Get all 15 Kimwei releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Anthems For Change, Anthems For Change (Drafts), Stand Your Ground 2022, Band of Bards, Reform Radio "Tough Talk" with Emily Grossman, Extinction Rebellion 2020-21, Today's Calls: Pandemic Pieces on BBC Radio Devon, Nothing's Binary, and 7 more.
1. |
Symphony For Happiness
06:57
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1. Symphony For Happiness
Verse 1
Age like a violin
Rich in all 12 tones of
Equalateral temperament.
Give and resonate
All the air's arranged in waves
To cut right through your center stage
Chorus
I've watched your "Symphony For Happiness" grow and change
You play like you've forgiven every note that you've arranged
Oh, so age like a violin.
Play like you’ve forgiven yourself.
Verse 2
Breathe Four-hundred-and-forty;
Receive it into your body;
Let it age you like a violin.
Got Seven sounds safe inside
Invite the Five on the outside, in:
Show all Twelve at your center stage.
Chorus 2
I've watched your "Symphony For Happiness" grow and change
You play like you've forgiven every note that you've arranged
Oh, so
Bridge
Give & resonate x4
[vocalise]
Give & resonate x4
Got seven sounds safe inside.
Invite the five on the outside in.
Cut right through / Show all twelve on your center stage x4
‘Cause all the air’s arranged in waves.
So breath four-hundred-and-forty
Receive it into your body
You play like you’ve forgiven yourself x4
Chorus 3
I've watched your "Symphony For Happiness" grow and change
You play like you've forgiven every note that you've arranged
Oh, so age like a violin.
Play like you’ve forgiven yourself x2
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2. |
Beauty In Every Element
03:52
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2. Beauty In Every Element
Verse 1
I heard that your heart had broken,
or at least that it’s not sure if it can keep with you anymore.
I heard that you’re not so sure yourself –
not so sure if you can endure yourself without yourself anymore.
Chorus 1
I want you to know,
When you see beauty in every element
I see beauty in every element of you.
And everything you are
Is my proof that God exists.
And every word you spoke that night
is in my blood.
Verse 2
My mind is not like yours;
you cut the truth like diamonds from dirt,
distill the world into a word. No,
my mind is not like yours,
but these are still my words
and I hope that you’ve heard.
Chorus 1
I want you to know,
When you see beauty in every element
I see beauty in every element of you.
And everything you are
Is my proof that God exists.
And every word you spoke that night
is in my blood.
(Hmmm)
Instrumental
[vocalise]
Bridge
So, show the beauty in every element.
Distill the world into a word.
Cut the truth like diamons from the dirt.
I see beauty in every element of you.
Chorus 3 (2nd half only)
And everything you are
Is my proof that God exists.
And every word you spoke that night
is in my blood.
(Hmmm)
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3. |
That Day
03:50
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3. That Day
Verse 1
I had a dream where today was That Day
and all our friends were gathered ‘round where you lay
without the pain.
And I was telling everyone how I’d miss you,
but it wasn’t a shame that you were gone
because you’d wanted this for so long.
Chorus
If today was That Day
then I’ve been planning what to say
since I was seventeen and you were twenty-one.
I’d hoped to be a-hundred-and-three or more
on That Day.
Verse 2
In my dream where today was That Day,
I was reading out your poems to all our friends
in your name.
I was looking for you between your words,
looking for me in everything you’d left behind.
Chorus
If today was That Day
then I’ll just have to be ok without you.
Although I’d hoped to be a-hundred-and-three or more
on That Day.
I’d be ok.
Outro
I won’t say stay,
Although I’d hoped to be a-hundred-and-three or more.
(so don’t go)
So don’t go without being sure.
Don’t go without being sure.
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4. |
The Best Thing
03:02
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4. The Best Thing
It was time, that was all. I was done.
And I’m sorry if you wish I’m still around,
but don’t be sad that I’m gone,
it’s the best thing that I could have done.
