We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Defend The People

by Alex Cook

/
  • Digital Album
    Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

    You own this

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a slick eco-wallet with original art by Alex Cook

    Includes unlimited streaming of Defend The People via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 USD or more 

    You own this  

     

  • Full Digital Discography Full Digital Discography

    Get all 8 Alex Cook releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Turn Again, Improvisations, Songs of Deliverance, Arrival, Defend The People, Kindness Is A Mountain, The Blessing Tree, and Tree Of Life. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $63.75 USD or more (15% OFF)

    You own this

     

1.
The People (To The Hilt) The people raise their children, The people love the sky They swim in swelling oceans, The people work and try The people sing the songs, That fill the atmosphere The people live on earth, The people cry their tears The people tell the stories, The people shoot the hoops The people laugh together, The people spice to soup The people write the poems, They give each other gifts And in their hearts the all know, That love can heal the rifts The people's hearts are moving, They invented prayer The people sense eternity, Despite the senseless air The people's names are written in the holy dome of stars We all defy the jailer, Slipping right between the bars The people love to think, We explore the universe In boats we call ideas, We rise above the curse The people fly in airplanes, The people wash their clothes The people are a wonder, And everybody knows There's nothing to do but live There's nothing to do but give It all up and go for broke Feel the fine words that the Spirit spoke Take a sledge hammer to fear and guilt And live this life like a sword—to the hilt! Come on people, come on people (x4) Climb the mountain, Leap the wall Let down your burden, And if you fall Then jump back up and brush off the dust Pour in the oil and wash out the rust The people are rising, you can't hold them down Cuz life is within them, they cannot be bound There's nothing to do but live There's nothing to do but give It all up and go for broke Feel the fine words that the Spirit spoke Take a sledge hammer to fear and guilt And live this life like a sword—to the hilt! The people are inventors, The people love to dance They'll start to celebrate, If you give 'em a chance The people are intelligent, The people see the sights The people made the laws, The people fly a kite The people are not leaving, The people will not die The people have got soul, And that's the reason why There's nothing to do but live There's nothing to do but give It all up and go for broke Feel the fine words that the Spirit spoke Take a sledge hammer to fear and guilt And live this life like a sword—to the hilt! Come on people, come on people (x4) Climb the mountain, Leap the wall Let down your burden, And if you fall Then jump back up and brush off the dust Pour in the oil and wash out the rust The people are rising, you can't hold them down Cuz life is within them, they cannot be bound There's nothing to do but live There's nothing to do but give It all up and go for broke Feel the fine words that the Spirit spoke Take a sledge hammer to fear and guilt And live this life like a sword—to the hilt!
2.
If You Wanna See 'Em Shine You're like a treasure chest I can see the gems sparkle when you do your best You're filled with life, you're filled with life And if you wanna see 'em shine Be what you were made to be And if you wanna see 'em shine Don't be afraid to be free And if you wanna see something fine Be the best you can be You're like an art museum The thing you got, they’re gonna cry when they see 'em You got soul, Oh, baby baby you got soul And if you wanna see 'em shine I hope you do what you love And if you wanna see 'em shine Listen to the voice from above And if you wanna see something fine Do what you're proud of You're like the weather in the sky They can ask you any question and you sure won't lie You tell the truth, with your life you tell the truth So if you wanna be sincere Live by your heart and your hand And if you wanna be sincere Speak so that I understand And if you wanna be sincere, You can! We're all like the moon in the night All the beauty we possess comes from the sun's light The sun is Love The sun is Love And if you wanna feel it shine Open up your heart And if you wanna feel it shine Open up your heart And if you wanna feel it shine Be a work of art!
3.
