An Uneasy Empathy

by Jonathon Smith

An Uneasy Empathy cover art
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1.
03:50
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2.
03:02
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3.
06:15
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4.
06:29
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5.
01:48
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6.
05:13
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7.
05:33
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02:31
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9.
07:54
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10.
04:26
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11.
04:13
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credits

released 01 November 2011
Written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered (for better or worse) by Jonathon Smith from early 2010 through spring 2011.

My wife and brother-in-law contributed some vocals, and Jacob Smith played trumpet.

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tags: epic art-rock bedroom pop bedroom recordings d.i.y. indie pop indie rock major sevenths Raytown

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Track Name: An Uneasy Empathy
I read the words to your songs today,
It seems you’re feeling quite the same
Feelings I felt at that stage in my life

I feel an uneasy empathy
In this winter of your discontent,
On the verge of graduating,
Knowing there’s more than academics

Don’t you know God works everything out?

I read the words to your songs today,
It seems you’re feeling all the same
Rage and isolation that I’ve felt in my life

But let me tell you about redemption,
About how it can all happen
Here on earth, as well as in our hearts

Don’t you know God works everything out?
Yes, we know God works everything out in time.
Track Name: Please Know (That I Love You)
I’ve been thinking about how little we verbalize
Appreciate for those who mean the most to us.
So although I never end our phone calls with mushy salutations,
I still want you to know, oh please know
That I love you

You’re the closest to a brother I’ve ever had.
And I’ve been encouraged watching you sift through struggle
To find some meaning in this life.
Although I never end our phone calls with mushy salutations,
I still want you to know, oh please know
That I love you
Track Name: The Fullness of Christ
I feel a great inadequacy when I’m not occupied,
And I’ve found that humility shares the same object as my pride.
Diligence and entitlement, I struggle seeing the line between,
Especially when I am convinced I’m working for God-given dreams.

Oh, to be gripped with an understanding of myself.
Oh, to be convinced of the fullness of Christ, my Lord!

Sometimes it’s so tempting to grope around for lessons
When I’ve lost my job and the rain pours into my house I can’t afford to fix.

Oh, to be gripped with an understanding of myself.
Oh, to be convinced of the fullness of Christ, my Lord!

Won’t somebody please just now tell me
Where it is that I need to be?
As God seems to dash every single dream,
He reveals my self-sufficiency.

Oh, to be gripped with an understanding of myself.
Oh, to be convinced of the fullness of Christ, my Lord!
Track Name: Nothing Matters More
Sometimes we allow our fear of making a bad first impression
Cripple some of our best efforts at reconciliation, my dear friend.

When will we see that
We can never say enough to set others at ease?
When will we see that
We can never say enough to assuage our hurt friend’s fears?

Oh, let's embrace the truth that nothing matters more
Than love and transparency in our relationships.

Sometimes I am convinced it’s not merely an awareness of our boundaries,
It’s our attempts to manipulate our friendships
That dribble out from our mouths as, “I don’t know if I’m ready yet.”

Oh, let’s embrace the truth that nothing matters more
Than love and transparency in our relationships.
Track Name: Let My Words Be Few
Let my words be few, yet priceless today.
Let my thoughts focus more on the holy than profane.
May I not be quite so pleased with my faith and integrity,
But let me be content with my future and my belongings.

May I not be quite so pleased with
May I strive for more with my faith and my friendships
Let my words be few, yet priceless today.
Let my thoughts focus more on the holy than profane.
Track Name: I'm Not Gonna Cry
I’m lying in my bed, clenching the sheets,
Pulled up to my head, I refuse to go to sleep.
I’m staring at the ceiling, but I want you to know
How distant I’m feeling and that I’m distracted so.

Oh, I’m not gonna cry, I just find melancholy being so comforting.

There’s something serene about seeing this whole damn mess,
All the while knowing I’m so helpless.

But I’m not gonna cry, I just find melancholy being so comforting.

Sometimes I want to cut my hands off,
I just want to gouge my eyes out.
Sometimes I want to give everything to the poor,
I just want to live a simple life.
Oh, I just want to live a simple life.
Track Name: Perceptions, Etc.
It seems that we both had so much on our minds
That we never really met when we shook our hands that night.
If we’re both assured by our feelings,
Then how can you know that you are right?

It seems that we were both thinking of good-byes,
And I was the only one in the room speaking his mind.
It seems that you work oh, so hard
At being misperceived.
Track Name: Lachrymose Mess
I feel so uncomfortable
When you ask me to sit down and talk with you
About all the things I perceive I’ve got wrong in my life.

I feel so uncomfortable
When you ask me to sit down and talk with you;
I fear you’ll see me as the lachrymose mess that I am.

Can’t you allow me more time to collect my thoughts?
I can convince you that I’ve got it all together.

It’s not that I don’t want to talk with you,
It’s just that I don’t want to talk with you right now.
Track Name: Record of Wrongs
How swiftly I can depart in rage
With no need for salutation.
How quickly I rely on emotions
When I forget just who I am.

I wonder if I should complain about you more.
I wonder if that would make the two of us feel even.

Sometimes, like tonight,
Try as I might, it’s so hard to keep no record of wrongs.
Track Name: Do We Need to Stop?
Why are you so upset? Must you slam the door?
Is it your homework or that I still have no job?
Do we need routine or discipline
Or just to know when to ask for help?

Do we need to slow down, my love?
Do we need to stop?

It seems like there’s more to your responses these days.
Are you overwhelmed with supporting our friends?
Am I the problem, dear?
I can’t know unless you tell me.
Because when you snap right back at me,
All I can see is you, not me.

Do we need to slow down, my love?
Do we need to stop?
Track Name: What Can I Do?
Oh God, what can I do,
When we embrace, I know she will start weeping.
Oh God, what can I do,
Apart from loving her and listening?

We’ve tried to minimize all of this in our minds,
But I’m sure when we touch, it’ll resurrect again.
Baby, why don’t you come over here and sit next to me
And you can fall apart in my arms.