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And now the epic. Seven Bells Redeemed was written years after The Steam Engine Murders but it starts exactly where that song ends. The final melody of The Steam Engine Murders is reversed and becomes the opening melody of this, Seven Bells Redeemed.
Seven Bells John is a character that has haunted my work for a good few years, and here we finally see him come to an end and find a redemption of sorts for his various crimes.
Musically it's a proper full on prog epic with all the parts and melodies and time signatures. 20 minutes, and in my biased opinion every second is justified.
Especially the recapitulation of that soaring melody from The Steam Engine Murders. You know, the one with all the strings. Some of my best work, if I do say so myself. Enjoy!
lyrics
I. Flight from Blackwater
II. Find Your Gods in alleyways
You have to find a way, that's what you do
There's no path written out in front of you
You have to find a way you surely do
There's no path written out in front of you
You can find your gods in alleyways
On every single street
You can find a saviour anywhere
And there's a thousand left to meet
You can find your gods in alleyways
Or amongst the river mud
You can choose to hear or turn away
We all do what we must
Someone finally came for me
At Blackwater's rough edge
Someone finally came for
Could have left me drowning
Someone finally came for me
And damned me still to live
III. Hope for the Damned
Started out with little gifts
Pennies to beggars
Finger on his lips
Don't say a word
Don't say it's me
Don't know my name
You didn't see
And oh oh is there no hope for the damned?
Oh oh is this man, all I am
Who will help
Seven bells?
Rumours started
Dismissed as lies
Seven bells redeemed
Seven bells retired
Donations given
ALms for the poor
Ill-gotten gains
What else are they for?
And oh oh is there no hope for the damned?
Oh oh is this man, all I am
Who will help
Seven bells?
IV. Murderer
Murderer, you're gonna die the way you lived
Murderer, You're gonna pay for all your sins
Tell us where
Tell us where the last one is
Criminal, the trail of hurt you've behind
Criminal, there's no salvation for your kind
Tell us where,
Tell us where the last one is
Murderer, oh murderer, you're going to hell where you belong
Your bloody hands, Your bloody soul
The empty space where once your heart was
Never free, we'll follow you until you're dead
Never free, we'll hound you every step you tread
Tell us where,
Tell us where the last one is
Murderer, oh murderer, you're going to hell where you belong
Your bloody hands, Your bloody soul
The empty space where once your heart was
V. Breath slow
Breath slow, let go, only one little step left to take
Promised, Promised, only one little chance to be saved
Rumours started
Dismissed as lies
Seven bells redeemed
Seven bells retired
Donations given
Alms for the poor
Ill-gotten gains
What else are they for?
"For those who'd repent,
For those who would change
Know that the liar can never be saved
We've all got our pride we've all got past"
Let these things go
VI. Clamouring Crowds
VII. The Papers Say
Poor Thing Saved From the Cold Night
Young Girl all right, now rich
Strangers sudden gift in the night
Just one in a series of small gifts
Gifts are given dole out to the poor
Criminals dumped at the courthouse door
Whirlwind of kindness and good
Past wrongs made right made pure
Parents of dead child woken
Taken to young boys lost grave
Seven Bells steps out to confess
Will this help to ensure a soul saved
He told us where the last one is
He told us where the last one is
He told us where the last one is
VIII. Seven Bells John Confesses All Instrumental - Contemplates theme
IX. Gods in Alleyways
You can find your gods in Alleyways
Or in the river mud
There's thousand lies to tell yourself
To wash away the blood
Something finally came to me
After years of dark and filth
I'll say it plain, and tell it true
The only option, the only thing to do
You've heard me called a monster
And you've heard me called a saint
But there's one word for criminals like me
Murderer
A latter-day Victorian street-theatre barker with a guitar promising tales of mystery, imagination, ‘orrible murders and
bloody great waving tentacles’ is how Tom Slatter has been described. Since 2010 he has been scaring audiences with six albums and numerous EPs of storytelling songs....more
supported by 39 fans who also own “Seven Bells Redeemed”
I didn't think I would like this record but it's so infectious in its ability to change from prog to post rock then to psychedelic and onwards into alternative metal. Such an amazing feat to introduce the saxophone and it sounds so cool, this record is outstanding. Darknight
A surprisingly tender and intimate concept record about long distance love from Cody Votolato of The Blood Brothers/Head Wound City. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 30, 2019
