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Liberator

by Larry Norman

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1.
My feet are on the rock, my name is on the roll But moving and a grooving does not satisfy my soul So when I’m down I go off on my own When I feel moved I dance before the throne Just like David [Spoken] Some people think I’m strange Yeah they think I’m some kind of fool You know they shake their heads in church And they laugh at me in school But I believe someone rolled away that stone And I am not alone So when I feel the need I dance before the throne Take it easy, nice and slow Feel his presence, don’t you know If he says follow, I will go I feel like dancing, ‘cause he saved my soul Goliath had a sword, David had a stone (Dum bum bum dum bum bum bum) I have got the Lord and I am not alone (Dum bum bum dum bum bum bum) So if you knock me down (Ooh woo woo woo) Oh brother I will not fight you back (Ya ya ya ya, woo wo-wo wo-wo woo-oh wo wo) You know God loves all his children (Wo woo woo woo) Red, white, yellow, brown and black (Wo-oh oh oh oh oh) Go Charley go My my my, such a little boy too, mmm hmm My feet are on the rock, my name is on the roll But moving and a grooving never satisfies my soul Don’t wanna do the stroll When I’m down I go off on my own And I am not alone When I feel moved I dance before the throne Mmm mm mm Back off Jimmy, it’s not wrong This kind of music comes from the church not from the devil Now I hope you heared me Good night God bless you
2.
​Last Sunday there was preaching We all went out to hear The little church was crowded The rich and poor were there It was a splendid sermon The singing full and free Country church, country people With their eyes upon the Lord Built a church with a steeple As a place to hear his word You can live and die in the same small town But the Lord spreads his love all around The choir was dressed in glory (Ooh ooh ooh ooh) Their voices dressed in love (Ooh ooh ooh) The music told the story (Ooh ooh ooh ooh) Of God who sent his son (Ooh ooh ooh) How Jesus came from heaven (Ah ah ah ah) To set the sinner free (Ah ah ah ah ah) Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind but now I see The choir was finished singing And the congregation stood While the spirit touched and filled them (Ooh ooh ooh ooh) With power, love and good (Ooh ooh ooh) From God who reigns in heaven (Ah ah ah ah) Always watching every man (Ah ah ah ah ah) And guiding all his children With his kind protecting hand Oh (Oh oh oh) Country church, country people With their eyes upon the Lord Built a church with a steeple As a place to hear his word You can live and die in the same small town But the Lord spreads his love all around But the Lord spreads his love all around (Ah ah ah ah)
3.
​When all my dreams are ending I find myself pretending That my hopes are far from dying And my tears are not from crying I just throw back my head Smiling instead and laugh, laugh Laugh at all the things that I have lost On those nights when I get lonely I tell myself it's only Evening imitating sorrow And that I'll feel fine tomorrow And I never confess That I've cried over us, gone, gone Gone are all the things we used to share And care for When the nights get cold I sit by a lonely fire Remembering the love we shared With laughter and desire Ah da la la la ETC When all my dreams are ending And I never confess That I've cried over love, gone, gone Gone are all the things we used to share And care for
4.
I was sitting in my kitchen Thinking about my life And how some men end up all alone Some men take a wife How old men get discouraged And young men go astray And for every sinful thing we do Somehow we will pay I got up to get my bible Some pages fell onto the floor Well it’s an old one that my father had And his father before It’s been with me since my childhood I was saved in '52 When I look back at my troubled life I give thanks I’ve made it through I am free, I can see And I’m who I wanna be (Ooh ooh ooh) Mercy me, mercy me, mercy me (Ooh) ​Yeah Na na na na na na na na na na Why does it take so long Na na na na na na na na To learn to stand and be strong I grew up in San Francisco In a real rough neighbourhood Where they beat you bad if you were tough And worse if you were good But I came through those times With a lot of love for those boys that knocked me down And I pray some day I’ll see them And we’ll be standing on sacred ground I am free, I can see And I'm who I wanna be (Ooh ooh ooh) Ah mercy me, mercy me, mercy me (Ooh) Oh yeah I am free (mercy mercy), I can see (mercy mercy) And I'm who I wanna be (Ooh ooh ooh) Mercy me, mercy me (yeah yeah), mercy me (Ooh) Yeah, woh woh ah yeah oh I am free (yeah yeah yeah), I can see I'm who I wan’ to be (Ooh ooh ooh) Oh ah I’m free, I can see ah ah ah ah ah Mercy me, mercy me, mercy me Yeah oh ah I am free (oh oh), I can see (Ooh I can see) And I'm who I want to be (Ooh ooh ooh) (Woh ho ho oh ho ho oh) (Mercy me, mercy me, mercy me) Mercy me now, mercy me, mercy me Yeah, yeah, he's coming back again (Oh oh oh oh) I am free, I can see Mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy (Ooh ooh ooh) Mercy me, mercy me, mercy me Ah mercy me ya-hey-hey-ah
5.
