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The Emcee's Ecclesiastes

by LB + The Brothers Cosmos

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1.
Chapter I Everything is meaningless! From poverty to greediness 2 Charity to neediness All of this is meaningless! 3 You can live like an ascetic Or die chasing the green 4 You’ll turn blue in the face Tryna figure the grand scheme. 5 Generations before Have lived and disappeared 6 And we’ve yet to see a thing That wasn’t already here 7 The sun will still set The sun will still rise 8 The moon will still pull On the waters for high-tide. 9 We’ve got better computers, But our minds don’t advance. 10 We’re just running in place Doing the same old dance 11 You can sit and read every book in the library 12 Be the wisest man alive And still land in the cemetery 13 Can’t straighten out the twisted Can’t count what we lack 14 Try to chase away the wicked And they’ll be right back. 15 Its like the more that we learn The thinner our hope gets 16 Its like we already forgot The ones that ain’t here yet. Chapter II Gwan and get your money, Little duffle-bag boy 2 Gwan and get your jewelry Gwan and get your toys 3 Gwan and build your mansion Gwan and chase you passion 4 Gwan and chase the wind Tryna find something lasting. 5 Gwan and get your women Embrace hedonism 6 Do it ‘til you’re satisfied Get it out your system 7 Once you learn the things you have Can never change your fate 8 The world that you love Becomes the world you love to hate 9 Because the rich haffi die And the poor do too 10 And the wise bite the dust Just like the common fool 11 So give it up to God For all that He provides 12 Eat your food. Drink you drink. Squeeze some joy out of your life 13 Cause this could be your last dance On your very last night 14 And when the last song ends I hope you’re satisfied 15 I hope you loved wisdom I hope you hated sin 16 I pray you found God Don’t die chasing the wind
2.
Chapter III We got a birth-time, a life-time A death-time and high-time 2 Your time, my time Supper-time primetime 3 Work time, merc time Family time, find time 4 Peace time, war time Need a little more time. 5 A time to laugh And a time to weep 6 A time to hold your tongue And a time to speak 7 Make the most of your time While you’re on the map 8 Cause once the clock runs down You can’t push time back And that’s that 9 While you’re in the world You gots to do your thing 10 Cause for the righteous and the wicked The fates all the same 11 Judgment! And back to the earth with our bones 12 And one day we gon’ reap Every seed that was sown 13 Live well Cause only God’s will is everlasting 14 And the lovers of the world Get the world for their passion 15 The world is passing Time is fleeting 16 But there’s a portion of eternity In each human being Chapter IV Who’s a friend to the oppressed? 2 People reaching out for comfort But ain’t felt none yet 3 Make me wonder if we’re better off Living or dead 4 And even better If this tragic life and we never met 5 So much evil That we’d never have to see 6 So blessed indeed If we never had to be 7 But we break our backs to live And for things we don’t need 8 This struggle to succeed Is born of envy and greed 9 And...I’d be a fool To just throw up my hands 10 Stroll around like a bum Not being a man But damn! 11 There’s so many things I don’t understand 12 Like how we’re chasing the wind For more hundreds and grands 13 Its fool-ish, fruit-less Finite and quite use-less 14 Money that folds—bars of gold But live truth-less 15 You’re out for more stones More paper to own 16 Get to the top just to learn It’s lonely on the throne 17 One’s the loneliest You’ll ever do 18 But contrary to the song You’re twice as strong with two And...19 even stronger When the number is three 20 And when we’re all knotted up We can finally be free Hey—21 I might be broke Might not have anything 22 Better a poor, wise-man Than a foolish old king 23 Cause once the chase is done And we awake from the dream 24 We’ll all have to come to terms With what the journey all means
3.
Chapter V Mind your steps and watch your mouth In the presence of God 2 Speak less If you’re listening, you might hear him talk 3 Fulfill all the promises You make with your heart 4 Please be honest with yourself That’s where honesty starts 5 Why can’t you hold true To the vows that you make? 6 Shaking your head at your reflection Like this vow’s a mistake 7 Running your mouth—babbling Like you talking in dreams 8 But if God ain’t the topic Tell me; what does it mean? Yeah, 9 I hear you talking Ya’ll be talking bout life 10 People oppressed and deprived And you shouldn’t be surprised 11 Cause they can take away your freedom Try to strip you of your pride 12 Just to get a little richer And they’re never satisfied 13 They got all they need and more But never all that they want 14 But we all depart this world The same way that we come 15 If you’ve got it, live humble Get distracted by joy 16 So when reality start’s hollering You’ll hardly hear the noise. Chapter VI I see the wealthy pass away 2 With no one to remember them No flowers on their graves 3 I’ve seen poor men With long lives and plenty kids 4 Die without enough capital To be buried with 5 And the common phrase Is rest in peace 6 But a still-born child Knows more peace than these And...7 everybody got a mouth to feed 8 But even with a full belly We want more than we need 9 Who does it benefit? To be wise and broke? 