Jon Watts | The Art of Fully Being | Lyrics I can’t wait to get home I’ve been living alone and that’s entirely inside of me It’s playing with my bones I’ve released two things in at least three weeks Now a third release is imminent I’m sending it in peace Now that’s Zach Speakes on the microphone and there, I said it He gets credit for the introduction poem Now watch me get nice with it pay the right price and it pays you back in ice every night Get psyched This is Jon Watts everything I’m setting things right You can listen when you’re finished or even just beginning I’ll just start it off now if it’s anything, it’s pending This is the art of fully being of freely being me of existence in the ministry and living in the dream This will counteract suppression Things can be just what they seem So I’ve released all the ghosts in me now I’m listening to see how I feel when they’re around me how controlling I can be So be free everybody (my relationship with me) This is the art of being let’s just see what we can be

Jon Watts | Instructions for Us(e) | Lyrics These songs don’t say anything you don’t already know love your life, listen and chew your food slow climb trees and be happy and listen to your pain experience the spectrum and let go of your shame Its all the same I write reminders don’t idolize me please treat me like a post-it note then idolize the trees and life and earth and all that’s in between we’re made of space so listen because silence holds a key You should use this album to return to listening and when you’re ready, turn it off and listen to something Because I don’t exist inside of this it just captures a moment It’s good to look inside this book at memories it’s holding but I’m not here I’m somewhere else continuing the story Just because it’s written down does not make it euphoric It’s like sometimes good and sometimes bad and sometimes it’s just boring So welcome, welcome, come on in You’re welcome to enjoy it Or turn it off and sit on rocks and listen to the morning

Jon Watts | Songs That I've Released | Lyrics I’ve got to release these songs Even when I want to hold on the thought at fault is wrong As long as I can live I can love Maybe even longer than that And if you asked me when I’m coming back ask me again and then run and tell a friend because I ask that every minute And while you’re out of this body I’m living in it While you’re thinking in detail I’m feeling infinite A little bit of pain a lot of symptom that’s the language of the body I hope you’re listening I hope you’re listening, so listen in to symphonies. And if the chords don’t match up pretend it’s meant to be a little instance of forgiveness for this symphony And that forgiveness that you’re giving me that shit is meant to be and that’s the grace of good intention We hold onto this fear of never ending living and sinning and pretentiously intending but not far from the beginning you just may find that you were never pretending I can hold my fingers up and tell you all I’ve lost I can live intentionality anticipating costs I can feel emotion deeply utill there’s no emotion left I can feel my lungs collapsing I can fill them with my breath I can open up my eyes I can close them if I want I can eat breakfast for dinner and dinner for lunch or combine them all together and call it all brunch Oh, brunch I can live into the victim role where damage takes it’s toll I can stop doing anything when doing it gets old I can be a living healer prescribe love for pain I can show you how to do it Come dancing in the rain I can climb trees or let the trees climb me I’m so free and now so are these songs that I’ve released

Jon Watts | I'm Great | Lyrics One day I was walking down the street I’ve got beats in my feet I need something to eat I’m going to bounce from this town to get a pound of mouse pals Around smiles I frown to put down the bound styles The ground is shaking making fakers statement makers hate your neighbors Do favors like Quaker saviors helping people meet their makers Singing it out forsaking traits of culture I’ve got a vulture He flies around telling me how profound I am that I should form a band and call it Hand up Your Rear I began something here Freakin’ can we appear to be first or rehearse any curse and see purse immersed in dirt Coming from a place where it hurts and this verse is over I’m great Living in a Jon Watts state I take a late fate date rape rivers and great lakes The tape may break say we can belate fate delay I’m playing the beat forget your crates OK I’m playing with the beat infinity Living with me can be easy Let it be Everyone sees me and please don’t feely speak of the bee’s knees and leave me fiending I’ve got some problems got to solve them Look at how my soul takes ahold involves them it’s a long bomb falling from the bogs of Boston and I’m long gone looking at the fog I’m long gone looking at the fog. It's like I’ve got something that I could have told you I’m not telling what my soul involved because I’m out doing mics got to be nice living at night I’m gonna live in building tenemented within the price I’m great Living in a Jon Watts state I take a late fate date rape rivers and great lakes The tape may break say we can belate fate delay I’m playing the beat forget your crates OK

