Resolution
Kurt Elling Lyrics


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God - king above all other gods - lead us now, so we
Can walk wherein the
Prophets said that we would trod.

Buddha - tell a sutra like a spell - teach us well to
Answer silence with the calling of bells.

Allah - bring us to a good alarm - subjugate our wills
To answer you like a mighty arm.
Elohim is a pillar of light in the dark and leading all
His people to light (for
He's the king of the fire).
He brings the fire into everything that's living on
Earth, in the sun, in the
Stars.
Take a spark of it - deep within you - put it to the
Test - it will do the rest -
I confess - It will be like
Climbing up Mount Everest - I can't express the view
From there - but it's
For you to follow through.

Lama - show the Power's bright array - bless the climb,
And settle peace upon the universe's dark display.

And Jesus - remember every promise made - Present
Yourself in the middle of the prayers that we say.

Vishnu - preserve us all along the way - Keep us clear
Of the final thunderbolt of the judgement day.

Hear me - Hear what I - what I ask for today - Fathers.

Way off at the far leftern shelf of the world - up in a
House right on the edge of everything - where the time
Is tumbling in a vortex - the nexus of timetable tides
- in the final lighthouse at shining earth's ending -
At the spinning of the finishing of sweeping time -
Driving silence like a stampeding careening wash in
Charging advance
Digging the sound of passing everything away into the
Secret of eternity's pivot dance
Breaking down crashing doorways - bashing through
Dreamplace - smash, unlash, efface - everything goes
To the open mouth of Kali-ma - where the vault of
Heaven opens

A witness as lonely as forgotten tears keeps up a vigil
Watching all - even light - go out one witness - one
Child digging the slaving wheel of meat spitting out -
Taking up - everything - by the roots pulling out - the
Lot of what has passed into the past, like a dream.
She knows what is gone - gone over - everyone that is
Done - and unbegun and starting from the super-
Microcosmic no bug all the way to super-huge galactic
Suns - and she knows the
Beginning - is coming in the sweep at the end of all.
Even gods have passed over, away. Then, one day the
Shadow of a priest on the horizon appeared.
He wasn't taken up into the swirling.
He walked with purpose, all the while digging his heels
Into the bedrock like a man.

But as he came into view the witness saw his eyes were
Crying.
Tears like blood fell to earth - as he watched heaven
Disappear in the void - up the drain into the
Paraboloid - realizing it all - everything -everywhere
-into his eyes - seeing that all - he had beloved -
Went out of itself and away - here in this last ever
Surge of a day tearing all meaning away - and to the
Witness's indifference he had this to say:

"I know about birth. I know about death, and how the
Light goes out of men - the life departing - powerless
Giving it up - but in the vast indifference I invent a
Deeper meaning.

I'm the one who will say 'use the will every day or go
Mad trying - go to war against the impotent side of
Living.

Use every power your given to stand and act like a man.

And pray -- every day to every god - strike the bowl of
Heaven and the ringing will become a law.

Build - bridges where you need to go - bring the fire
Of enlightenment here to life below.

Speak - mercy to the things you meet - listen up to
Hear the whispering of the blood you bleed.





Stay awake - no mistake - dance the dream awake - and
Awake."

Overall Meaning

The song "Resolution" by Kurt Elling is a meaningful and powerful commentary on faith and spirituality. Elling touches upon various religious beliefs and figures, including God, Buddha, Allah, Elohim, Lama, Jesus, and Vishnu. He highlights how each of these entities provides guidance to their followers and offers them ways of living that are filled with purpose and meaning. Elling believes that by tapping into the wisdom and teachings of all these religions, one can find the strength to persevere through tough times and find deeper understanding and connection with the Universe.


Through "Resolution," Elling encourages listeners to be introspective and appreciate the beauty and harmony of the Universe around them. He speaks of climbing Mount Everest, a metaphor for personal growth and self-discovery, and how it is a challenging journey that requires courage and tenacity. Elling urges his audience to stay awake and alert, to learn from their experiences, and to never forget the promises they make to themselves.


The song's final verse speaks of a priest who has seen the end of the world and watched as all meaning disappeared. However, the priest chooses to find deeper meaning in the vast silence of the Universe. He implores listeners to use their willpower every day and to live life with purpose and intention. The song's message is clear, that through faith and perseverance, we can find deeper meaning and purpose in life.


Line by Line Meaning

God - king above all other gods - lead us now, so we Can walk wherein the Prophets said that we would trod.
God, the ruler of all gods, guide us to the path that the prophets have foretold us to follow.


Buddha - tell a sutra like a spell - teach us well to Answer silence with the calling of bells.
Buddha, teach us to respond to silence with the ringing of bells, by enchanting us with the sutras that you recite.


Allah - bring us to a good alarm - subjugate our wills To answer you like a mighty arm.
Allah, raise us to sound the good alarm and make us obey you like an unbreakable force.


