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New Holy Land by TobinMueller [Email]
Genre: Gospel

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 4077
Comments: 12
Votes: 23
Plays: 641
Last Played: Oct 02, 2008 - 12:19:16 PM
Downloads: 138
Fans: 5
Uploaded: May 05, 2004 - 09:10:15 AM
Last Updated: Jun 27, 2006 - 11:23:26 AM
Fan List
Keywords:
folk rock (39), adult contemporary (17), R&B (65), vocal (150), acoustic (489), piano (620), 9/11 (10), September 11 (87), volunteering (1), heroism (1), social commentary (2), inspirational (81), tobin (68), holy land (1), sacred (13), city (24), New York City (4), ground zero (1), volunteer (1), helping (2), giving (4), gospel (41)
Description:
For the week following the fall of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, I worked at Ground Zero coordinating the relief effort from Chelsea Piers to the dock behind the WTC (until FEMA replaced us with professionals). Amidst unspeakable sadness, I felt as if I was living in Utopia. Within days, my volunteer staff grew from 1 to 200, we filled a gymnasium 3 times over with donated goods and stocked the WTC docks with everything from hard hats and gas masks to free pizza and antibiotics. None of us slept much, nor really wanted to shut our eyes. I tried to capture the swirling energy, doing a hundred things at once, days on end. This song is about that time, about walking home that last day, down the middle of the street lined with supportive New Yorkers. I looked up and wondered, amidst these still standing yet much smaller skyscrapers, if people knew what was really possible in this life... (For a complete story of that week, please see: Journal from the Streets to read a photographic journal about my 9/11 experiences.)

Other songs in my 9/11 series:
I Will Love
Last Call
Was There Once A Time

Lyrics:
NEW HOLY LAND

On the street,
20 hours on my feet.
I can't stand stay at home watching
all this need, so many here to feed,
so many volunteers bringing their small relief.

As the grey dust swirls everywhere,
DNA in the air,
no time for tears,
too much to bear.
Grim saviors in hard hats.
Bright angels in gas masks.
Everyone here's come to uncover a Holy Land.
Help to find it now, this new Holy Land.
Holy Land, come uncover it now, this sweet Holy Land.

From this, our darkest hour, wisdom shall rise,
and we, working shoulder to shoulder, revitalize.

Can't help but help.
Can't help but care.
Can't help feel in the air
3,000 souls, 10 million hands,
each one making this new Holy Land.

Tower above in courage.
Tower above in kindness.
Tower above in a new kind of fineness.
Tower above in daring.
Tower above, united.
Tower above, come build this Holy Land.

Starting on the street alone.
Slice some bagels, pour a little coffee.
Find some people with a phone.
Get some help for those who are too groggy...

Here's what we need, need to proceed:
acetylene torches and something caffeine,
shovels and pails, filters and masks,
antibiotics and more things caffeine.
Here's what we need, need to succeed:
thick gloves and goggles and something caffeine.

I've got some clothes, some food to share.
I've got some time to spare...

Give it your heart.
Give it everything you know.
Give it your hands,
that's how we build this Holy Land, you know.

When all the rubble's cleared
and all the heroes cheered,
who will be there, still in the streets?
Homeless, with graveyard eyes,
lost amid enterprise?
Or will they too find a new Holy Land?
A new Holy Land...

Hardware:
G4; Mackie CR1604; MOTU 2408. Twon's Olympia 5-string bass.

Software:
MIDI piano, drums, organ, acoustic guitar. No loops. GB; DP 4 for vocals.
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An ensemble of singers... &mdash 05/05/04 - 10:34:49 AM
Very nice! This has a Billy Joel feel to it. Have you ever thought of an ensemble of guest singers to join in during the chorus? I think it would sound awesome!

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An ensemble of singers... &mdash 05/05/04 - 01:19:31 PM
Excellent idea. Maybe we can pass the track around...

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Thank You for this song &mdash 05/05/04 - 09:08:37 PM
Tobin,
Not only is it a joy to hear your songs, it's an honor to
hear your stories about your songs and how they came to
be written. Right now I'm sitting in a hotel room in
Cincinnati on a five day business trip, feeling sorry for
myself that I'm away from my home. Your song has
reminded me that I'm a lucky man, that I have a
family waiting for me to come home Friday.

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Thank You for this song &mdash 05/22/04 - 02:17:47 PM
Thank you. And amen.

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Don't let it happen again &mdash 05/07/04 - 04:17:15 AM
I saw the 9/11 on Sky News in France and was a long way away from what happened. It was a sickening watching on TV, I can't imagine what it must have been like to be there in the aftermath. This song goes a long way to describing the spirit of the people involved in trying to help others. Well done Tobin for getting that feeling across.

I don't want to sound to political here, but let's hope the people we elect and whom are in a position to alter world events, deal with all people of all nations and faiths in a fair and even handed way. We have to stop giving those would destroy us and our way of life a reason for doing so. And then maybe Tobin wouldn't have to write songs about such sad happenings.

[ Reply to This ]
Don't let it happen again &mdash 12/28/04 - 02:13:53 PM
Here, here. One of my reasons for writing the song "I Will Love," which I
wrote just before this one. Thanks for your comments.

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Nice as always &mdash 05/27/04 - 07:48:51 PM
Very cool Soul/gospel song. As I've said many times before all of your music is fantastic, this is no exception! Great work Tobin! Keep it up!

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Tower Above! &mdash 06/17/04 - 01:46:29 PM
As I have said before, you have an oustanding ability. You
deserve an award just for being you!
I loved this, you really got the feeling and energy across!

I send my love to everyone who lost anyone on Septembe
11!

Keep this up, or else! :P

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great song &mdash 07/25/04 - 05:01:10 PM
I am from Stavanger, Norway, but the world was witnesses
to your tragedy. In your song I can sence the strong forces
that keep people together when times needs us to stand
together. You sing like I can hear the volounteers joining
forces.

All in all this is a very professional arrangement, and you
show great musicanship.

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great song &mdash 12/28/04 - 02:36:21 PM
The community of volunteers was my closest taste of Utopia. Heaven on
earth. A wonderful, terrible week after. I'm glad you could hear them in the
mix.

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perfect &mdash 03/24/06 - 08:35:51 PM
such right writing.... I love the picture you paint here of "uncovering a
new holy land" there's more to you than just technical musical ability...
I'm also enjoying where you are willing to take your pieces.... popular
music should be about creativity, not formats... the way you bring it
down for "this our darkest hour" then to release into... can't help &
tower above... I can't help but react emotionally

bravo

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God bless &mdash 08/04/08 - 12:56:50 AM
Love all of it. good job.

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