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Cardboard Box

by Glenn Kaiser

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rbergman
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rbergman When this album was released, the proceeds were intended to do what the lyrics of the last song are about; feeding and housing the homeless. What a great example of following Christ!

My musical preferences have changed over time. I found God, or God found me, through music where I wouldn't expect it. But these acoustic blues songs, carried by Glenn's raw vocals, dealing with rough street life, yet radiating hope, will always point me to what following Christ is all about. Favorite track: What You Did.
Jason Sullivan
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Jason Sullivan I love Glenn Kaiser's music period....but his acoustic blues will always be my favorite. Favorite track: Urban Hobo.
aestivate
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aestivate Involvement in helping the homeless in Chicago has clearly fuelled this stripped back acoustic blues album. Don't just listen and be challenged by this album. Go out and help someone, talk to them and bring back some humanity into people's lives. Favorite track: What You Did.
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1.
You give no indication No look into my eyes I don't want no pity Just don't wanna be disposed I don't watt pity Just a place to lay my head Cold can be a killer Sometimes heat is just as bad I ain't got no work But I still need to eat When nobody's hirin' No bread and no meat When nobody's hirin' I do what I can to get a meal Low down dirty world When survival means to steal Somebody saw my face They even asked my name Told me about a place Where I could find my way And they seemed to care I got nothing' left to lose Just my achin' heart My unemployment blues
2.
Loading Dock 03:57
In Chicago There's an underground Below the city Right downtown In the nights Cold an' dark Rolled up in blankets Rags and scarves Time forgot People too Alcohol Drugs abuse Mental illness Personal sin Society's greed says They ain't gonna win They lit a candle By the loading Dock Held hands an' prayed Where the homeless flock Tough, relentless Tryin' to cope Another died An' they're starvin' for hope Pilate drives by Fast as he can These nameless faceless, Got unwashed hands Survival warfare In this urban squeeze Ain't no sin in dyin' Between two thieves They lit a candle By the loading Dock Held hands an' prayed Where the homeless flock In Chicago There's an underground Below the city Right downtown In the nights Cold an' dark Rolled up in blankets Rags and scarves
3.
I don't know who to trust But I know I can't make it on my own Livin' in the street Is beatin' me down Cuttin' right to the bone Been a long time since I had a family Or a place of my own Tired a livin' like this Gotta be another way I know it down I know down in my soul The sun streams in touchin' my bed It's a brand new day Opportunity came So I took the chance To walk a different way Food on my plate- pPillow on my bed Learnin' new things Maybe love is real- maybe I can feel The brush of angel wings Brush of angel wings Ain't all I want But most of my needs are bein' met Shelter helpin' me Gettin' on my feet- I'm not finished yet God cares about me I'm beginnin' to see This is for the best Someone's got my back Faith becomin' fact There is a table set
4.
The Protest 03:29
Jackie goes to bed at night Beneath the railroad bridge Sleeps in fifteen minute slots Upon a steel ledge The trains above are filled with folk Who work the downtown towers They buy esteem, pay for respect With arrogance and dollars Race you rats; you run and run And never stop to see What's done can never be undone And you will never be Anything else under the sun By day they push and shove their way Past Jackie's upheld palm They throw some pennies on the street A task for Uncle Tom Then one night Jackie'd had enough He raised a fist on high A protest from the underground A prayer up to the sky Just then the Red Line hit the bridge And Jackie screamed in pain The citizens all gathered round The blood left by that train The gapers slowed the traffic down The mayor came to clean and jerk So no one in his town No matter what, was late for work And there the fist lies tween the tracks A mute and awful sight The citizens don't know or care Where Jackie sleeps tonight Race you rats; you run and run And never stop to see What's done can never be undone And you will never be Anything else under the sun
5.
Street Talk 02:36
Ain't always pretty Ain't always warm Ain't always dry When it storms It ain't always sweet Ain't always fine But it's familiar An' it's all mine Hot in the summer Cold Christmas time Wet in the spring But fall can be kind Sleep in the park My bed is free Layin' in the dark It's what I see In the street I know my way around I can be myself Alone or In a crowd Sometimes I admit It's not much fun Sometimes lonely Under the sun Sittin' on benches Sometimes I walk Man if these alleys An' streets could talk People don't know How I came to be Lost my poor Mary Sick as could be I started to drink My sorrow away Lost everything So here I will stay In the street I know my way around I can be myself Alone or In a crowd No ain't always pretty Ain't always warm It ain't always dry Tough when it storms Like a thief on a cross Sometimes I bleed But I know the street An' the street knows me Like a thief on a cross Sometimes I bleed But I know the street An' the street knows me
6.