The Mind Of the Holy One I don’t hold up the universe I don’t hold up this day I don’t hold together the moon and the stars I don’t release the sea's rolling waves I don’t open the eyes of a baby child I don’t rule the beasts as they run But I drink in the beauty that's pouring forth From the Mind of the Holy One I don’t carry any burden of being alive That weight is squarely not mine to bear I don’t believe that fear can last forever When the open door to heaven is prayer I don’t wonder if the riches of life will be mine I don’t worry for the light of the sun But I drink in the beauty that's pouring forth From the Mind of the Holy One Oh, that Mind is a mountain Whose glory fills the sky And that Mind is a waterfall From whom all ideas fly Whose water is supply Whose well can never run dry I don’t hold up the universe I don’t hold up this day I don’t hold together the moon and the stars I don’t release the sea's rolling waves I don’t open the eyes of a baby child I don’t rule the beasts as they run But I drink in the beauty that's pouring forth From the Mind of the Holy One
4.
Walk on The Water I'm on the journey of my life and I don’t know what I'm gonna see But each and every step I know was meant for only me So I put one foot in front of the other, listening to my Father Mother Speaking to his sons and daughters Saying don’t be afraid to step out of the boat and walk on the water I used to be afraid but now I'm not anymore Because its normal for the Lord to take you where you've never been before He said that we would do the things that he could do and greater So excuse me if I sound like a traitor But I'm turning my back on these rules and all these worldly schools That tell me God may be real, but really don’t be a fool They will tell you that you're made of nothing but atoms and dust And that this life is propagated by nothing but animal lust And that this world is run by chance and that this chance is just Can this really be the voice that I'm expected to trust? NO! But the voice of Life is out there and you don’t need to fear it 'Cause it's saying better things and if you try you can hear it the walls fall down when we draw up near it 'Cause this life was made by God and baby, God is a Spirit You know, I never knew that I would find myself here I never knew that here was anywhere until the Lord made it clear The clutches of the world were getting brutally severe Made me open up my ears, try to hear something new, ya know? And go and do, like some kind of pioneer And then through my tears I heard an angel song It said Oh oh…. And now I know that nothing's really how it appears They used to thing the world was flat but now we know it’s as sphere And in the same way, you're gonna hear folks complain That life is lame, you're to blame, you should be ashamed But really you should be sincere, you should persevere 'Cause God is rolling out the red carpet like it’s a movie premiere And the only ticket you need to see the movie of the year is to Give up your fear, come on, give up your fear. I'm on the journey of my life and I don’t know what I'm gonna see But each and every step I know was meant for only me So I put one foot in front of the other, listening to my Father Mother Speaking to his sons and daughters Saying don’t be afraid to step out of the boat and walk on the water Anything that tells you that you know all there is to know You've gone all there is to go You flowed all there is to flow, You're wrong, 'cause there's another song so deep and beautiful it'll make you weep It goes on and on and on There's always more, there's always something to explore, There's always something tapping on your shoulder that you just can't ignore Problem is, we think we know it all We'd rather go to the mall, throw up walls, keep thinking small, But when the inner voice comes along and says it's time to walk on the sea We say "What? Who? Me? It can't be! I've never seen it before!" And all the while God is rolling His eyes, Filling up the skies, Crushing lies Yelling, "Surprise!" Everything's a million times better than you thought it was You can walk on the water 'cause There's no law against it! I'm on the journey of my life and I don’t know what I'm gonna see But each and every step I know was meant for only me So I put one foot in front of the other, listening to my Father Mother Speaking to his sons and daughters Saying don’t be afraid to step out of the boat and walk on the water
5.
Helium Heart 03:24
Helium Heart Life is a balloon that can never come down What on earth can gravity say to helium? I was sailin' up over my little town Lookin' out upon the beautiful fields and I was feelin' 'em. And I can really say it was my favorite part Flyin' up and up with a helium heart I wanna go, I wanna fly The sky is up above us like an open door Cuz baby, we're not tied, tied, down to the dust Soon, soon, little balloon, baby you're gonna soar And leap up into the wind in a wonderful gust And I can really say it was my favorite part Flyin' up and up with a helium heart I wanna go, I wanna fly Cuz I'm a balloon and I'm gonna rise I'm goin' straight into the clear blue skies They tell me I can't, but surprise, surprise This helium heart was made to fly, yeah yeah And I can really say it was my favorite part Flyin' up and up with a helium heart I wanna go, I wanna fly
6.
