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Algebraic Empathy

by mdr

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1.
The Unsaid 06:13
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I’m not much for ritual Don’t need to happen to be true With a sign I take a clue What is a word when I’m with you Do you need me to tell you Do you need me to say Do you need me I take comfort in what we are I know it's there near or far Allows me to be and to believe Allows me to see and be complete Do you need me to tell you Do you need me to say Do you need me Don’t need you to tell me Don’t need you to say Don’t need you to need I see all the empty words People spout when they’re unsure Time tells you all When our life unfolds Don’t have to force it, don’t have to force it For you Don’t have to force it, don’t have to force it For you I hold you close When my arms enfold Want to enjoy it, want to enjoy it With you Want to enjoy it, want to enjoy it For you I’m not much for ritual Don’t feel the need to have to do I’m not much for ritual But if you want I can say to you Do you need me to tell you Do you need me to say Do you need me Don’t need you to tell me Don’t need you to say Don’t need you to need Do we need for us to say so Do we need for us to say Do we need
2.
Pride 06:07
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Crying fighting stymied inside So long don’t know how long to go Broken down Father bothered fractured unsure Daughter sought her fought her some more Broken down They’ll hold it back fester inside Let it grow til it slowly dies Pride Unbending unrelenting disrespecting a bond Low road low blow go slow for now Broken down They’ll hold it back fester inside Let it grow til it slowly dies Pride Why can’t they see? So they’ll try and walk away when they shouldn’t walk away because they don’t know how to say, “Sorry” They’ll blame it on the other the father and the daughter neither knowing how to say, “Sorry” Trying compromising believing futures She’s wrong he’s wrong belong for now Building up They’ll have a chance grow inside Moving forward getting over their pride Pride
3.
You Are Me 07:10
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Last year I saw The day of change arrive Last year I saw The day you came alive And you breathed and I need the sweet life that you bring And the smile of surprise that I see in your eyes When you crawl at my voice I don’t even have a choice But to be in a way that a bond can be made You are me You are me Last year I saw The way you changed my life Last year I saw The way I’ll change your life And I breathed and you need the sweet life that I bring And the smile of surprise that you see in my eyes When you listen to my voice do you really have a choice But to be in a way that a bond can be made You are me You are me My son My son I must be more than who I am My son My son I must do more than what I can Twirl of hair carelessly shading your face Knowing smile patiently waiting embrace Dimpled skin joyously showing your grace Heartfelt laugh Last year I saw A future I never saw before Last year I saw A future so much more I had thought I was done no more need for you to come About me what I’d do what I wanted what was true I was wrong now you’re here I can feel it when you’re near The words that I use to say “I love you” You are me You are me You are me My son My son I must be more than who I am My son My son I must do more than what I can
4.
Time Never Holds 05:03
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Summer sun sets on the blue roofs below The families’ dramas all set to unfold The green of the wall becomes scarlet red A couch in the corner now a bed Time never holds for what we know Time never slows for the unknown Winter moon rises through the iced windows The barren trees represent the ebb and flow The seasons change the process stays the same The people change the process stays the same Time never holds for what we know Time never slows for the unknown Time never holds for what we know Time never slows for the unknown I am not she not who I used to be She was me not who I’ve come to be Her self so shining was left behind My self who I am I leave behind My home a memory so memorable Notches of my height are much higher now The fence that once protected me Now keeps me out The childhood dream of freedom a distance source The green leaves of spring bring new life to bear Traits that were once hidden now seem to appear Thus the present is now no need to dwell in the past What we have now will never last Time never holds for what we know Time never slows for the unknown Time never holds for what we know Time never slows for the unknown
5.
A Real Man 06:52
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Dump trucks and knee scrapes cropped hair to wear Football and contact nothing to fear Don’t you be afraid don’t you turn out gay Don’t you show you’re sad got to wear the pants Don’t you dare like pink don’t you even think You’ve got to hold it in don't let no one in A real man come and see me A real man is who I am A real man I’ll come to save you A real man Fast cars and tattoos six-pack abs Beer pong and strip clubs Punches and jabs Don’t you clean your mess don’t roll over and confess Don’t say you’re ever wrong got to show that you’re strong Don’t ask where to go don’t tell or let them know You’ve got to be the boss you’ve got to make the choice A real man come and see me A real man is who I am A real man I’ll come to save you A real man Close your fist, cock your hand, grit your teeth, lean and mean Fire first, be alert, alpha male, don’t turn tail Take control, give ‘em hell, rebel Notches on bedposts injections for speed Fast food and pin-ups bitches to please Don’t you ever cry don’t let them know why Don’t hold your anger back got to kick some worthless ass Don’t you show your need It’s okay if you bleed You’ve got to be tough you’ve got to be rough A real man come and see me A real man is who I am A real man I’ll come to save you A real man
6.
There Are Things 07:58
