Get all 15 Reece Sullivan releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Live in the City of Gold, Losing Ground, The World Is Cruel (Gethsemane Cut), Gethsemane, The Riverband (Dockside), Arkansas, Middle Sea, Lamentations, and 7 more.
1. |
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My inspiration begins
Words fly off of the page
I'll pray to no end
For your cute little face
And I pray with my pen
And I write to no end
Till every last note's in place
As a singer of song
Girl, you're moving to me
As a mystic I long
For holy union with thee
I feel my phrasing is strong
I know my words won't go wrong
And they will pull you to me
Please ditch your old friends
And come next to me, babe
My lips reek of gin
Some say I'm a disgrace
Folk like my own kin
But it seems I've lucked out again
And I penned you in your place
To the fashions, I'd bend
If it means I might taste
I'd pray to no end
For your cute little face
And I pray with my pen
And I write to no end
Till every last note's in place
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2. |
The Night
03:55
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In your dreams at night
Dream of love
And dream of hop
And dream of eternal light
And in the light of day
The magic from
The night before
Still lingers with you, babe
So tired, the sun
It's day is done
The moon, it rises high on arching line
The stars, they shine
The clouds float by
The night is soft and sweet
You close your eyes and sleep
The night is underneath
But it teems with life
And dark strange things
Don't be frightened in the least
When the world is bearing down
Remember day
Was born of night
And to the nighttime is where it's bound
So tired, the sun
It's day is done
The moon, it rises high on arching line
The stars, they shine
The clouds float by
The night is soft and sweet
You close your eyes and sleep
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3. |
Two Hands on the Plow
05:02
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I've looked high
And I've looked low
I though I's learning things
That no one else knows
I've looked under twigs
And I've looked under stones
It was rare that I found much
I could truly call my own
But I've looked high and I've looked low
You told me that you'd love me
And that you'd always do me good
Such kindness I found strange
I little understood
You opened up your soul
And you gave your heart to me
I may've been a drunk
But I was falling at your feet
Oh, you opened up your soul and you gave your heart to me
I made do the only way that I knew how
With a foot down in the ditch
And with two hands on the plow
I wanted more than my fates would allow
And it's hard to say where I'm headed now
I listen to the engine
Of the train that's rolling by
I watch the rain a' falling
And the lightening in the sky
My mind is filled with trouble
And I wish that I could cry
I'd tell you what I's feeling
But it's so hard to describe
I listen to the engine of the train rolling by
I lay here in the darkness
Thinking I might go insane
It seems I cannot move
But I know I cannot stay
There's sorrow in my heart
And madness in my veins
So many things were good
But I destroyed them in many ways
Sorrow in my heart and madness in my veins
I made do the only way that I knew how
With a foot down in the ditch
And with two hands on the plow
I wanted more than my fates would allow
And it's hard to say where I'm headed now
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4. |
Be Still, My Heart
08:02
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I hear the sound in my bones
I hear the sound a' calling; it's the sound of home
My stallion's hooves are pounding and his heartbeat drones
I hear the sound a' calling; it's the sound of home
My home; my home is over seas
That home that I have longed for is long gone from me
All the things that I had dreamed will probably never be
That home that I had longed for, probably never see
From now and ever after
I'll do what need be done
A breeze blows through the rafters
Who knows that's yet to come?
I'll long to go tomorrow
As I long to go today
Rather sail a sea of sorrow
Than stay bound to land in chain
I feel fever with the sunset
I'm restless by the bay
That wanderlust is on me
And my soul is in Cathay
Be still, my heart, when troubles rise
When through hardship you are flailing and when failure's nigh
When through high seas you are sailing, when your strength is dry
Be still, my restless heart, when these troubles rise
From now and ever after
I'll do what need be done
A breeze blows through the rafters
Who knows that's yet to come?
I'll long to go tomorrow
As I long to go today
Rather sail a sea of sorrow
Than stay bound to land in chain
I feel fever with the sunset
I'm restless by the bay
That wanderlust is on me
And my soul is in Cathay
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5. |
I Am a Good Man
06:34
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I am a good man, but I've done some bad, bad things
I am a good man, but I've done some bad, bad things
I disgraced the family name
Burned half of Arkansas
I brought my parents shame
I ruined my maw and paw
I am a good man, but I've done some bad, bad things
I am a hard man, but I have a soft spot, friend
I am a hard man, but I have a soft spot, friend
She's like a wilting flower
My heart will not be still
She kills me by the hour
She done found my Achilles' heel
I am a hard man, but I have a soft spot, friend
I took a long drag; brother, I'm good and lit
I took a long drag; brother, I'm good and lit
Old ways are hard to leave
My mind will not be tamed
Good things are hard to achieve
Sober life can feel so lame
I took a long drag; brother, I'm good and lit
I toed a hard line but didn't toe a hard line long
I toed a hard line but didn't toe a hard line long
I put my liquor down
A couple days I was dry and strong
But then it seemed to hit my sound
I feared it'd effect my song
I toed a hard line but didn't toe a hard line long
I came a long way, but I done backslid, friend
I came a long way, but I've done backslid, friend
I did right for a while
Then got back to Arkansas
I ditched those plans with style
When I heard that devil call
I came a long way, but I done backslide friend
Yes, I came a long way, but I've done backslid, again
Friend
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6. |
The Sarissa's Song
03:21
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In matters war and state
In your service stand
Till my dying day
With my sword in hand
A merchant I am not
Nor with craftsman's trade
But I accept my lot
For you the King, my grace
The sarissa's song is a sad, ol' song
He pipes it soft and low
I'd ply my hand at a gentler trade
But war is all I know
In the mud I wade
Or in my comrade's blood
Or on some dusty plain
Under the noon day sun
The sarissa's song is a sad, ol' song
He pipes it soft and low
I'd ply my hand at a gentler trade
But war is all I know
I'd ply my hand at a gentler trade
But war is all I know
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7. |
Bloodhound Blues
04:56
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Put the pot on the range
For this eve I ride
With many torches in flame
By the sheriff's side
Tell the neighbors I grieve
For their wayward child
Out with the country thieves
She traded good for guile
And that I hope she lays low
Till the heat subsides
Or else I fear it'll go
Where as adult she's tried
Some unseemly things
Happened down the way
And now our town will bring
These young delinquents to pay
For they have done much wrong
Yes, they have done much ill
Still the girl went along
We all assume for the thrill
Such a pretty face
One that I've always believed
Such uncommon grace
Perhaps I've been deceived
Now their tracks are traced
With our bloodhound's nose
And on our horses give chase
While they tire and slow
Will the young boy hang?