Soul On Fire 05:37
​Ow ​ When I was a little boy In a all black neighbourhood Well it was rough and tumble in a concrete jungle Hard to do the things you should But I walked the straight and narrow I kept looking higher Because Jesus He set my soul on fire (fire) And when I was a young man Temptation was all around And when the darkness finds you It slips up behind you Tries to knock you to the ground But I just kept on going I was so inspired Because Jesus He set my soul on fire (fire) One day a light from above shone down on my face (Ooh ooh) And lifted me up to a heavenly place (Ooh ooh) I heard voices of angels on a distant shore (Ooh ooh) And Jesus healed me (Ooh ooh) And brought me back to life once more (Ooh) Now I am a grown man With a vision locked inside my heart And I speak to men of their pride and sin And the need to be set apart And I can run like a lion I do not tire Because Jesus He sets my soul on fire (fire) Soul, soul on fire [x2] Soul on fire [x3] Soul on fire (Soul on fire) [x5] Soul on fire (Soul on fire) I can run like a lion (Soul on fire) And I do not tire (Soul on fire) Jesus set my soul on fire (Soul on fire) Soul on fire [x4] ​ Ah ah-ah ah ah Ah ah-ah ah ah ah [x3] Ah ah ah ah uh-oh Ah ah-ah ah uh-oh- oh Ah ach tah ah Ah ach tah ah uh uh oh oh
6.
One two three four I had the rhythm of living in my shoes Along come the rhythm and blues The blues caught up and put me in a trance And my shoes refused to dance, dance, dance, dance, wo-oh My life began to slip and slide And I had no hope No place to hide I borrowed a gun, I had nothing to lose I figured it’s time to hang up my shoes He came along that very day He asked me why I walk this way My soles half worn and my tongue hung about And with broken laces I’m tripping out He said to me, get up and walk And I said, why don’t we sit down and talk He said, how ‘bout a new soul I uh-ah, no chance I’m going to put these shoes in an ambulance Be-oo-bop bea-bow-ow He reached right out and touched my toes Everybody knows how the rest of the story goes If you’re steppin’ though life, then my appeal Is to follow in his footsteps and get your soles re-heeled And if ya, ya huh, you wanna give your feet a treat Honey, get ready to walk down the golden street But be careful how you use your shoes And don’t waste your time on the rhythm and blues, ooh He turns blue shoes white He turns blue shoes white He makes your wrong feet go right He turns your black soul white, that’s right He turns blue shoes white, c’mon man He turns blu-oo-ooh shoes white ????? white White like a light, light He turns blue-ue-ue-ue-ue shoes Go on shine ‘em up, come on, come on, tie ‘em right, tie ‘em right Keep it going, come on, get my feet moving, come on Tell me what
7.
​​Come to reason Face the day Now's the season Old things pass away Stand beside us Come on and reach out and take Take (take) his hand He (he) will guide us In another, in another land​
8.
Come Away 05:32
I met you on the corner with your lipstick and your lace Frightened, sad and lonely, I could see it in your face I asked you what your name was as you leaned against the wall And when you looked into my eyes I know you heard my spirit call Come away from this restless night Come away and walk in the light You say it's grey but life is black and white You're gonna be alright, alright now Your bruised affection, broken heart, your torn and tattered dress You've had some problems in your life and girl I must confess That I don't know the answers to all the questions in your head But I love you little sister, please remember what I've said Come away from this restless night Come away and walk in the light You say it's grey but life is black and white You're gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright now Instead of taking money from lonely men and hanging 'round outside bars You could lay down in the long grass and look up at the stars And try to think about the one who hung the galaxies in space He also has the power girl to help you find your place So come away from this restless night Come away and walk in the light You say it's grey but life is black and white You’re gonna be alright, you’re gonna be alright now You’re gonna be alright now Yeah You’re gonna be alright baby You can You can go home little girl And stop running 'round the world 'Cause it's gonna be alright baby Hmm, hmm, yeah, oh oh ho wo wo oh wo oh wo Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh wo oh wo [x2]
9.
