Strongarm live at their farewell show
at Cornerstone Festival 1998

presented by BandsOnFire & the
Strongarm Tribute Page

01 - Division

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Failure in short can be defined by an unwillingness to learn from a past mistake. With every decision there is a condition and in every choice a price to pay. As we carry on in this day and age the hardships that befall us for our mindset often come from misunderstanding turned judgment. And so we are separated and labeled outcasts. Outcasts, intolerant, short-sighted, narrow-minded, unfairly held to an unfair vice, but we cannot compromise what we believe. Even though it brings condemnation it will come again persecution. This division amongst men only causes dissent. The distance between us is merely difference. If we do not have regard for a mutual respect who will benefit, this separates man. This age of anger is choking itself, these hands have killed. This age of anger is choking itself, they shall surely do it again. This age of anger is shedding its own, these hands must learn.

 

 

 

02 - These Times That Try Men’s Souls

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This... this is all that I believe, to bear a witness to my calling. My life escapes me, my days they shorten, these final breaths to testify. // To face these years is an adversity in itself. Calm passed, long ago to reveal, reveal times foretold, Before is the open book, another page, pieces fall into place. Take heed to discern the times of the signs. These times that try men’s souls. // Whereby we know, this life is like a shadow, And death assuredly shall come down to greet the soul. The years, they’ve coursed the storm that’s been uprising, Since the days of old building, and now approaching. He sees not his shadow who faces the sun. For his eyes melt as wax, The price paid for living in light is that of gold in the crucible. // Ever melting, straining, striving to be made pure. Purity escapes me, remembrance breaks me down. Though my knees become weak, I will cause my foot another step. To carry the task bleeds my hands, but they are kept. Remembrance breaks me down, but I will strive until it is the last time.

 

 

03 - The Fall Of Babylon

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When the nations rise with the eyes of arrogance, Raise your war cry and be shattered, The strings of dissention ensnared by an evil tongue. Cast your ring of disappointment, the plague of dissolution. The plans of your devise, they will be thwarted. Spirit stained by corrupted flesh, your hollow truths will be shattered. // Your riches are acquired by the misfortune and bloodshed of others. Within our midst is the prophesied age of a new Babylon. All the images of its gods lie smashed on the ground. It’s driven by darkness, the dwelling place for demons, For the nations race to drain the cup of the maddening wine of power, To deny a man of his rights, to deprive a man of justice. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. He will cleanse the bloodstains of the oppressed by a Spirit of judgment, Spirit of fire. // The things that drive us to hate, to love, to lust, to greed, and to good is longing. Every soul is born with that vague, undefined hole. We search in other’s eyes for answers and fine none. God will break the yoke that burdens you. But those who refuse to see, leading others astray in your iniquities, Terror will seize you, the hour of your judgment will come.

 

 

 

04 - Supplication & Take This Hand

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Supplication: There can be no justice where there is no truth. A life of self-sacrifice, a new creation, Devotion to purity in the midst of the light of conviction. Set fire, to the heart’s desire, taken by storm, No longer in the dark, dwelling in the shadows nevermore. // I surrender all, all I am I give, give thereof till end, Much more, more than this is death. I surrender all, all I am I’ve spent, Spent my essence and much more, more than this is death. // Far be it from me to flee from the den of lions, The truth can be blinding, cast me forth for stoning, Misunderstanding causes fear, I feel your pain, I feel your emptiness, And on this day your blood will touch blood, Because I am an example, I will not flee. Waiting for an end as breath fades away, fades away, fades away. Waiting for an end as breath fades away. // I surrender all, all I am I give, give thereof till end, Much more, more than this is death. I surrender all, all I am I’ve spent, Spent my essence and much more, more than this is death.

Take This Hand: Return from your slumber, reprobate in mind. Consequence abandoned, your hands teach hatred and your mouth speaks lies. Divorced from conviction, defilement the firstfruits of your heart. Though peace has touched, your spirit slowly dies inside. Uplift yourself. When the light shines where do the shadows cast? Do they reveal fear and frustration? These downfalls we all have in common. Face this pain, resolve this strife, take this hand.

 

 

 

05 - More Bitter Than Death

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I refuse to shudder in the face of sacrifice. Undying, the legacy of truth shines through adversity. The furnace of affliction could not absolve it. And you in your high-chair comfort, Stagnant thoughts, the accolades of arrogance, Wear them like a crown. Heart painted scarlet and your followers follow you down. // Now drown in your contradictions turned religion. (Its beauty will be) Consumed by the grave, For death is to feed on these things. And more, the power which they’ve given you will surcease. Still more bitter than death, Is to walk in silence, Is to die discontent, Is to gaze in the eyes of your Maker, And to feel no love, only resentment, This is more bitter than death itself. // I’ve seen the face of redemption and I’ve closed my eyes. I’ve felt the hand of grace mend my broken heart. I’ve pierced my Savior’s side with deceit and lies. In the midst of betrayal, still repentance waits. // And this I resolved within myself, My adversary will no longer be my master, For this I weep bitterly in the night. I sought shelter in sleep, but sleep is restless without hope. I looked for a thread of hope, but he was frail, frayed, fabric. // Slowly wearing, I have no use for remorse, save for learning. Slowly wearing, I have no use for remorse, yet it consumes me.

