Silent Epitaphs

These are all acapella songs as I have no instrumental abilities. Lyrics are first, followed by a download link for the audio tracks. All tracks are .mp3 format and will play in iTunes. If you want to add instruments to these tracks, be my guest, but please give credit where it is due. (And send me a copy!) If you would like to collaborate on any songs, feel free to contact me, as I would greatly enjoy to see them evolve into more than just my voice and a microphone.

All lyrics and melodies written by Derek Hayes (Except "Even in the Darkest Desert" Lyrics by Derek Hayes/Melody by Matt Silva)

Deer Father, Life in the 23^rd Century:

Hunting deer,

Who’ve been bred with

fiber optic lights for fur.

Buy them at the store,

Instead of traveling around the world.

Gun shots click, carrying no

consequence to boys.

Girls hold shifts, scouting,

with no real response to noise.

The wounded creature, once lit,

a life, the blinks, once bright.

Now dimmer than a broken light.

There’s no blood that’s shed, or red,

the names not said,

So, the creature must be dead.

Now standing over circuitry,

Father says “Son, can you see,

Just a little cut here.”

No fumes to fill the air.

The boy,

Stands above the carcass

with his gleaming blade.

He feels that something’s changing,

Knows the choice that he must make.

To jab in quick,

Slide gently

Through cold, wire nerves.

Feel no stick,

Nothing to capture this ending verve

Now, guiltless father, just smile,

upon your once whole child,

Meanwhile he’s torn apart inside.

He slowly grows, won’t know,

this world of crows,

Is but the stop,

Before the go.

New father over infancy

Says “Baby, can you see,

Just a little,

Cut here.”

Hot copper fills the air.

A Dream of Contradiction and Consequence:

Your contradictions inspire me,

To let you work your way in.

And if you lurk in my mind,

long enough.

You’ll see it’s hauntingly beautiful.

When your eyes begin to see.

You adjust to the darkness inside of me.

A baron, a duke, or maybe a king.

You say you’re not dead,

But, you’re not living.

Until your breath believes this sin.

You’ll never know what you are missing.

When sun shattered swords,

surround a throne.

Today’s little boy is tomorrows man grown.

So, bevel your heart before you decide.

To bury your head in ghosts you hide behind.

If you’re forming mountains up with your pride.

I’ve got a hammer, and I’ve got lots of time.

No Power: Ode to the People:

We don't have billions of dollars.

But they do.
We couldn't see the bombs were coming.

But they knew.
We're all trying to live a good life.

While they blow.
We try to call them on it. They say,

 "So what? You ain't got the power.

No, you ain't got the power, no you
ain't got the power to choose."
No, we don't have the power,

we're glued to their vampire news.
No, we don't have the power,

we're tripping in our brothers shoes.
No, we don't have the power, no,

we don't have the power,
but we don't have the power to lose.
They don’t have no need for dreamers.

But we do.
They tried to stop us  flying.

But we float.
They're all speaking white, and black.

While we're blue
They try to shut us down. We say,

"Red coats. You don't have the power, 

no, you don't have the power, no, you
don’t have the power to shoot."

No, they don't have the power,

to just lock us in our homes.
No, they don't have the power,

to sell that which we've grown.
No, they don't have the power, no,

they don't have the power, no,

they don't have no power over you.
They said, "We've washed our muddy hands,

of all thatblood and sand."
But we still see the scars that mark the graves.
They attempt to sell a world that's blind of memory,

But we’re not gonna stop ‘till we’re saved.

The Hunger:

See how her face stirs your soul like a storm,

Burns like the last cigarette,

And you’re not alone.

You know just what to do,

You know just what to say,

The bloodlust in your heart,

 it’s your home that decays.

Still, you breathe calm down your arm

like a snake.

Charm her head to the tune,

Of the music you play.

All her armors removed,

Your fangs hidden away.

When the clock hits dark noon,

you’ll strike this easy prey.

What did you hope to find here?

Did you truly believe?

You could betray these feelings,

You’re the tree, they’re the seed

Your eyes glued to the moon,

Your heart’s buried in shame.

You creep back to your house,

still under your false name.

And your wife, she’s not asleep,

Your hands covered in red.

She cries liar, cries cheat;

she screams my world is dead.

And you beg, and you plead,

as her hands beat at your chest.

It’s not your hunger, or needs,

It’s your feast you detest.

So, what did you hope to find here?

Did you truly believe?

You could betray these feelings,

You’re the tree, they’re the seed.

We’ll be Safe Underground:

Rolling up this elevator.

Wearing this mask, makes me feel,

Just like I’m Darth Vader.

Our hands touch as we fall further in this ark.

Our eyes searching for

the smallest signs of sparks

Yeah, it’s between us.

Ever reaching, sometimes breaching

Through the empty and the dark.

Yeah, it’s between us.

Can’t you see it, feel it, breathe it.

We will never be apart.

We reach our bottom destination.

They hold you back,

As I’m dragged to my appointed station.

I watch through tears,

As you climb higher in this ark.

Your eyes searching for

the smallest signs of sparks

But, they betrayed us.

I keep reaching, you keep screeching,

Through the empty, and the dark.

I can’t believe this.

Those lying bastards,

Said we’d never be apart.

It’s like treading water,

They just hit me harder.

I can’t break the empty and the dark.

Up Above: A Lament:

Up above,

Are there still flowers?

And up above,

Are there still towers?

Falling showers?

And how’s the light?

Is it a darker life.

Bet you don’t need a bell

To tell you that it’s night.

But, I’m down here.

And, I’m well below the fear,

And I got power,

Yeah, I got water,

And it’s clear.

That I miss you.

I miss your fresh cut food,

Your eyes as bright moons.

But I’m breathing,

And I’m not breathing

In toxic fumes.

And I can’t believe

As the month’s creep towards fifteen,

That I haven’t seen,

Or heard from you.

Just in our dreams,

When we’re at home,

And no bomb made ash of your bones,

I don’t wake up screaming alone,

But you had to leave,

So I could breathe

Down within this stone.

But I miss you.

It’s not just your fresh cut food,

Even in your foulest mood.

But I’m breathing,

And I’m still breathing,

That must be good.

Just Shadows in the End:

I will wait for you.

I don’t mind.

In my heart you see.

There is still time.

So, hide your halow,

Behind your wings.

Come and breathe me for while.

It’s alright.

It’s been so long.

Since I’ve seen your face

Or heard your song.

I’m not afraid.

But sometimes.

It feels like shadows are

The only things I find.