​I saw you come And I watched you go Your words of faith were just for show, mm hmm You sang so sweetly In the spotlight's glare So full of grace and savoire-faire Behind the curtain You're full of greed The things you want, the things you need, oh-oh-ah You pose for pictures Aim for the headlines But you will end up in the breadlines The only thing I know The only thing I know The only thing I know Is if you don't love the Lord, you'll fall You run in packs Full of pride Caught up in sins you've learned to hide You walk in darkness With friends and fools Who seek earth's gold Not heaven's jewels The more I give The more you take Endless desire became your ache Oh you call me friend Oh pretty please The smiles and warmth of enemies, enemies And the only thing I know The only thing I know The only, only thing I know Is if you don't love the Lord, you'll fall (Da da da da da ra da da) I had the blues (I've had the blues) But now I'm feeling well (But now I'm feeling well) You've got to aim for heaven (You've got to aim for heaven) Or you'll wake up in hell (Wake up, wake up in hell) You've got to fight that fight (Fight that fight) You've got to run that race (Run that race) Or you'll never see him face to face A soldier's heart A love of wealth A fear of death Soon will undermine your health Oh so remote And out of reach If you don't change You'll end up stranded at the, stranded at the beach You call it love God calls it lust You burn inside from lack of trust The thinning hair The lizard grip The dreams of glory slowly slip The only thing I know And the bible says it's so The only thing I know Is if you don't love the Lord you'll fall (If you don't love the Lord, if you don't love the Lord) ​You'll fall
10.
​Every time I see you, you know I start to cry I know what you’re doing and that you’re living a lie And Jesus keeps calling outside your door But you don’t love him like before And you don’t listen anymore You speak of compassion but you don’t really care You can talk of heaven but are you going there God’s trying to touch you but you’re out of reach And you don’t practice what you preach I know the shadows you seek, I know the places you're weak Down you go And you’re looking so much older Down you go And your spirit’s getting colder So get the weight off your shoulder ​ You seek after fortune and you live for yourself You stand in the spotlight and leave God on the shelf You smile, you gesture, each hair is in place But I can see behind your face, the sorrow you can’t erase Woh ho oh oh Ooh ooh ooh ooh
11.
(Wo wo-oh wo-oh wo-oh wo-oh ooh ooh) The world is ending with a shout from above Here come the angels with the champion of love The fight is over, the victory belongs to the king The gates of heaven have been opened for you The prince of darkness and his minions are through The demons are in terror of the song that the angels sing Ah here comes the king, oh here comes the king Here comes the king, mmm-hmm, here comes the king The earth will shake, the moon will turn to blood Armies will be drowned in the crimson flood No one can escape the coming battle that the end will bring This world’s imprisoned at the end of the age The king of hearts holds the keys to the cage The palace of shadows will be invaded and the halls will ring Here comes the king, here comes the king Here comes the king, wo-oh, here comes the king Here comes the king (Here comes the king), mmm-hmm, here comes the king (Here comes the king) Here comes the king (Ooh woo-ooh), woah yeah (Here comes the king) Here he comes You can run through the rain You can hide in the night But you never will escape From the total revelation of the heavenly light (Wo-oh) I can see it coming and it won’t be long He’ll change the night from day and the right from wrong Death is all around us, let us waken from this dream There is no escape for the human race (Ooh ooh ooh) Faith alone will take you to the edge of space (Ooh) You can enter by the door or you can stand in the shadows and scream (Ooh ooh ooh) Here comes the king (Here comes the king) [x2] Here comes the king (Ooh woo-ooh), Oh oh Here comes the king (Here comes the king) Here comes the king (Ah ho oh oh) (Here comes the king) (Here comes the king) Here comes the king (Here comes the king) (Ooh ooh oh oh) Here comes the king (ooh woo-ooh) oh oh wo-oh Here comes the king (It’s time to all be ready) (Yeah) (Here comes the king) (Here, here comes the king yeah-eh-eh) (Here comes the king) (Ooh sweet Lord, oh oh holy) (Ooh woo-ooh) (Here comes the king) (Oh look for the angel of light) Here he comes (Here comes the king) (Yeah eh eh) ​Oh-oh here come the king (Here comes the king) Yeah yeah yeah yeah (Ooh woo-ooh) Wo wo wo wo-oh (Here comes the king) Here he comes (Yeah yeah yeah) Well here comes the king (Here comes the king) Yeah here comes the king (Here comes the king) (Here comes the king) And he's right on time (Yeah yeah hey ye-eh eh eh) (Ooh woo-ooh) (Here comes the king) Here comes the king (Oh here he comes, my king) Oh here comes the king (Here comes the king) Here comes the king (Here comes the king) Oh wo-oh oh wo-oh oh oh (Here comes the king) (Ooh ooh ooh) Here he comes (Here comes the king) (Yeah yeah it's time to all be ready) (Here comes the king woo hoo ooh) (Here comes the king)
12.
