She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
The Ark
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
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That filled my soul with wonder
Where the heavens rained down water and it filled the lakes and streams
And the world was shook by thunder
And the waters came together til they formed a mighty sea
And all the land went under
So I started making plans and my sons all felled the trees
And the wood they set to planing
And relationships were straining
All the townfolk think we're crazy when we pass them on the street
They look down at their feet
It's 300 cubits long
Like the belly of a bird
Three decks high and strong enough
To ride upon the surge
So gather up the grandchildren and all the ones we love
And the animals for breeding
Don't forget the donkeys and the ravens and the doves
Someday we might need them
There is nothing we can do now for the ones who will remain
And the sky that looks like rain
And the sky looks like rain
Eliza Gilkyson's song "The Ark" tells the story of a dream that inspires the building of a massive vessel to protect and preserve life in the face of an impending catastrophe. The dream is described in vivid detail, with images of thunder, rain, and the waters coming together to form a "mighty sea" that swallows up all the land. The dreamer, who is not identified, starts making plans for building an ark, and enlists the help of their family to cut down trees, plane the wood, and stockpile provisions. However, the townspeople believe that they are crazy, and distance themselves from the family's strange behavior. The dreamer remains undeterred, and encourages their loved ones to gather up the animals and prepare for the coming flood.
The lyrics paint a picture of a desperate situation, where the only solution is to build a massive vessel to survive the end of the world. However, there is also a sense of hope and determination, as the dreamer takes action to protect the ones they love. The lyrics suggest that people can overcome the greatest obstacles if they work together and stay focused on their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
It was just about a year ago I woke up from a dream
The songwriter had a dream a year ago
That filled my soul with wonder
The dream was an experience of marvel
Where the heavens rained down water and it filled the lakes and streams
The dream involved a heavy rain that covered water bodies
And the world was shook by thunder
The occurrence of a loud noise like an explosion in the dream made the world tremble
And the waters came together til they formed a mighty sea
The rainwaters united to make an enormous ocean
And all the land went under
The entire ground was covered with water
So I started making plans and my sons all felled the trees
Upon awakening, planning commenced for survival from the dream's water catastrophe
And the wood they set to planing
The wood was processed for construction purposes
While the women built the stockpile of provision grain and seeds
The women gathered grains and seeds for storage
And relationships were straining
The situation was causing troubles among family members
All the townfolk think we're crazy when we pass them on the street
The townsfolk believe the family is insane
They look down at their feet
Their facial expressions and body language indicate disgust or disdain for the family
It's 300 cubits long
The ark is three hundred long hands
Like the belly of a bird
It has the look of a bird's stomach
Three decks high and strong enough
The ark consists of three decks to accommodate more people and goods
To ride upon the surge
It is equipped to sail on waves
So gather up the grandchildren and all the ones we love
They will take all family members and loved ones
And the animals for breeding
They will transport animals for breeding purposes
Don't forget the donkeys and the ravens and the doves
The particular animals must go on board too.
Someday we might need them
These animals might be beneficial in the future
There is nothing we can do now for the ones who will remain
The family cannot help those people left behind in the water catastrophe
And the sky that looks like rain
The sky appears to be overcast, and it may rain.
And the sky looks like rain
The sky appears to be overcast, and it may rain.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.