 

 

06 - Remaining

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Not a tie to this world, above its reproach. I laugh in the face of the folly it gives way to. Remaining strong in and true to you oh Lord. Your commands guide my paths, they keep me pure. (2x) Hopelessly trying to break my stand, but I am blind to these worthless attempts at me. Remaining strong in and true to you oh Lord. Your commands guide my paths, they keep me pure. (2x) The weakness I overcome has now become my strength. The strength I have in you. What I did for pleasure has been brought to task. I will never slide, I will never slide denying the foolish ways of my past. What I once partook of is cleansed at last. I’ve seen the truth, I’ve seen the light, this revelation, I now fight.

 

 

 

07 - Sorrow Is A Sage

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Praise is truly sacrifice, sorrow is a sage. So now I wait, I never dreamed that I’d be here. As a sacrament to be raised and then broken. It never having spoken still swallows my only breath of hope, incinerating. Words have never fallen so short, hands raised in submission. Still, Your sanctuary burns, still burning. // No one told me that this grief would feel so much like fear. Tears without protest, a soul seeking solace, She’s dying to wake, but late is the daybreak. Gasping and groaning, the silence breaks for seething. I hear a still small voice inside me say, "Grace grows in winter." How I long to believe that it speaks the truth. Is this not my lot, life? // All is not comprehendible and all is not beautiful. However, all has meaning and all can create beauty. Let me see the meaning in this. Let me find the beauty in this. Life is learning. What cannot break you, can only be a catalyst for growth. Creation groans for completion, Truth wakes understanding, And the morning comes yielding peace. Oh, how I long for this to be, truth.

 

 

 

08 - Together

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You say we’ll never make a difference, we’ll never make a change. If we always listen to you, things will always stay the same. I’m sick of seeing nothing lost and nothing ever gained. We want our country back and things that should have never changed. Justice is what you call it giving them their "rights". They get away with murder, you think that’s right? Maybe you’ve forgotten what our forefathers said. One nation under God and that’s how we plan to live. // The kids on the streets, they’re speaking their minds. Opposition’s what we get, resistance is all we find. Bottled up anger that’s held inside, restricting and binding the young mind. It’s gonne break free before long, together we’ll make the change before we’re gone. // Together - we’ll take back what’s ours. Together - it won’t be long. Together - can you see it now. Together - we’ve just begun to start. (2x) // And together, we’ll win!

 

 

09 - Advent Of A Miracle

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You’re my beloved and altogether lovely, As a gift that can’t be bought, as if gold could favor outweigh. Your meaning to me, secrets of the heart made manifest. Even beauty’s priced beside us, portioned by lot the less. // Wishes fade, as dreams break, promise made. Takes away your will, takes your whole heart captive, Just for one promise, sell it all for one true word to hold on to. Face the shame of it all: safer to neglect than open your calloused heart. // Piece by piece, you have lost a part of your self. You share to gain, but lose at love and learn to hate yourself. More and more each day and all the days thereafter. They labor to put back together and regain what’s gone forever. Wishes fade as dreams break. Promise made, tomorrow takes. // Wash away. The most costly mistake is to try to change the past today. Wash away. The filth and the shame, they all wash away. Wash away. For you, Christ will clean the slate. Wash away. // Only love can fill the void, when the world has taken its toll, Hand in hand, by your side; we’ll walk down this path together, I’ll take you to the place where the promises will never break. // To the advent, to the advent, to the advent of a miracle. For love is a miracle. Through promises made, we’ll be together. We’ll face the changes to build a confidence. For a promise is a tie between two souls, and this bond is a miracle. // True love is to die for and is why I cry, for you. And the pain you feel and feed can heal, If you’d just walk with me toward the light.

 

 

 

10 - Stand Together

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Though we are separate we are one in the same. I am with you always because you are in my name. I will see you through it. We will stand together. If you turn away I will be with you. Time and time remain upright I will see you through. As you begin to stray I will not leave you. Through and through it’s all the same, we will renew.

 

 

 

11 - Trials (feat. Matt Fox of Shai Hulud on drums)

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Again and again I struggle with my shortcomings. My strength, my soul, weary of this. I have to face the pain of my fault within. These tests, these trials, the marks I miss. What do I gain? What is the benefit of self-indulgence? The darkness reveals itself, I must commit to absolving it. My fault, my weakness torments myself. Why should I sacrifice my dignity? What do I gain? What is the benefit of self-indulgence? The purpose of these trials holds peace for those that seek it. The secrets of wisdom, truth and life, to this one must look. What does it profit a man to release his will to that which tries this soul? A test, a trial, a blessing in disguise, offered to all that ask. In time it shall be revealed beyond that which is seen, beyond a man’s understanding.