Sing Your Song You heard a voice inside your heart when you were a little girl You sang it and you danced it and you shone it like a pearl And you would not give it up for all the riches in the world So baby sing, cuz you got the eyes to see And then they tried to take your voice with insults, rape, and lies And then instead of melodies your throat was filled with cries But now my dear your time has come, you learned that you ain't shy So mama sing, cuz you got the eyes to see Inside you is a window, and oh, it's open wide The music of your life and everything you adore Is pouring out, and we wanna hear more So baby, sing your song Of all the places you've explored when in your heart a lion roared Sing your song There's a treasure in your lungs and it was meant to be sung The earth is filled with riches that sing to your open ears That tell you stories deep and close that no one else can hear And so your mountain rises, flashing in the face of fear Oh baby sing, cuz you got the eyes to see and the ears to hear The people, dear, are hurting, and blindly limp along Building precious towers on foundations that are wrong And when they fall and dash our hopes we need a purer song So baby sing, cuz you got the eyes to see and the voice, the voice, the voice Inside you is a window, And oh, it's open wide The music of your life and everything you adore Is pouring out, and we wanna hear more So baby sing your song Every path that you've explored when in your heart a lion roared Sing your song You've got a message to bring so baby get up and sing There's a treasure in your lungs and it was meant to be sung I never felt so strong as when I heard you sing your song
7.
Saved By Beauty Some lives have been saved by supermen Some lives have been saved with a touch Some lives have been lifted from the very jaws of death And gently returned, breathing breath Some lives have been saved by bravery Some lives have been saved with a word Some lives have been preserved by a servant doing his duty But mine was saved by beauty And her voice sings true and clear to my little boy ear Singing songs whose perfect words are the bright wings of birds And my soul, having heard its sweet verse and refrain…. Can no longer fear pain, forgot how to complain So now let Beauty rain on us all Beauty's soft-falling rain stills the tempest of pain Making us sure that there really is purity Grace and security, meant for us all And her mountain decrees that death fall to its knees While God's voice like a breeze sings on
8.
What Is Real 03:03
What Is Real What is real? What’s really gonna last? What won't crumble away when all my precious hopes are cast? On what can my little heart rely? Is it up in the sky? Can I see it with my eye? I'm askin' what is real? What's gonna stick around? Am I just a body that's gonna end up in the ground Or, am I something more? I feel it in my bones, right down to the core Spirit is the real thing, just like we suspected The foundation of it all is the stone that the builders rejected So don’t get fooled All the things that the senses demand All the fear and the lust and material trust are gonna turn to dust in your hand Because they're nothing, and you don't want 'em We're gonna miss out on the real things if we hang our hopes on 'em What is real, are the treasures of the spirit There's enough to go around and you don’t need to fear it Cuz they're so good, and their so bright They'll make you feel all warm inside like you're doin' everything right I'll tell you what is real, and lighter than a feather, Good ideas, they're gonna last forever They won't give up, and they can't break down Cuz they shine, shine, through the centuries, and from town to town Because Spirit is the real thing Just like we suspected The foundation of it all is the stone that the builders rejected So don’t get fooled All the things that the sense demand All the fear and the lust and material trust are gonna turn to dust in your hand Because they're nothing And you don't want 'em We're gonna miss out on the real things if we hang our hopes on 'em
9.
Alive 02:54
Alive I'm alive, I ain't gonna lie I'm alive, I ain't, gonna die Cuz he has opened up the door And no man can close it You can't close it, No no no I'm alive, can you hear what I say? I mean, nothing in the world can really take me away Cuz he has opened up the door And no man can close it You can't close it No no no I'm alive, do you know what I'm speakin' of? I mean great God made me from his holy love He reached down from above and with his lip did say "You are alive! And it can be no other way" He made me healthy, wealthy, worthy and wise I got nothing to lose but a big pack of lies Like the night is dark Like the day is bright Like a river deep my soul longs for the light Like a fish in the sea Like a bee in a hive Like every little thing from the east to the west I'm alive!
10.
Pharisee 02:49
