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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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March 3, 2015 · Freedom Songs, inspirational songs, Life In Song 1980's, Peace Songs, Political Songs, Songs of Transformation

143 Walls


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About This Song (lyrics below)
This was a combined emotional reaction to a video I saw about the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC by Maya Lin and the news of the Berlin Wall coming down in Germany. If I had been able to somehow get it out onto the radio it could have definitely been a “hit” (or so I thought).

The other piece that contributed to this song was my daughter quietly humming to herself as she was playing under the dining room table while I was working on this… and the fear I had about all of the “walls” I had built (a house of cards really) falling down around us as the real estate bubble of the 1980’s burst. I had bought 4 houses for nothing down (in the hopes of making money to record my music) and they were all worth a lot less than I owed on them.

Good times!

– Mark

Walls

Song # 143   |    11/22/1989   |   CD: Feather On The Wind

There are good walls and bad walls
Walls that hold us and walls that divide us in two
There are walls that shatter our grand illusions
And walls that obstruct the view
There are walls as old as Gilgamesh
And there are walls with fresh new paint
There are walls that stretch a thousand miles
And there are walls that can make a grown man faint….

Refrain:
There’s a wall in Washington filled with names
Of loved ones who have gone
And there’s a wall in East Berlin, crumbling now
May we dance together on its remains

There’s a silence bigger than a prairie sky
In a darkness cut with stars
There’s a child singing her own sweet tune
As she learns to question why

Refrain:

There are dreams we’ve lived and dreams we’ve lost
And hope that refuses to die
And around the world the Watchman’s fires
Send sparks dazzling into the sky

Refrain:

And as the new year gathers nigh
We rise to sing Auld Lang Syne
Lest old acquaintance be forgot
Let’s sing it out one more time

Refrain:

Copyright 1989-2015 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Mark Shepard: Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Gene Moore: Bass, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Engineer
Doug Brown: Drums

Filed Under: Freedom Songs, inspirational songs, Life In Song 1980's, Peace Songs, Political Songs, Songs of Transformation

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Some reviews & testimonials

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

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