Every time an artist sets out to create something new they have committed to something much bigger than themselves. This is very much the case with Faith, the Poor & Politics. From the beginning, this project was a collaboration with David Purnell. His partnership as engineer and friend is the central reason this project came together and I owe him a great debt of thanks. The other musicians and creatives involved also devoted a lot of time and talent to this project. Without their interpretive gifts, this would not have turned out very interesting. I am grateful for all of you and I hope you are as proud of this project as I am.

The title, Faith, the Poor & Politics, comes from the common themes of this collection of songs. Each has a little piece of one of these words and some have all three. These words are important and interconnected, for better or worse. Simply put, I think we should keep faith, serve the poor and thoughtfully engage politics. Thank you for listening and for supporting collaboration.

A very special thank you to the artists who labored with me on this project: David Purnell (engineering, general production), Dan Bos (mixing, mastering), Five Meadows Creative (photography, videography, design), Danny Reyes (drums), Daniel Maat (bass), Necia Ornée (vocals), Mark Dykema (guitars), Luke Panning (violin, banjolin), Rob Stam (piano), Dan Patterson (drums), Anna Kremer (ukulele).

 

LYRICS

We used to look up to the mountains
Stand in awe and ponder faith
Carry each other without question
To the light and out of harm’s way

On the way down the mountainside
I became mean and lazy
And started keeping all this grace to myself

But you had other things on your mind
Like faith, the poor and politics

We joined the chorus in cathedrals
Sat in rows and paid the tax
I drifted slowly into a slumber
Dreaming of those golden streets

And when I wake up I look and find
You’re picking up pieces
Of heaven’s pavement just to give them away

You had other things on your mind
Like faith, the poor and politics
Life with you is more than I bargained for
Your faith, the poor and politics

Surely we stumble through these days
With only a shadow of the light
Your grace and kindness defy logic
And see all my wrongs made right

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

What are you thinking when you scold me?
I want to kick, scream or leave
A man’s pride can put on fierce teeth
And sometimes it needs to release

A battle line is drawn deep in the sand
But I’m not going to run away

When the fog of war has lifted
Right before the sunrise
When the sands of time have sifted
Will I see that you’re still mine?

This selfish coat I wear is not fitting
It’s faded and ripped at the seams
Will you help me take it off gently
And light it on fire ‘til ashes remain

I pray that somehow war begets peace
And we find a reasonable truce

Stopping this war is not a suggestion
It’s something we both must face

When the fog of war has lifted
Right before the sunrise
When the sands of time have sifted
Will I see that you’re still mine
Through the blood, tears and time?

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

If I empty myself of this nonsense that occupies every part
Is there some saving grace from heaven or angels?
I’ve tried to find a little peace in myself but I cannot find a trace
And right now I just need to empty this space

All you ask is for me to make room for you

Do your thoughts ever betray you—do you ruminate out-of-bounds?
Is there a fire in your mind that burns any time you try to put it out?
Sometimes my mind is rapt in battle but I’m no soldier fit for war
And these days I don’t think I’m worth fighting for

If I empty myself of this nonsense that occupies every part
Is there some saving grace from heaven or angels?
There is no cure for this lack of peace if I keep up this pace

And right now I just need to empty this space
Right now I just need you—empty this space

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

May love find ways to surprise you
May its colors always amaze you
May you never find the words to confine love to a verse
May you be love

May the light of life shine about you
May its beams always support you
Like a roof over your head where many can find rest
May you be love

With those who walk in darkness may you be there
And where there is blessing all around
May you learn how to share

Where there is sorrow may you bring peace
Where there is silent apathy
May you be the one to speak

May your days on earth grow full and
May the sweet smell of justice linger
Like a garden-picked bouquet and may all who know you say
You are love

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

We’ve all got something we don’t want
Hanging over our heads like a time bomb
Humiliation, a deep, dark secret
But we play it down so we don’t get defined by it
We don’t like the truth, do we?

For many of us life’s a cover-up
We try so hard to be cool that we can’t stop
Telling lies to avoid the truth behind
Layers of makeup eyes

There’s no time you waste but yours
When sugar coats your lips your words
Are maddening vanity
Maddening, maddening vanity

If we took the time to understand
That we all fail and need a hand
Then maybe we could show our faces
Covered only by your grace
For all your flaws consequences are withdrawn
So please take off your lip gloss

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

There once was a silver coin thrown into a well
So others could drink of it and live to tell
Is it a crime to want a full life?
Ripples on the pond continue the fight

There once was a wooden bridge between water and land
Who once were enemies now become friends
This is prize for releasing revenge
Circles of compromise again and again

In small ways, everything must change

There once was a bleeding heart beating in time
With the rhythm of God’s deep love for every last life
Sparing the barefoot from broken glass
Finding the sweet reprieve from the scars of the past

In small ways, everything must change
In small ways, everything is changing

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

 

LYRICS

If this song is a tree then you are the seed
It started with you growing old with me
Our autumn leaves turn golden dreams<
If I am a cloud then you are the sun
I bring the shade but you are more fun
You make me run—you make me run home

Home is holding on to dreams
Home is love making me a better man

If I am the air then you are the breeze
I’m just there but you, everyone sees
Stirring leaves and swaying trees
If I were a flower then you are the bloom
If I were a vine you’d be the fruit
So sweet to taste, I’m on my way home

If I were the sky then you’d be the stars
Girl, without you I wouldn’t get far
You shine so bright, you shine…

Copyright 2012 Josh Schicker Publishing ASCAP.

Josh Schicker is an Atlanta based singer-songwriter with a folk-pop sound.

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I love to listen to music. I love to make music. I love to travel. I am blessed to be able to do all of these things, usually at the same time. Born and raised in Michigan and having spent some time living in New York City and Portland, OR, my wife and I have most recently set up life in Atlanta, GA.

My life has been filled with warm people. Beginning with my family and growing up in a small-town church, I was taught the value of faith and love at an early age. At 15, I began writing and recording music with friends. This began my life as a musician and performer which grew legs during college and has matured over the past 10 years.

My most recent area of interest has been in representing humanitarian causes while on the road. The organization I have supported the longest is Blood:Water Mission and their efforts to provide clean water to communities in Africa. Lack of clean water effects 1.1 billion people worldwide and accounts for countless deaths. Most recently, I have become aware of the slavery/human-trafficking industry that is effecting 27 million people worldwide. I have since become an advocate for Not For Sale, an organization encouraging conscientious consumerism and independent activism.

bloodwatermission.org

notforsalecampaign.org

pih.org

The best things in my life are things I have learned to share. Love, music, art, movies, coffee, books, chocolate, tears, sunsets, silence. I once held them selfishly to myself. My wife, Becky, helps me with this. My hope is that my music reflects these values and experiences and helps give words to emotions we all experience.

Some of Josh Schicker’s accomplishments include:

-MPress Records New Arrivals Vol. 4 compilation CD

-Just Plain Folks Award Nominee

-INSC Honorable Mention for No Place Like You

-WeAreListening.com Honorable Mention for The Other Side

-Blood:Water Mission Christmas Compilation CD 2006

-Peacedriven.com Compilation CD 2007

-Midwest Music Summit 2006

-Has appeared with Sixpence None the Richer, Tyrone Wells, Jon McLaughlin, Matt Wertz, Angie Aparo, Linford Detweiler (Over the Rhine), Jars of Clay and Mozella.

Artists You May Like To Check Out

Matthew Perryman Jones, Brett Dennan, AG Silver, Jon Troast, Jars of Clay, Josh Rouse, Blind Pilot, Derek Webb, David Gray, Josh Ritter

Booking Inquiries: info@joshschicker.com