High gloss-coated disc in standard jewel case with 28-page full color booklet including full lyrics, photography and liner notes.
Includes unlimited streaming of Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be the First
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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about
Writing “Make It with Me” was the longest it’s ever taken me to complete a lyric. I just had to make sure it was perfect. Within each line lies the journey I’ve been on over the last seven years, the abiding thesis of my beautiful marriage, and my greatest hopes for our deeply troubled world.
Being able to bring my family into the studio to record these choir vocals was such a full-circle moment. My mother, my sister, and my husband—three incredible people who have each in their own ways been instrumental in teaching me both how to sing and how to love. God was in the room during these sessions and I’ll treasure this experience forever.
When you listen to this song, I hope you recognize it as more than just a simple love song, but a globally-relevant, Gospel-inspired message of hope.
lyrics
Wandered through the wilderness on faith
Burdened by the dying rule, and haunted by the wraith
The fabric of trust now bears a stain
Seems as if every attempt to reset was in vain
Every being has a cross to bear
And I know you’ve been crucified and left the worse for wear
But faced with these dehumanizing stares
Would you join hands with me to answer our own prayers?
For when it feels you’re under lock and key
Our love will pave the path towards free
And though I know life holds no guarantees
It could be great if you make it with me
Everybody else is unconcerned
Value shaped by stinginess and hoarding the unearned
I asked before if all of this is learned
Feeble misconstructed hearth that brought about my burn
Buried in a tomb and cast astray
Something else to be so unmade: dust returned from the clay
So as I work to roll the stone away
Would you break bread with me, join me in the fray?
For when you lose sight of what this could be
I’ll dry those eyes that you might see
And though a dream’s not yet reality
Imagine anything, make it with me
Yes, we have had a heavy cross to bear
Faced many dehumanizing stares
Buried in a tomb and cast astray
Laboring to roll the stone away
A mighty tough row to hoe these several years
But the object is closer than it appears
I can sketch the pictures held in your mind
Already designed
For when it feels you’re under lock and key
Our love will pave the path towards free
And though I know life holds no guarantees
It could be great if you make it with me
For when you lose sight of what this could be
I’ll dry those eyes that you might see
And though a dream’s not yet reality
Imagine anything, make it with me
It could be great if you make it with me
Don’t be afraid of change, make it with me
Ooo, make it with me
You can make it with me
Yea I know this road might get a little rough sometimes
And I know you may not understand it all sometimes
But if you hold on, hold on
Just hold on, my sister and
Hold on, my brother and
Hold on, my family
Hold on, my friend
You can just take my hand
And we’ll make it to the promised land
Make it, just make it with me
We can make it whatever you need it to be
Come on, walk with me
Imagine anything
We can, yes we can
We will, yes we will
We’ll make it, yes we will
We’ll make it, yes we will
I’m getting happy just thinking about this thing
credits
from Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be the First,
track released April 22, 2022
Written by Manasseh Ray Curenton-Dillinger, Brandon Adams & Tim Dillinger-Curenton
Produced by Ray Curenton and Brandon Adams
Vocals co-produced by Tim Dillinger
Programming and instruments by Ray Curenton and Brandon Adams
Guitars: Brandon Adams
Additional Keys: Malcolm Dean
Organ: Alton Gibson
Choir: Brandon Adams, Kweli Buckner, Kyra Curenton, Ray Curenton, Robin Curenton, Tim Dillinger
Recorded at: The Dungeon (Nashville, TN), Sweetbriar Recording Studio (Nashville, TN) and Moja’s House (Antioch, TN)
Recording Engineers: Eric Westmaas and Brandon Adams
Mixed by Jon Blass
Mix Assistant: Jesse Lavigne
Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering, Charlotte, NC
Lo-fi grooves with a side of dream pop. Paul and Brandon are incredible friends (producers of my Backslider and Believer albums) and super inventive musicians. Catch me on a couple of these songs! Ray Curenton
Five jazz tracks composed by Mercury Prize-nominated composer ESKA for Hope 4 Justice, a UK youth initiative fighting climate change. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 17, 2024
