llévala a los demás.”
credits
from Songs from the Silence,
released December 1, 2020
Music & Lyrics: Chris Wells
Vocals, Guitar and Logic Pro X: Chris Wells
Drums: Alan Camlet
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