Elohim is a pillar of light in the dark and leading all His people to light (for He's the king of the fire).
Elohim is like a pillar of light in the darkness, guiding and leading all people to the light. He's also referred to as the king of fire.


He brings the fire into everything that's living on Earth, in the sun, in the Stars.
Elohim's presence can be felt in every living thing on earth, as well as in the sun and the stars.


Take a spark of it - deep within you - put it to the Test - it will do the rest - I confess - It will be like Climbing up Mount Everest - I can't express the view From there - but it's For you to follow through.
If you can capture even a spark of Elohim's light and put it to use, the rest will be taken care of. It will be like reaching the top of Mount Everest, and the view from there is beyond description, but it's something for you to explore and discover.


Lama - show the Power's bright array - bless the climb, And settle peace upon the universe's dark display.
Lama, reveal to us the power of the universe and bless us on our journey, bringing peace to something that seems so vast and dark.


And Jesus - remember every promise made - Present Yourself in the middle of the prayers that we say.
Jesus Christ, please remember all the promises you made, and be present in the midst of our prayers.


Vishnu - preserve us all along the way - Keep us clear Of the final thunderbolt of the judgement day.
Vishnu, keep us safe on our journey and away from the final destruction on the judgement day.


Hear me - Hear what I - what I ask for today - Fathers.
The artist asks the fathers to listen to his request for today.


Way off at the far leftern shelf of the world - up in a House right on the edge of everything - where the time Is tumbling in a vortex - the nexus of timetable tides - in the final lighthouse at shining earth's ending - At the spinning of the finishing of sweeping time - Driving silence like a stampeding careening wash in Charging advance
At the world's farthest eastern edge, there is a house that sits on the brink of everything else. Time swirls like a vortex and the final lighthouse illuminates the end of the earth.


Digging the sound of passing everything away into the Secret of eternity's pivot dance Breaking down crashing doorways - bashing through Dreamplace - smash, unlash, efface - everything goes To the open mouth of Kali-ma - where the vault of Heaven opens
The sound of everything passing away is digging into the secret of eternity's dance. Doors are destroyed, smashed, and removed, while everything cycles towards the mouth of Kali-ma, which opens up to the vault of heaven.


A witness as lonely as forgotten tears keeps up a vigil Watching all - even light - go out one witness - one Child digging the slaving wheel of meat spitting out - Taking up - everything - by the roots pulling out - the Lot of what has passed into the past, like a dream.
A witness, like the tears that have been forgotten, watches as everything, including the light, dies out. He watches a child working hard, tearing everything out from its roots and sending it back into the past like it was just a dream.


She knows what is gone - gone over - everyone that is Done - and unbegun and starting from the super- Microcosmic no bug all the way to super-huge galactic Suns - and she knows the Beginning - is coming in the sweep at the end of all. Even gods have passed over, away. Then, one day the Shadow of a priest on the horizon appeared.
The witness is very aware of what is gone, everything from the smallest microbe to the largest galactic sun. She knows the beginning will come at the end. Even the gods have passed and are gone. Eventually, the shadow of a priest appears on the horizon.


He wasn't taken up into the swirling. He walked with purpose, all the while digging his heels Into the bedrock like a man.
The priest defies the swirling currents and marches forward with a clear purpose, stepping into the bedrock like a true man.


But as he came into view the witness saw his eyes were Crying. Tears like blood fell to earth - as he watched heaven Disappear in the void - up the drain into the Paraboloid - realizing it all - everything -everywhere -into his eyes - seeing that all - he had beloved - Went out of itself and away - here in this last ever Surge of a day tearing all meaning away - and to the Witness's indifference he had this to say:
As the witness finally sees the priest, she realizes that he is mourning. Tears, like blood, fall from his eyes as he watches heaven disappear into the void. He realizes that everything is leaving, including those he loves, in the last moments of this final and ever-changing day. Seeing the witness's indifference, he has something to say:


"I know about birth. I know about death, and how the Light goes out of men - the life departing - powerless Giving it up - but in the vast indifference I invent a Deeper meaning. I'm the one who will say 'use the will every day or go Mad trying - go to war against the impotent side of Living. Use every power your given to stand and act like a man. And pray -- every day to every god - strike the bowl of Heaven and the ringing will become a law. Build - bridges where you need to go - bring the fire Of enlightenment here to life below. Speak - mercy to the things you meet - listen up to Hear the whispering of the blood you bleed. Stay awake - no mistake - dance the dream awake - and Awake."
"I know all about birth and death, how the light leaves people when they die, powerless and defeated. However, I choose to invent a deeper meaning amidst all of the indifference. I encourage you to use your will every day, even if you feel like you're going mad. Fight against the helpless side of living, using every power you have to stand and act like a man. Pray to every god, every day, so that the ringing will become a law. Build bridges to wherever you need to go, bringing the fire of enlightenment to life below. Always show mercy to those you encounter and listen to the whispers of your own blood. Stay awake, continue to dance your dreams awake, and remain aware!"




Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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