Jon Watts | We Are Lovers of Our Lost Earth | Lyrics I’m like friendship because I’ll never go away I’m like a drop of rain on a cloudy day and I’m awake as if I never went to sleep And now I’m dancing in the street as if there was no street Now I’m alone and I’m surrounded I could try to find myself a home but houses are too grounded My living situation here foundations just been founded I spend my time considering consideration’s boundaries Don’t look at me (because I’m old) Don’t say you’ve heard of me because my story’s not been told I’m living underground this year The surface is too cold It’s a land-side landslide re-routing these old roads Inhale exhaust. Exhale love. This is about roads in Portugal and things I’ve left behind me struggles I’ve climbed to find peace of mind inside me When blind luck leads us there it’s fine but just look between the lines at all the lives denied We deny love so it’s about hope and it’s about how everyone has courage in their throat It’s about the lies that vie for our attention leading us to places too tangential to mention I could give you names and I could name dates and I could focus on the means to end all the debates but this is music It’s elusive I’ve produced it exclusively and it leads to loose conclusions which destroy illusions usefully I don’t like running in place so now I’m walking in the city Carbon-monoxide in my lungs I feel empty We’ve cut down all the trees so now it’s up to us We’ve got to inhale exhaust, exhale love Inhale exhaust. Exhale love. Now I’m exhausted I haven’t done this much coughing since I was lost in Boston It’s a softened offspring We are Lovers of our Lost Earth And it makes us fighters because we know how much now we have cost her Some of us are somber others find a way that they can speak while they’re choking That’s not a path I’ve chose yet We can each pick up something and find a way to get a little bit of breath

Jon Watts | I'm Sorry Brian | Lyrics He said he loved her We were friends then sharing secrets with each other like the fact that he loved her and I held that secret tight like it was mine But in the limelight, I can see my timeline I was looking for my value in the things I had accomplished like the women that I wanted and the ones that had fallen for me You know the story Now I know it wasn’t worth it I was working in earnest I mean, I didn’t even deserve it this fact I wasn’t worthless But I just didn’t have the courage to say “fine, Brian. She’s yours.” Or even “Hey Brian, I think she’s mine.” And so I led you to believe I was a friend and not a thief whose intention was to steal and then to observe you spin your wheels I’m like sorry I’m sorry Brian I don’t have an excuse If I had an excuse it’d be used I’m a little brother with a used excuse and a follower who followed the abuse I adjusted to environments one shouldn’t adjust to The environment, myself stand accused But that shouldn’t make you sorry because I’m the one who’s sorry as I look to the past and I conclude I’m sorry Brian So the confession I have is I was better than you Or that’s how I thought and acted at the time But I’ve realized since your innate value I’m not afraid of all the ways it threatens mine I tried to do to you what others did to me My only measured worth was watching others' envy So I encouraged it this anger and the jealousy and all the while behavior remained friendly And in a way I would say that you were better than me I mean the ways that you forgave when you were settling things I let my fear persevere You watched my meddling bring us to that place and then you faced me with your love It was manipulative. It was subversive. It was destructive and I’m here to say I’m sorry I saw that you loved me. I abused your trust and I want to say again to you I’m sorry I’m sorry Brian I’m sorry Brian I don’t have an excuse If I had an excuse it’d be used I’m a little brother with a used excuse and a follower who followed the abuse I adjusted to environments one shouldn’t adjust to The environment, myself stand accused But that shouldn’t make you sorry because I’m the one who’s sorry as I look to the past and I conclude I’m sorry Brian