I was only mad when I thought I could stay
and live here one more day,
but don’t be sad that I’m gone,
it’s the best thing that I could have done.
When you’re standing on that cliff
Wondering whether you’ll fly or die,
what no-one wants to tell you is
either way you’re in the sky.
You can take your life in your hands.
You can give yourself a second chance
Whether you wake up on the earth or somewhere else
It’s still the best thing x3
And I’m free forever more
And I wish you the same
I wish you won’t blame me.
but don’t be sad that I’m gone,
it’s the best thing that I could have done.
It was time, that was all. x4
It was time, that was all. I was done.
And I’m sorry if you wish I’m still around,
but don’t be sad that I’m gone,
it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done x2
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5. |
Music For 3 Ukuleles
03:45
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(Instrumental)
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6. |
Standing On The Edge
03:33
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6. Standing On The Edge
Verse 1
I remember unraveling and I see that’s what you’re doing.
I remember the void and the cracks in the void
and the fractured mind I tried to control
Pre-chorus 1
So you ask me what you should do
and I know, just cause I know your name.
Well we are nothing to each other, but
we are the same.
Chorus 1
I hope that you go to the edge of yourself someday
and finally like the view.
You’ll never know but I’m standing on the edge of myself for you.
Verse 2
I remember that you’ve never done this before,
and that you’re afraid.
I am listening to your voice and the cracks in your voice
as you tell me of the mind you’re trying to control.
Pre-chorus 2
Chorus 2
Bridge
I am watching and I am listening
‘cause it’s all I can do.
You’ll never know but I’m standing on the edge of myself for you.
Chorus 3
Outro
You’ll never know but I’m standing on the edge of myself for you.
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7. |
My Heart Beats
01:49
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7. My Heart Beats
My heart beats to the rhythm of my mother’s,
My heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my mother’s,
My heart beats.
When her pain falls on me
When her anger runs through my veins
Then I won’t say “That’s not me”
‘cause I know, my heart beats,
my heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my mother’s,
My heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my mother’s,
My heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my father’s
My heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my father’s
My heart beats.
When his pain falls on me
When his violence runs through my veins
Then I won’t say “That’s not me”
‘cause I know, my heart beats,
my heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my father’s
My heart beats.
My heart beats to the rhythm of my father’s
My heart beats.
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8. |
God From Mars
05:07
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8. God From Mars
Intro
Now I wish there were a God,
I wish there were a God
I wish there were a God to ask forgiveness from.
Verse 1
Oh my darkest stars!
Send a God from Mars.
Oh my darkest stars!
Send a God from Mars.
Chorus 1
Did you know,
once upon a time we had one of our own
who left for all we’ve done?
Now I wish there were a God to ask forgiveness from.
Verse 2
Oh my God from Mars,
Wash away the blood.
Soak it in your soil, like red oil
Like red oil.
Oh my God from Mars
Chorus 2
Instrumental
Bridge
I don’t have an evil twin who does things in my name.
No-one has an evil twin, we’ve no-one else to blame.
Verse 3
It’s only us.
It’s only us.
In our God we trust, but it’s only us.
It’s only us.
Send a God from Mars
Chorus 3
Did you know,
once upon a time we had one of our own
who left for all we’ve done?
Now I wish there were a God,
I wish there were a God
I wish there were a God to ask forgiveness from.
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9. |
Negative Image
06:12
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9. Negative Image
Verse 1
Your absence like a pressure in the room.
When we faced each other injuries appeared in mirror image.
The depth of "You hurt me" matched the depth of "I'm sorry"
And the (w)hole formed the shape and the size:
The negative image of "I love you".
Verse 2
Shadow cuts through me where the light used to split,
Yet I am still the same recepticle. Fractured darkness.
The ghost of "You hurt me" faced the ghost of "I'm sorry"
And embraced her mirror image to form a framed
Negative image of "I love you."
Chorus 1
The ghosts of our shadows flutter over the moving darkness
It grasps at solid land with fingertips of white.