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There are things that can’t be said Don’t want those thoughts inside your head Who’s to know what else you’ll think We need to know what you will think There are things that can’t be said Keep it straight don’t be afraid If you need to think it through Then who knows what you will do We are We are We are all one x2 There are things that can’t be said You let it out you’ll feel the shame Hold it in restrict yourself Don’t want to offend someone else There are things that can’t be said Think it once you’ll think again If you expand there’ll be something new Once it comes you can’t undo We are We are We are all one x4 Words mean more than they denote Ideology controls steers the heart Words you speak can really kill Blaspheme once you’ll lay still Who’s to define on what is right Your off-color joke becomes a fight The sayings that we use today will be the things of yesterday Who gets to make the choice Of which group gets the voice To tell us what is right and wrong to tell us of who belongs There are things that can’t be said Don’t want those thoughts inside your head Who’s to know what else you’ll think We need to know what you will think There are things that can’t be said We don’t want you to be misled You think you’re free but you are chained You think you’re free but so restrained We are We are We are all one x4
7.
Underground Sunshine 03:27
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8.
West Virginia 05:08
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When the weather gets cold there's a place we go in the snow It’s a time for you and me where we can be happy Time together racing side by side Time together time of our lives A Winterplace biting wind on your face its now our place Like a little angel Soaring through the sky you can fly Time together racing side by side Time together time of our lives Time together just you and me Time together lovingly When we’re in West Virginia When we're there With a foot on the tarmac from the stairs in the rear Jacket zipped up and a fuzzy white bear on your ears Six miles of curves up a mountainside looms To the Top of the World and then down the Flumes Once we’re in Snowshoe, not much to choose but what run to do Then sharing a Thali before our trip is done and we’re gone And brings us home from West Virginia Brings us home from our special trip Brings us home to our family Brings us home
9.
Childhood's End 05:31
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He slowly loads his gear Something planned for so long The tears dried for years Just wanted to belong In the car he travels far in his mind its not so kind To succeed he has a need to see his pain outside Subside It won’t subside He wants to die He slowly walks to school Remembering boys so cruel Wet hands around cold steel Cold heart no longer feels In the hall he shoots them all growing puddles of red Too far gone to slow down more weapons instead Through the screams he begins to prepare for something else He wants to be someone else They lay on the classroom floor All but one had cried No one wanted to die Listening for an opening door Silence could mean life Praying he walks by He slowly reloads his mags Projectiles of sweet revenge Standing up for himself As he nears the end In the caf he hears the raps of booted feet en masse To succeed he has a need to gain another class “Drop it now” he has to show his fear has gone away Stands tall then he falls as his future comes
10.
Humanaphobia 08:10
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Trapped inside his head hiding behind his hair Held within the hall the floor as his chair His hardened shell grown through too many years Formed from bitter tears A carapace of fear Coming close the hairs begin to rise A “hello” becomes an act of surprise Trust is a skill to be learned The other feels bothered uncomfortable Knows not how to meet Comfort signals defeat From beneath his hair he sees them gather close They hug one another like so often before A casual word a look that means no more than that Is a word and look that means so much more Coming close he tends to look away A “hello” is a sign to go away Trust is a skill to be learned The other has to wonder unsatisfied Confusion not discrete Comfort signals defeat They think about his past and what might have occurred Was it a part of him a flaw that injured Or did time and place affect his fate Like the heat from a fire raze He thinks of his past and all that has occurred So many different thoughts all start to blur That time and place formed to make A whole that’s not fully whole A hole Trapped within a cage bars made of fear The key of confidence has disappeared In black and white she shines a light So very bright his colors come to life Coming close there's possibility A “hello” an opportunity Trust is a skill to be learned The other moves further Becomes more amiable He raises his eyes Comfort signals hope

about

This is my first album that is not based on a concept or theme, but a collection of individual songs. I am extremely happy with how it turned out. I want to thanks the vocalists (Kelly, Toby, and Adi) who helped me out and made this album so much better as well as Warren and Sean to add some more bass and guitars.

I also want to thank Devin Arne and Jennifer Donelson for their patience while they try to help me get better on guitar and piano. Thanks also to Devin for suggestions on solos and with mixing and mastering.

Sean Reiter appears courtesy of Shadow Merchant (www.shadowmerchant.net)

credits

released February 22, 2014

All songs written, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Michael D. Reiter

Musicians:
Michael D. Reiter: Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, & Drum Loop arrangements
Kelly Van Alstine: Vocals
Toby Barton: Vocals
Adielle Silochan: Vocals
Sean Reiter: A couple of guitar solos
Warren McGovern: Bass on There are Things

Cover photo by Christopher Burnett. To view more of Chris' photos and perhaps purchase some, please check out his website: www.facebook.com/chrisburnettimages

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mdr Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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