I don’t know what the future holds Don’t know what life will bring But I ain’t worried ‘bout nothing ‘Cos God’s figured out everything I got one foot on this earth, one foot t’ward the grave But I know in whom I have believed and I know I shall be saved Well you might lose your father, you might lose your mother You might lose your sister, you might lose your brother Everyone you know and love has one foot t’ward the grave But if they know in whom they have believed, they shall be saved Well this world is going crazy, it’s coming to an end But do not be afraid, reach out and love your friends Pray for your enemies, that they shall not be enslaved If they know in whom you have believed then they shall be saved Life among the living sometimes seems so strange ‘Cos people say they love you then people change Wearied by the journey, sad beyond our years But just remember in our father’s house, there are no tears Respect your children and show them dignity Love them when they’re at their worst and kiss them once for me Show them faith and holiness, teach them to be free So they’ll know in whom they have believed and they shall be saved Pray for your leaders, that they’ll swallow their pride And seek God for direction, let the spirit guide Pray for all the nation, that it shall not be depraved That they’ll know in whom you have believed and they shall be saved There ain’t no condemnation for those who walk in him Blessed are the peacemakers and those he lives within Whenever hatred beckons lift your hands in peace Pray for those in bondage that they shall be released Doesn’t matter how you’ve fallen, let it pass with the wind Because love covers a multitude of sins Get up and keep on walking, resist those things you've craved For if you walk with him in whom you have believed you shall be saved You shall be saved ​That’s right
13.
Darkness all around, it’s easy to see the light When it's darkness all around it’s easier to see the light Like when the sun comes up its power destroys the night When you wake up in the morning shake your weary head When you wake up in the morning you shake your weary head You ought to talk to the father before you get out of bed Well a problem that you have is not knowing Man is born in trouble, it stays until he dies Man is born in trouble, it stays until he dies If he’s patient and forgiving it reflects in his life Where goes the strength of man, it comes and it’s gone Where goes the strength of man, it comes and then it’s gone You lay him in the ground but his spirit lingers on What is it in your life that seems so worthwhile What makes you happy, what makes you smile Is there a special person that you’re leaning t'ward Even if you’re alone you’ve got the Lord A problem that we have is we don’t know what to do Yeah sometimes Well a problem we can have is not knowing always what to do We stumble and fall but God is gonna get us through What profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul What profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul He takes nothing with him and the grave can be so cold Will you rise up laughing on the resurrection day Will you rise up laughing on the resurrection day Or will you stand at the throne wishing you had learned to pray So listen to these words, these are things to ponder on, yeah Listen to my words, he wants you these things to ponder upon ‘Cos you won’t hear me singing when I am dead and gone How does a man find out why he is here How can a man find out why he is here Who knows the value of a circle, then you make its meaning clear When there’s darkness all around you reach out t’ward the light When there’s darkness in the world people reach out t’ward the light Yeah when the son comes back his power will destroy the night Huh huh yeah he-heah ​Ow
14.
​​Down through the fields Across the river Up to the door of the house Where the children live The light reveals The lamp light shivers That stand before As you reach out your hand to give The empty faces full of questioning Your workless fingers full of gesturing What language can you share The one of love and care That's all that's needed there You smile dismayed Your gaze returned By hopeful eyes And timid looks, lips moving silently The past replayed The houses burned With no disguise Betrayal shook each child so violently You move your fingers slowly at your side You tell yourself you got no guilt to hide You look down at the floor Your back against the door Then look at them once more The cold night air Starts creeping in You start to speak Your coat feels warm, with your pockets full Their legs are bare Their arms are thin Their hands are weak So close to harm that your senses crawl You hold your breath then you let it out You've got so much you can live without They stand here watching you The time for words is through 'Cause you know what to do
15.
Keep going Here it comes One two [Spoken] The river is deep and the river is wide But I’m gonna cross over when I see my ride ‘Cos I got a home on the other side When the time has come I’ll close my eyes Shut out that world with all its lies And I’ll lay me down until I rise Instrumental Four [Spoken] When I awake I’ll see his face Of this worlds tears there’ll be no trace He’ll take us to a better place My dearest friends -little harder- keep up the fight Resist the darkness and do what’s right And when you stand up, walk in the light Go to the bridge, A [Spoken] This world is filled with sorrow There’s trouble everywhere But do not be dismayed Nor weak and in despair He knows all that has happened And what you’re going through You’re covered in his love And he won’t let go of you Speak from your heart and let it shine And let God’s will be done, not thine So I can see you once again on down the line Instrumental Lot of percussion [Spoken] The river is deep, ah-wa-ah The river is wide, wa-wa-wa-wa I’m gonna cross over, wap-ah-wa-wa When I see my ride, ah-ba-ba-ba ‘Cos I’ve got a home on the other side, yeah Speak from your heart and let it shine And let God’s will be done, not thine So I can see you once again on down the line Instrumental, bigger than before, don’t speed up Drum fill [Spoken] Doo-bid-e-bap-ba-da One more instrumental [Spoken] Rrr-ba-da-ba-pa-ba Ra-da-ba-ba
16.