Then, in this eclipse of our differences
Your outline, your outline meets mine.
Instrumental (Chorus half length)
Verse 3
You fit me, if I just cut out this piece to make you room.
Now I grieve for all I lost to us, and without us
The depth of "I miss you" matched the faded ghost of "I've lost myself"
And all that's left are fractured shadows from
The negative image of "I love you".
Chorus 2
Bridge
Look how much you've grown
Parts of me have grown up with you
Your absence like my reflection died
I am still the same recepticle, refracting shadow (x2)
Outro (over chorus chords):
The ghost of "You hurt me" faced the ghost of "I'm sorry love"
And embraced her mirror image to form a framed
Negative image of "I love you." I love you.
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10. |
White Rose
07:24
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10. White Rose
Intro (1 time round chords)
Verse 1 (chromatic harmony)
"Love me all you want" you said
"I am origami: beautiful and folded tight"
I am biting my tongue where it once touched yours
As you press your lips to a coloured cigarette
Your lighter in your hand
Pre-Chorus 1
Now I push the center of myself into my fingertips whenever we hold hands.
I am pulling the center of my love up behind my eyes to look at you.
Chorus 1
There is a white rose uncurling in my chest for you
Petals turn to paper when you say that you are folded origami
And you've still got that lighter in your hand.
Intro 2
Verse 2:
If you say that smoke can be like silk
Then petals can be like paper in my chest.
Pre-Chorus 2
Chorus 2
Verse 3 (diatonic reharmonisation):
Look what I grew for you
Unfold your arms and take it
Look what I grew for you
Uncurl your hand and take it.
Pre-Chorus 3
Chorus 3
There is a white rose uncurling in my chest for you
Even when you are folded
There is a white rose uncurling in my chest for you
Even if you never come
Bridge
Even if you never come
I get to keep my garden x4
Look what I grew for you
Even if you are folded
Look what I grew for you
Even if you never come
Outro
There is a white rose uncurling in my chest for you
Even if you never
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11. |
Send Me Your Prayer
05:23
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11. Send Me Your Prayer:
V1
Send me your prayer:
A bird just a few hours old.
I've watched your crystal tears,
Turn to diamond, turn to gold
V2
Send me your prayer:
A crystal dove that fractures light.
I catch it in my breath.
Your dawn breaks into mine.
Chorus 1
We could have been each others saviors
If we weren't already rising hand in hand
Over the things we used to hide under,
Touching feathers. Touching prayers.
V3
Send me your prayer.
With a prism in my hands and tilted vision.
A dove against the sun
Becomes a prism; becomes a prayer.
Chorus 2
Now our prayers are touching feathers
In the garden where we met.
Here we can fly over the things we used to hide under
Touching feathers. Touching prayers.
V4
Send me your prayer.
A prism in my hands.
I catch you in my breath.
Your dawn breaks into mine.
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12. |
I Can't Buy This World
02:29
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12. I Can’t Buy This World
Chorus 1
I can’t buy this world with gold,
But it don’t matter ‘cause it’s mine to hold.
Verse 1
I can’t buy the air I breathe.
I can’t buy the trees.
I can’t buy the deepest seas
But it don’t matter, ‘cause they’re there for free.
Verse 2
I can’t buy the ground below,
the grass or the smell of spring.
I can’t buy the sky above
But it don’t matter, ‘cause it’s mine to love.
Chorus 2
Verse 3
I can’t buy the life I lead
I can’t buy me.
I can’t buy this life I lead
But it don’t matter, ‘cause it’s mine for free
Outro
It’s mine for free x2
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Kimwei Exeter, UK
Pre-order Anthems For Change at kimwei.com !
Where is the soundtrack for the
climate revolution? I believe it is down to us all to make it. This year I've teamed up with folk musicians Chris Dance, Lisa Rowe & Anita Clarinet to make the songs of tomorrow’s history: music that births change - a lush landscape of vocal harmonies, guitar, strings & woodwind to surround and transform you.
... more
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