Jon Watts | Friend Speaks My Mind | Lyrics I found Quakers when I was just a kid and now I’m studying them I hope you know how that is I’ve got George Fox on my right, James Nayler’s on my left and Margaret Fell is holding us together give her some respect It’s that first generation we look back to to find out what being a Friend means through and through I don’t fully understand it I don’t know if I can but I understand enough to know that I am a fan I'm like, damn, I didn’t think that I would do this anymore I got bored listening to lectures felt like a chore But now I’m begging Max Carter just to tell me some more Oh lord So when I heard this Christian stuff I’d get uncomfortable a lot I’m like, What does Jesus have to do with George Fox? And when I heard the word Christ it would make my jaw drop but now I kind of understand the man I’ve got a soft spot I’m not a Christian but I’m a Quaker I’ve got Christ’s inner light but he’s not my savior I’m on a date to meet my maker I got down at Young Friends with some funky behavior Now I’m a liberal Friend That means F-G-C and tons of other acronyms that set me free and I’ve been running the gammut from Quaker camps to sandwiches with the Young Friends crew I know we offend you but yo, we’re Quaker like the rest of y’all Just ‘cause we go to bed later doesn’t mean that midnight isn’t Quaker And yo I’m sorry like everybody that Quakers had to split but just don’t blame Elias Hicks for all our problems We’re the Society of Friends it’s time we acted like it and start to work together just to try to solve them So all you Friends in the Meetinghouse put your hands up and then twist them at the wrist like you just got out of handcuffs That’s how you clap for me you’ve got to clap silently I’m not a Christian but I’m a Quaker I’ve got Christ’s inner light but he’s not my savior I’m on a date to meet my maker I got down at Young Friends with some funky behavior I found George Fox living in a journal and it’s fertile I’m learning I mean, I’ve jumped a lot of hurdles and done a lot of discerning just to get to where I’m sure that the ancestors are working for certain met the Spirit in person now I’m living life nurturing worship (in certain circles there's a focus on service) Now I know you might say "Well, that’s some backwards theology" I know you might say "Well, that’s not right" But that’s the way that I grew up and it’s the way that I’m presenting it Let’s hold all our differences in the Light Alright I’m not a Christian but I’m a Quaker I’ve got Christ’s inner light but he’s not my savior I’m on a date to meet my maker I got down at Young Friends with some funky behavior To Richmond Friends Meeting BYM FGC Guilford College QLSP Pendle Hill Earlham College Shiloh Quaker Camp Catoctin and Opequon FCNL AFSC Langley Hill Friendship Friends Meeting Ashland Vineyard FRIEND SPEAKS MY MIND

Jon Watts | There's a Spirit in Iraq | Lyrics Dear Tom, I don’t know where you are right now It’s just a few people who do I’m wondering what life’s like for you now These weeks I’ve been thinking of you This past Meeting for Worship we held you in prayer and as I sat breathing American air I kept wondering what life’s like there Are they feeding you? Dear Tom, My inbox is full It’s all stories and pictures of you It’s high time we put R-E in front of 'connection' and hope that you’re feeling it too Dear Tom, I just talked to my mom I was coming from hiking the trail Somehow I knew that the call was about you She said that they found you Dear Tom, I’m thinking of writing a song I fear that I won’t do it right But I know that you’re with me in loving the wrong and not letting it keep you from life Dear Tom, Your children are strong I saw Cassie yesterday on the news She got asked some tough questions and we’re all asking now when our media will stop ignoring truth And I haven’t talked to Andrew I hear he’s not well I can’t imagine the things he must feel And if Spirit would give me the words I would tell him I love him and hope he can heal Everybody feels you, Tom You’re not long gone You’ll live on in songs and in our hearts And I can do my part and make this art Spirit finishes what it starts Tom Fox, this is Jon Watts Can you hear me? Have I listened to you clearly? I read your blog and I know it’s not lost but we lost you We didn’t know what this would cost you You’re lost in war zones We wish we had you back but you brought the war home There’s a Spirit in Iraq I’m remembering back to when you where a FAP You had a silent and a powerful presence You had so much wisdom that you kept inside but we knew you were wise your silence was the evidence I learned from your eyes not to speak all the time To be wise means to not have to prove it And we talk about patience and love all the time but you showed me that someone can do it They’re saying the battle you’re fighting is lost because you didn’t live all the way through it Some Christians have said that your mission is ended and even, they’ve said it was foolish Tom Fox, this is Jon Watts Can you hear me? Have I listened to you clearly? I read your blog and I know it’s not lost but we lost you We didn’t know what this would cost you You’re lost in war zones We wish we had you back but you brought the war home There’s a Spirit in Iraq I said I believed in you in an interview I felt I had to do with Fox News and the man looked at me and said he fully understood how bad it must feel in my shoes But my shoes are fine I feel quite a bit of pain but the bombs here fall less often than the rain Consecutive days are relatively the same I don’t have to hide if the Americans find my name So when they assume I want revenge I don’t fully understand There are thousands in Iraq who won’t have that And we can still sit back in our comfortable chairs and laugh and get mad about the Nasdaq So I know what you did, Tom Fox I know how you helped those people And the good that you’ve done is important right now in the face of this thing that’s so evil Because they’re pushing the families apart and it’s hard to pull them together And when I think of your life there’s a piece in my heart that sees peace that can last us forever Tom Fox, this is Jon Watts Can you hear me? Have I listened to you clearly? I read your blog and I know it’s not lost but we lost you We didn’t know what this would cost you You’re lost in war zones We wish we had you back but you brought the war home There’s a Spirit in Iraq