Give It Up 02:25
Well you could shoot it, stab it, it will not die The only way to kill, give it up Or you can kick it, punch it, it will not die The only way to kill it is to give it up You can push it, shove it, it will not fall The only way to kill it is to give it up And you can fight it, smash it, it will not crawl The only way to kill it is to give it up You can punch it, fight it, it will not move You've got to, got to give it up And you can hit it, crush it 'n' it will only prove The only way to kill it is to give it up You know you've got to give it up, turn it loose Give it up 'cause it ain't no use Give it up, gonna knock you down Give it up, put you in the ground You've got to give it up It's no good And give it up You know you should Give it up Gonna knock you dead Give it up And gonna wreck your head You've got to give it up Turn it loose Give it up It ain't no use Give it up Gonna knock you down Give it up And leave you on the ground You've got to punch it (give it up) and kick it It will not die The only way to (give it up) kill it is to give it up And you can kick it (give it up) stab it, it will not die The only way to (give it up) kill it is to give it up You know you've got to give it up
17.
​​You know the flesh will make you twist and shout So with fear and trembling work your salvation out Everybody work Everybody work There are ten commandments, now get this straight If you keep the first two you'll fulfil the other eight Everybody work Everybody work There's tension between the brothers and the sisters People need to get along Open up your hearts to one another And learn to sing this song Holy spirit will touch your soul Stand still, don't rock and roll Everybody work Everybody work work work work If your woman walks out, starts messing about You must pray for her safety, 'til she works it out Obedience is better than sacrifice If you don't die once then you're gonna die twice Holy spirit make you move about So with fear and trembling work your salvation out Everybody work work Yeah everybody work work work work (Work work) The spirit is willing (Work work) But the flesh is weak And if you're holding (work work) back It's hard to hear (work work) God speak Everybody work work work work Everybody work work work work Everybody work work A long time (work work) ago Jesus came to earth (work work) People didn't wanna know (work work) Went to the church (work) and he said this is wrong (work work) If he were here today he'd (work work) come to us and he'd say this is wrong (work work) You don't really love one another, not yet (work work) you don't I said love them as I love them (work work) Love one another (work work), love one another (work work), love one another (work work) If you don't know what I'm saying (work work) go home and pray (work work) Read your bible and die every (work work) day Everybody work (work work) Oh-eh-oh (work work) Oh oh oh everybody work (work work) (Work work) Everybody work (work work) (Work work) Everybody work work work (work work) work work Everybody work (work work) work work wo-wo-wo-oh Everybody work (work) Everybody work
18.
You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God A minor to handle You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle Four [Spoken] It’s a verse and C seven Yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah [Song stops and tapes rewinds] You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle [x2] Well if your friends, they betray you And your woman runs away And if you lose all your money And you have no place to stay And if you’re feeling so downhearted You just can’t face another day You've got to leave it up to God to handle You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle [x2] And when you’re sick and feeling weary And you don’t know where to turn A-and your life has been so troubled That it just makes your memories burn yeah Well if your health keeps getting worse Then there’s just something a-you must learn You got to leave it up to God to handle You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle, yeah You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle Alright Herbie [Spoken] So grab a chair and sit beside me There are a few things that I know About the Lord and his provision And how he never lets us go We’re in his hands and he will help us So when you’re feeling down and low You got to leave it up to God to handle You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle You've got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle Yes you got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle​ You got to leave it up to God, leave it up to God Leave it up to God to handle

about

This is how Larry described this release at the time: The third volume of Essential comes loaded with great songs. This CD digs into the personal and emotional side of Larry's compositions. These songs are about the struggle to be free. We live in bondage to our jobs, to the pain of our early years, to difficult relationships. Larry writes about the need to be liberated, both through Christ and through self-permission. There's a fair bit of humor in some of these songs, and spiritual joy despite the human ordeal.

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released June 1, 2004

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Larry Norman Los Angeles, California

American musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer. Norman had a major influence on artists as diverse as The Pixies, Guns n' Roses, and U2. After his death in 2008 his most well-known album, 1972's Only Visiting This Planet, was selected for inclusion in The United States Library of Congress for its cultural significance and impact on American culture. ... more

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