10 If you can’t afford shoes It hurts to walk the good road 11 Too much desire Such an appetite for sin 12 Tryna find the meaning in it We’re just chasing the wind 13 Human condition Is as old as mankind 14 They tryna look for something new But there’s nothing to find 15 What’s good in life Is up to you to decide 16 But live with it Cause time slips away and we die
4.
Chapter VII 02:19
Chapter VII I’d rather have a good name than long cash 2 They say in these times of strife, only the strong laughs 3 But got the blissfully ignorant on the wrong path 4 This world is lost. I’d be a fool to ignore that. 5 I mourn this life, because I see it for what it really is 6 It could never be as sweet as you think it is 7 All the singing and dancing is meaningless 8 They get bribed out their minds by who they’re drinking with. 9 Better to end than to start Patience is better than pride 10 Anger will weaken the heart In the hearts of fools, it resides 11 Money puts clothes on your back Wisdom will shelter the soul 12 Hope you inherit some jewels- Mental, and rubies and gold Remember this: 13 In this life, not a thing lasts 14 Can’t know the future—be present. You can’t change the past 15 Can’t change the weather Be it beautiful or be it bad 16 The only certainty is “this too shall pass” 17 In all your righteousness and wisdom you won’t be saved 18 And the wicked and the foolish see the same fate 19 And since every living being dies one day 20 Avoid extremes; fear God; walk the middle way 21 Cause not a’ one of us on earth here is upright 22 Ignore the slanderers, the hypocrites and parasites 23 Their secret deeds and wicked thoughts keep them up at night 24 Evil that’s done in the dark will always come to light 25 What does it mean to be wise? Something far off and profound, 26 But just a piece props you up Stupidity brings you down 27 There’s obstacles on the path— Plenty of things to distract 28 But if you’re nimble in soul You won’t get caught in the traps.
5.
Chapter VIII A world full of questions Serves to furrow the brow 2 People Forget to smile Through the why’s and the how’s 3 When ignorance gets replaced It can brighten the face 4 Take away the hard gaze Have you shining with grace 5 I say; Laws of the land Should be observed and obeyed 6 All our corrupt leaders Face comeuppance some day 7 Choose your battles Choose peace Let serenity reign 8 The time will come To free ourselves from oppression and pain 9 Still The populous is filled With fury and doubt 10 Those in power take away But they ain’t handing it out 11 And when justice is on pause And delayed being served 12 We get perturbed While the wicked thrive And work on our nerves 13 The poor and righteous get jerked They’re regarded as herbs 14 The wicked rich never seem To get the hell they deserve 15 Finding value in material Ignoring our worth 16 Yet another meaningless truth I’ve seen on this earth 17 If you’re enjoying life, Then you’re doing it right 18 We gotta keep our heads high Through the toil and the strife 19 Stressing--and missing rest Through the days and the nights 20 Leave the battle weary With no strength for the fight 21 What God knows No person can comprehend 22 He holds in both hands All the secrets of men 23 Regardless of what you’ve seen Or all the places you’ve been 24 The meaning of all things No mind can comprehend. Chapter IX Be you righteous or wicked Be you foolish or wise 2 Regardless of if you’re clean Or all the things you sacrifice 3 If your house is built of straw, wood Brick, stone or sand 4 If everything in life is working out Just as you planned 5 You run five miles a day Or only run two blocks 6 If you ride your bike to work Or walk to the mail box 7 No matter you endurance No matter how strong your fight 8 Death creeps in Like a thief in the night. 9 And that’s the end to everything Every mind has ever known 10 Love and hate vanishes Once the spirit has flown 11 Once the eyes are closed Once the living is done 12 We have no part of anything That happens under the sun 13 So eat your food with a smile Have some wine with your friends 14 Live it up. Laugh it up. Get it in ‘til the end 15 Find the good in your life Enjoy your time with your wife 16 Anything you do to earn Do it with all of you might 17 Cause where we’re headed, not a day that we’ve lived Will mean a thing 18 So row your boat merrily This life is but a dream 19 Like a fish in a net Like a bird in a snare 20 The finish line will snatch you up Right when you’re unaware 21 People drift through the dark Like they don’t have a care 22 Like the curtain won’t close They expect to be spared 23 Heed the words of the wise Don’t pay attention to fools 24 Wisdom’s the best weapon Uprightness the best tool