Once was a husband Things went south Had us a home 'Til we lost our house Wall Street broker Trashed our stocks Economy folded Livin' in a cardboard box Livin' in a cardboard box No matter the weather Nothin' feels right Scorchin' in daylight Freezin' at night Beatin' the pavement Holes in my socks I don't seem to fit Nothin' but a cardboard... People, they stare Aw -they just don't know Or look right past me How'd I get so low? Needin' an address Needin' a job A lil' understanding Don't need to rob All they can see Are birds of a flock God have mercy Get me outta this cardboard box
7.
Repurposed 02:37
Never cared about the environment Until I got older Never understood why Some people kept their house colder Ashes to ashes Dust to dust Everything dies All turns to rust We are learnin', to recycle To help, the earth be green We can do it, with the elements So what about the people we meet? Just wanted to be left alone "Live and let live" they say I'll try to give you your space We can share the right of way Then the boss said "Thanks" "Goodbye" An' then I got sick Wall Street became Hell Street Seemed I missed every trick The poor, get recycled The rich still roll in green Buyin', selling' without thought Tell me who is served by greed? Salvation knockin' on my door Didn't know that I was lost Studied history, causes that end with a cross But I've been repurposed I just cannot pretend Bein' happy, satisfied Ain't the beginning and end We're learnin' to recycle Helpin' the earth to green Carin' more for the planet So what about the people we meet? What about the people we meet?
8.
Urban Hobo 02:51
The cops keep movin' me Thugs keep movin' me The weather keeps movin' me Even the birds keep movin' me I keep on movin' Cuz I got no home Eighteen or eighty-eight No palace, wall or gate Now an' then a factory grate In each an' every state I jus' keep movin' By chance & sometimes choice I got no address, no voice Tryin' to beat the heat or the cold I am an urban hobo The cops keep movin' me Thugs they keep movin' me I keep on movin' Cuz I got no home By chance & sometimes choice I got no address, no voice Tryin' to beat the heat or the cold I am an urban hobo I keep on movin' Cuz I got no home
9.
If all the toys from China Were fully free of lead If all the gold on Wall Street Paid off the national debt If every add on TV Showed what you'd really get The poor would still be with us And we would still forget We would still forget We would still forget If politicians told the truth If mail got delivered on time If you never lost your keys If the children never whined If every day was a sleep-in day And we always felt full and fine The poor would still be with us An' we'd still clear 'em from our mind Clear 'em from our mind Clear 'em from Clear 'em from our mind There is somethin' about comfort It blinds us, closes our ears When we feel no pain We do not share their tears I'm feelin' insulated My job is secure I ain't worried 'bout one thing No immigrants near here My kids speak perfect English You know I voted right Got lots of ammunition I sleep real good at night Those who want a handout Or a hand up- either way It's a cruel, cruel world Go get your own Or jus' go away Jus' go away Jus' go away
10.
Hold Me 03:52
Jesus hold me in your heart Only your love lifts me up From sad sorrow's pulling down I cannot save myself you know I feel as though I might drown In the tears I cannot cry They run too deep for me to try Sweet mother read your poetry Do not now fade away from me I know that death- it knows my name Do not go, don't take your grace Darkness pressed to candle flame Touch this old manchild's face No heros on this grey morning No heros, no not me The sky is dark and I feel so old Tears too deep to find release Fear threat'ning to remove your love In this night I plead your peace
11.
Live your life for a change Live your life for a change You ain't gonna take it with you no how Live your life for a change And you won't be ashamed Live your life for a change right now Make a difference in this world Make a difference in this world Make a difference in this world somehow Don't just do it for yourself Put your pride up on the shelf Make a difference in this world somehow See your brother and your sister Your enemy and friend Your mother and your father As your family in the end One day we will answer For the love we did not send Live your life for a change Right now Live your life for a change Live your life for a change Live your life for a change right now Live your life for a change And you won't be ashamed Live your life for a change right now
12.
What You Did 04:50
I was hungry and you fed me I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in I needed clothing you covered me I was sick and you gave me care I was in prison and you came to me there You ask, when was this? How could this be? What you did for the least you did for me What you did for the least What you did for the least What you did for the least You did for me You ask, when was this? How could this be? What you did for the least Child you did to me He was hungry and you fed him She was thirsty and you gave her a drink She was a stranger and you took her in your house He needed clothing and you covered him What you did for the least What you did for the least What you did for the least For the least of these What you did for the least Yes for the least You did it You did it to me

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www.grrrrecords.com/glenn-kaiser-cds

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released June 7, 2011

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Glenn Kaiser Chicago

After 40+ years of playing music, Glenn Kaiser is known for his raw, bluesy vocal, fiery guitar chops as well as his harmonica work, Glenn is comfortable playing traditional and modern blues, original worship music and R&B.

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