Pharisee Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee You can't get to heaven just by following the rules Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee There's so much more to life than what we learned in school We got to loosen up, we got to let go We got to explore, we need to want to grow We got to feel real life and get into the flow Because there's more, more, more… ya know? Rigid and frigid, that's how the human mind thinks, Tryin' to prove it knows it all even the kitchen sink And when assumptions get shaken it acts like a fink And then it starts to sink, and shrink away Because it wanted to stay and be the king of the day And give a little wink and say "you know, I did it the right way – I'm squeaking clean, I got that lustrous sheen, I demean my self the way I'm supposed to demean- Look at my pretty life, it's a well-oiled machine, A reliable routine (But it's really a smokescreen!) I got it all together, yeah, I think I'm pretty clever, But I can hear my house creak in this stormy weather…" Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee You can't get to heaven just by following the rules Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee There's so much more to life than what we learned in school Life only moves at God's command We can't stand in His presence making petty demands And, the human mind has to be willing to expand Because it's pitiful foundation is built upon the sand We need to be flexible, not intellectual A life that never changes may be safe, but ineffectual Cuz it's the hear that burns when a new lesson learns And when we find new eyes it's incredible Life! It's surrounding us, it's astounding us And when we start to explore it stops confounding us So look around and see what you can see And don’t forget that you were born free Born to think, born to feel, born to be real With a mighty destiny that you were born to reveal God is alive doing his perfect will He did it centuries ago and He does it still Love will not be cooled by an icy chill, or a threat to kill Or be fooled by facades and frills So my friends, we got to be real Cuz Christ comes not to destroy but to fulfill Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee You can't get to heaven just by following the rules Don’t be a Pharisee, it's kinda like heresy There's so much more to life than what we learned in school Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee You can't get to heaven just by following the rules Don’t be a Pharisee, you're makin' an error, see? There's so much more to life than what we learned in school Don’t be a Pharisee, don’t be a Pharisee You can't get to heaven just by following the rules Don’t be a Pharisee, it's awfully embarrassing, There's so much more to life than what we learned in school
11.
We're All Going To Heaven Together We've all got some chasms to cross We've all got to bow our heads down to the floor We've all got some wishbones to break We've got to find the courage to make our escape We've got some awful dragons to slay And some clinging ghosts that don’t want to go away We've got some wicked things we need to see our way through But till the end of time it's me and you Because we're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together In one band, we're going to the promised land This one thinks he's the best Nose up in the air and puffing out his chest Another one's jealous crying tears of rage Well, the world's a stage, come on, Let's walk out of the show We've gotta let hatred go like water through a sieve We need to learn and learn again, learn how to forgive It’s gonna take some living, and it might almost take forever But one of these days…. Because we're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together In one band, we're going to the promised land God, through our groans You are the power, to raise up seed from these stones Oh, LOVE, You are the light That reaches the cold, stony heart, in the death of night We’re in your hands We're in your hands, oh! If I'm up on my high horse and I got no use for you, I'm blind, blind, I'm a fool If you want to shut me out and slam the door in my face You may as well shut the door on the whole human race, because Because we're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together We're all going to heaven together In one band, we're going to the promised land
12.
Zoo (Spread Your Wings) You're not your money or your house or your friends or your car You're the only one who knows who you are You're not your job or your phone or your mood or your clothes You're not any of those Cuz you're something else entirely Thank God this world is filled with variety If you want to stop feeling anxiety Why don't you show us who you really are? Cuz, life is really like a zoo God made you a zebra, and him a kangaroo Over here we got a tiger, and there a cockatoo Thank God we're different, thank God we're not the same But there's that same old voice tryin' to make you feel ashamed It says, "who are you? You're not special. You can't sing, you're not beautiful. You better be dutiful In doing the things that I tell you In buying the things that I sell you You say it doesn’t make you happy? Oh well You got nowhere else to go Cuz imagine how alone and afraid you're gonna feel When your friend's words cut to the bone and you're living in a world with a wound that can't heal but my my friends.. that voice ain't real. Everybody's different – that’s the deal. There's lions and horses and squirrels and apes Everybody's tryin to make their escape In fact the question still remains that we been askin through the ages How to we walk out of these cages? You're not your money or your house or your friends or your car You're the only one who knows who