6.
Chapter X Just a little foolishness Will make your light dim 2 Head opposite the fool Be nothing like him 3 Cause the wise go right But he decides to go left 4 So even as he walks along You see how stupid he gets 5 Too many people walk the path Of the previous fools 6 So good road is traveled By the precious few 7 Now, the wicked rule And the righteous live low 8 See the fools drive by-the wise- Taking it slow 9 The hole you dig Could be the hole you get buried in 10 You’re afraid to get bit So why you playing round the snake pit? 11 With enough skill And the right amount of strength 12 Even a dull blade Will make the log split 13 There’s no profit for the charmer If the charmer gets bit 14 Fools get consumed by their words Always talking some shit 15 Not an ounce of sense Bounce out of their lips 16 Mouth running non-stop No pause or off switch 17 And we pray that our leaders Ain’t like them 18 Headlights on bright But the light’s dim 19 Wheels spinning in the sand They’re just kicking up dust 20 Tryna pull us out the desert But they’re weaker than us 21 I say we pray that our leaders Ain’t like them 22 Headlights on bright But the lights dim 23 They’re the designated drivers Got the keys to the bus 24 But a little bird told me That they’re drunker than us Chapter XI You’ve heard it said That it’s better to give than to receive 2 So don’t hoard your good fortune Cast your bread on the seas 3 Most remember kind deeds Though sometimes we forget 4 What goes around comes around You’ll never know what you’ll get 5 Fill the clouds up with water And you’re bound to get wet 6 How you expect to reap well If you ain’t planted yet 7 Tryna know the unknown And how it all connects 8 Like tryna know gods plans. Man Nobody can guess 9 So give away what you can And don’t sit on your hands 10 Cause you know We all need some help now and then 11 And when it happens, you’ll be happy You were good to your friends 12 Who gave the extra little push To find success in the end 13 We all recall the good days And time we spend in the light 14 Sun all up in your eyes You had the time of your life 15 But when the day turns to night And darkness limits your sight 16 Remember what it means to dream Nightmares and delights 17 Enjoy your youth, live life Do your thing, do right 18 Follow your heart, see the world See yourself take flight 19 But don’t forget; what god demands Simply won’t be denied 20 And when judgment time arrives You’ll have to swallow your pride 21 We all head the same way So what you worried for? 22 You’re in a race you can’t win So what you hurried for? 23 You need to sit down and chill Stop the ego trips 24 Cause all your strength ain’t real, man Its meaningless.
7.
Reflect 01:23
-Instrumental-
8.
Chapter XII 02:21
Chapter XII You won’t always be young You won’t always be strong 2 Sometimes the game runs quick Sometimes the fight seems long 3 While the sun is still up Before the lights come on 4 Before your body gets weary And your energy’s gone 5 While the future’s far off And the present is sweet 6 While there’s fewer days behind Than the days left to be 7 While the party’s still live And the record’s still spinning 8 And the clocks still running but it feels like the beginning 9 Remember: everything is meaningless! From poverty to greediness 10 Charity to neediness All of this is meaningless! 11 It won’t always be sweet Remember god while you’re strong 12 So at the times when your weak He’ll help you carry on 13 And the man who said that never lied 14 He only speaks true things Upright and wise 15 Demonstrates the right way Picks out the right words 16 His wisdom is always welcome, Well-written, and well-deserved 17 And at the end of the day The only thing left to say 18 Is fear god Cause everything you’ve ever seen will pass away 19 There’s not a good or bad deed To be considered exempt 20 Cause each and every human being Meets judgment.

about

The first collaborative effort between Emcee Byron "LB" Pearson and The Brothers Cosmos. A full concept album, lyrically adapted from The Book of Ecclesiastes by LB. Music by The Brothers Cosmos

credits

released February 21, 2014

All songs written, performed, and produced by:

Byron "LB" Pearson // Lyrics/Vocals
+
THE BROTHERS COSMOS
John E. Hopkins // Keyboards
Matthew Vierra // Bass/Loops
Ethan Baxley // Drums & Cymbals
Matthew Phillip Tracy // Percussion on tracks 3 & 6

Recorded and Mixed by Ryan Kahl and Mike Bowen at B&K Sound Labs, Tempe, AZ.
Mastered by Ronald J. Llewellyn III at Welshman's Pride, Mesa, AZ.
Artwork: YKNOT | UNIT32 Design

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The Brothers Cosmos Phoenix, Arizona

We're a band from Phoenix, AZ that blends elements of Soul. Electronic, Funk, Fusion and Hip Hop into an unprecedentedly engaging instrumental music experience. Collaborative projects are always welcome.

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