Will the girl confess?
Or some deal arrange?
Is anybody's guess
Such a pretty face
One that I've always believed
Such uncommon grace
Perhaps I've been deceived
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8. |
A Butterfly Flies
05:37
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A butterfly flies outside of my window pane
It floats on the air with a purpose that I can't ascertain
At times, I pray that I could do the same
On the air my wings of gold would silently hang
A butterfly flies outside of my window pane
This creek in my backyard rises and falls with the rain
It would seem my life also flows in a similar way
I've always believed this flow was a positive thing
But now my river's run low and I fear my life work's in vain
This creek in my backyard rises and falls with the rain
These coins in my pocket are all of the money I have saved
And tonight I'll spend every penny on some old, distilled grain
And I'll live for a while free of the boredom and bane
And I'll forget that I have a job and must work everyday
These coins in my pocket are all of the money I have saved
If my friends really knew, I'm sure that they would be surprised
For they have yet to be exposed to my intelligent side
With hindsight it's clear: I could've done more with my life
When all I've done is live with struggle and strife
If my friends really knew me, I'm sure that they would be surprised
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9. |
Virginia
04:44
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In the misty, dewy morning; in the Smoky foothills, see?
In the misty, dewy morning; in the Smoky foothills, see?
Babe, I'm almost back home; I'm almost back to thee
In the misty, dewy morning; in the Smoky foothills, see?
You one good girl, Virginia, and I'll make me a wife of you
You one good girl, Virginia, and I'll make me a wife of you
If you're as fertile as you look, you'll bear a child or two
You one good girl, Virginia, and I'll make me a wife of you
Now you tell those nosy hill-folk I said, "look the other way,"
Yes, you tell those nosy hill-folk I said, "look the other way,"
If you're a little young, babe; who are they to say?
Now you tell those nosy hill-folk I said, "look the other way,"
You as bright as the sunshine, as mysterious as night
You as bright as the sunshine, as mysterious as night
And you've done something to me; you've done something right
Girl, you as bright as the sunshine, as mysterious as night
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10. |
Two Birds
06:16
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I'm so sorry, man, but I'm a bastard in ways
I do what I can, but it's so hard to change
I crashed into her like a jet airplane will
She stumbled to me like a drunk on the reel
We burned down the forest; we burned down the field
We ran like deserters with the law on our heels
I'm so sorry, man, but I'm a bastard in ways
I do what I can, but it's so hard to change
I derailed it all like a big ol' stream train
A beached whale in the desert, my simple life became
I've considered returning back home to the plains
Where I might find some odd work after changing my name
I'm so sorry, man, but I'm a bastard in ways
I do what I can, but it's so hard to change
I'm so sorry, man, if I caused you pain
But things ain't went as planned; oh, what can I say?
Hey, down the coast line; down the coast line I weave
And I gaze in the distance on faraway seas
And my faith; it ain't all that it once used to be
And I'm filled with the deepest of doubts, I'd conceded
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Reece Sullivan Lafayette, Louisiana
Originally from Arkansas, and now in Lafayette, LA, I play the surrounding areas regularly. Over the course of the years, I've reinvented myself musically many times: piano to guitar, classical to art rock, art rock to folk, flat picking to finger-picking, solely songwriting to performing. My latest incarnation has me playing out often, sometimes touring, and writing and recording consistently. ... more
Reece Sullivan recommends:
Burning Midnight
by Michael O'Connor
I played with Michael at the 2022 Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival and he's one of the good ones . . . if you get the chance to hear him live, do.
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Queen City Blues
by Clay Parker
Excellent album!
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Excellent songwriter!
go to albumIf you like Reece Sullivan, you may also like:
Phototherapy EP
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A collection of twinkling bedroom folk-pop demos from Fahim Rahman that arcs from hushed intimacy to sweeping cinematic emotionality.
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The Creature That I Call Myself
by Julie Arsenault
featured on Bandcamp Radio Apr 21, 2015
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A new record from Danish outfit SUNDAYS is replete with melodic hooks and punchy vocals.
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