you are You're not your job or your phone or your mood or your clothes You're not any of those Cuz you're something else entirely Thank God this world is filled with variety If you want to stop feeling anxiety Why don't you show us who you really are? What do you love? what do you want to know? Don’t try to fool somebody cuz it's not a show I hope you show me who you are cuz I really want to know You're precious to me, like a treasure trove And honesty is your spiritual power When YOU stand up all your fears will cower away Here today, gone tomorrow Takin with them all the weight and the pain and burden of sorrow There's no other way than to look into your heart And there's no way to begin other than to start Because there is where you find your real riches Your sincere desires and your dearest wishes Swimming like fishes in a beautiful pond of all the things that you're fond of Bound in a bond of love Don’t be conned by the push and the shove Of that devilish voice tryin to keep you in prison You don’t need to even listen when that devil is hissin' Or else you'll be missin' the point And that's to spread your wings Let go, of all the things that cling, let's go Come on and spread your wings and show Us all the beautiful things you know And then you cut those strings and grow And let your free voice sing It goes "so long! See ya later! I gotta go. You can't tell me who I am Cuz you don’t know. You're not your money or your house or your friends or your car God made you a superstar You're not your job or your phone or your mood or your clothes You just goes where you goes where you goes where you goes You're not your money or your house or your friends or your car God made you a superstar You're not your job or your phone or your mood or your clothes God only knows, God only knows, God only, God only, God only God only knows!
13.
I Can Hear The Marching Open up the doors and the windows of the house For the army of the Lord is coming His legions fill the hills and they do just as he wills I can hear the awful glory of their drumming Open up the doors and the windows of the house For the angel of the Lord does now approach He will let not one thing stand that was not made by God's own hand All flesh feels the fire of His reproach And I can hear the marching of the army of the Lord He is coming, He is coming, feel no fright Only render up your lives, trusting ever in His grace Which will come like a thief in the night Open up the doors and the windows of the house For his sentinels are presently arriving They fill the sky with light, burning everything in sight While the creatures of his hand are gently thriving Open up your windows for the Lord is at the door He will enter this your house, which he owns Open up your hands and reveal all that you have Because nothing will be left of these old stones And I can hear the marching of the army of the Lord He is coming, He is coming, feel no fright Only render up your lives, trusting ever in His grace Which will come like a thief in the night The Lord comes to destroy without mercy on the wrong Like a hunter with his eye upon the quarry And as we stand and gape, we learn to love is to escape And always for our good and to his glory And I can hear the marching of the army of the Lord He is coming, He is coming, feel no fright Only render up your lives, trusting ever in His grace Which will come like a thief in the night Come O Glory, to this, my house, burning from the south unto the north You are my savior and by your fire, you cause me to come forth I am saved by fire, I kiss the holy cross God's glory is revealed, it fills the mountains and the fields Light is all around, my savior came and found me And nothing but his love can I feel.

about

My third release, Defend The People is a battle cry for spiritual confidence. Like the title says, these songs make a point of defending our right to know ourselves as God's creations. Confident and defiant.

credits

released September 3, 2011

Alex Cook: Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, and accordion
Wayne Ingram: Lead guitars, keyboards, and bass on tracks 1 and 4-9
Dave Cordes: Bass on tracks 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12
Griffin Wright: Drums and percussion
Heather Leilani Nation: Vocal Harmonies
Jessica Hays: Flute on "Saved By Beauty"
Carl Catron: Tenor Sax
Derek Beckvold: Baritone sax
Nigel Taylor: trumpet

Produced by Wayne Ingram and Alex Cook
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Wayne Ingram at The Keep in Boston, MA, 2011.
Cover art by Alex Cook
Design by Sarah Nichols

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Alex Cook Boston, Massachusetts

Alex Cook is a singer, songwriter, inspirational speaker and public artist. He has created 6 albums of spiritual songs, given hundreds of concerts in the US and abroad, and created over 160 murals in 16 states and 4 countries. He is available to perform for your church or community group, paint an inspirational mural, and/or give a talk on spirituality and creativity. ... more

contact / help

Contact Alex Cook

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account