Jon Watts | This is Just a Song | Lyrics It’s not everybody living in the same space It’s not one thing you said or did that brought me to this place I’ve got to face my fear and then say it in a way that you can hear but it’s unclear and so I’ll focus on the clarity I have I’ll spread out all my maps and then perhaps what I have to do is chart some new territory I love this story but I’m getting kind of tired of adventure Is this essential? When can I relax? And I can hold on I’m so strong It’s been a long time coming and instantly it’s gone It’s just a song It’s not the end of the world It’s just another bad day so please, I don’t need you to look at me that way I’ll be ok And this is nothing but a song so just listen and nod and then secretly wonder what you’ve done wrong It’s just my voice It’s just the core of me It’s just as deep as you’ve ever heard me speak It’s just some beats on a screen I mean, I don’t mean to mean You see? We’ve relied on our words for too long It’s time to make songs And I can hold on I’m so strong It’s been a long time coming and instantly it’s gone It’s just a song

Jon Watts | Faithful in Strife | Lyrics I just followed the Spirit like a butterfly And when I’m fully existing, it’s like the days fly by I can’t always say the same for the nights but when you’re holding onto something tight it’s hard to let go Shit, it’s difficult to go so slow I want to be on the go I want to see from the go I want my “love is cheap” and “sex, release” and even eat and sleep on the go Oh no Your “love is cheap” and “sex, release” are costing you your peace Don’t you know when you’re paying a price? Put away your wallet (the Spirit gives advice) And when you listen to your conscience it pays you back twice Don’t be convinced by economics just live out your life And when you see something wrong don’t close your eyes Listen to this song or look at the sky and say “I know I’m not perfect This pile of shit is mine and I’ve been working and working and I’m doing real fine I fuck up. I fuck up sometimes I’m not bad because I’m not standing in a line and I’m not going to show you a gang sign” Pendle Hill lives on, faithful in strife at least another time to sing Auld Lang Zime and you can say these words to make you faithful and strong because I promise afternoons will be hang time And just listen I mean listen for the bell there’s always a bell when you need to hear it And next time you hear this don’t fear it Love, (Spirit)

Jon Watts | So Well | Lyrics Now let’s spread it wide open the distance should help you know, and keep our eyes open I’m hoping for self that I can get it together and while it’s breaking apart I took a break from this letter You’re going to break our hearts And that’s ok, Jon That’s fine This world is still a great place for us to live out our lives Just look around I see a tree I see this sea of mediocrity just vanish beneath me I can go to him and climb up into my friend Hatred turns to love as I climb from limb to limb It’s like that Suddenly everything has changed I don’t feel the same I envision my listening as a step outside this picture frame and looking back in how many virtues did I claim? How many demons unnamed that remained fueling all my flames? I can go for long walks I’m connected taking in the sights and loving late night talks My pain’s from the same place the universe was made so I live it and embody it this running in place The air’s full of life and everything is living so when I’m walking at night it often feels like I’m swimming I’m so well held I’m so far from hell I’m exploring my story and it’s going so well.

Jon Watts | this is the ghostjon speaking | Lyrics I can’t tell you all of the things you don’t see. It’s your responsibility to ask. And if you don’t ask, I have to sit back and just watch as you make yourself mad. But you’re mad at a Jon that just doesn’t exist, or he only exists in your world. And when we interact his existence insists that it fits in between all my words. But it doesn’t fit. I mean, I’m not saying it. The Jon you listen to’s a liar. And this thing you hear him say. that I’m running away: I’m not running, I’m just walking I’m so tired. I don’t know how to tell you that I can’t hear him. You don’t even believe that there’s a difference. So I’m listening in with this distinction. I won’t apologize when he hurts your feelings. (this is the Ghost Jon speaking.) I’ve absorbed quite a bit of anger now meant for someone else and my hurt and my distance prove your theory. But I’m not theoretical. I’m hurt and I’m sad and it only gets worse when spoken clearly. This is the Ghost Jon speaking. This is the Ghost Jon speaking. That’s the Jon you can’t hear. It’s the Jon that’s always talking; never louder than your fear. So when you come to my place and try to say goodbye and I look into your face and all I do is cry, that’s the Jon that answers questions like, “why?” Because I’m hurt right now and I feel my lips are bound. Because I lost trust you’ll hear me. That loss is so profound. Because I’m in a state of grieving. I can’t see what joy we’ve found. Because you play me like a xylophone that stopped creating sound. Because I love you and I miss you but I have a lot of anger now. Because we died. This relationship is dead. I need some time to miss it and to turn it on its head, to stop trying to force it and just let it be in stead. This is the closure time, that’s why. That’s why.