From the recording What I Heard, What I Saw
"What I Heard, What I Saw" was born from nearly a decade of wrestling with, and re-discovering, some of the stories which fed Kristen’s youth. Pulled from the pages of the gospel of Mark, these songs render flesh and bone, ache and longing to the outcasts, prophets and would-be followers that inhabit those ancient stories. More than that, the album is a confessional: a candid retelling of Kristen’s own journey stumbling through hard questions towards faith, finding meaning in the grit and dust of roads unknown. Collaborating with award-winning producer/guitarist Murray Pulver (The Bros. Landreth, Steve Bell, Red Moon Road), Kristen offers a folk meditation on these challenging narratives which have informed deep conviction and creativity among the religious and non-religious alike for generations.
Lyrics
Not so many days ago
Far from home and that was clear
We met a man along the road
They said he never spoke and couldn’t hear
“Oh come closer," you said
When you called him out
And left us waiting with that unholy crowd
And we didn’t hear a sound
And it was only yesterday
They put a blind man at your feet
Before you opened up his eyes
You took his hand and walked away from me
“Oh look closer,” I heard you say
And then again
But from the distance, I could barely see your hands
And I still don’t understand
And now you wanna know the name
The people whisper when you’re gone
They’re saying soldier, prophet, king
They’re singing all the oldest songs
“Oh my brother, what do you say?”
You wanna know
And it’s just you and me now walking on this open road
We’re travelling on
Well I’ve done all I can to listen
To every word I heard you say
Got my eyes wide open, looking out
For the kingdom and the way
"Oh my saviour,” I want to say
But does it show
That I can barely speak the words for all this aching hope?
All this aching hope
Oh my brother, what do you say?
You wanna know
And it’s just you and me now
Walking down this open road