Artist
prattle on, rick.
prattle on, rick. doesn’t feel quite at home in the 21st century. In the 2012 EP Songs of Our Fathers, singer-songwriter Patrick Rickelton sought to reconcile the wisdom of the past with the ethics of a rapidly changing modern world, leveling an outsider’s gaze on the age of smart phones, wall posts, and avatars: "I’m trying to remember simpler times / I‘m tangling in your wireless lines / I can only speak one word at a time / Would you look me in the eye – and listen?"
prattle on, rick. is Nashville singer-songwriter and North Carolina native Patrick Rickelton and his revolving door of collaborators. Inspired by the musical spontaneity and impressionist poetry of early Van Morrison records, prattle on, rick. leans away from contemporary sounds, favoring instead more classic textures – acoustic guitar, piano, cello, horns, an array of simple percussion, and trademark harmonies. And no irony or sarcasm here – just beautiful, timeless language delivered with passion and honesty. The latest release, Some Quiet Majesty, finds no shame in sentimentality, fully embracing both the abiding wonder and inevitable heartache of fatherhood.
In his debut EP, Communion Bread, released in 2010, Rickelton dealt unapologetically with adulthood, capturing the sound and feeling of adolescence at an end. The result – a classic collection of modern-day psalms, proverbs, and lamentations.
But 2012’s Songs of Our Fathers offered encouragement from the other side of the bitterness, even in the midst of an unfamiliar generation: "Since I can’t recall the time I saw it all so clear / and reasoned everybody else would love what I held dear / I will start again, I’ll start again." Because in the music of prattle on, rick. there is always redemption to be found.
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Albums
Songs
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Patrick Rickelton (ASCAP) 100%
Description
About loneliness and depression, ending in redemption with an epic outro. Mid-tempo, slightly bouncy, heavy on acoustic guitar, vocals, percussion.
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lately I walk on a lonely road
it's the only road I know
lately I talk with my shadow
no ear to hear my groan
no dwelling to call home
no shelter from the snowlately I sing on a broken stage
no words upon my page
lately I stroll on an empty lane
it's easier that way
no one to see the pain
or to break my heart againand the night covers up my shame
hides away my name, I hate when the morning nears
and the snow covers up my face
I try to erase all trace of these fearslately I sleep alone and underneath
my canopy of trees
lately I've been searching for a friend
burdened with my sin
no refuge from the wind
no one to take me inand the night covers up my shame
hides away my name, I hate when the morning nears
and the snow covers up my face
I try to erase all trace of these fearssomeday I'll see the saints a-welcome me
what else can I believe?
someday we'll sing a perfect melody
in perfect harmony
we'll worship perfectly
see what we've longed to see
where everyone we meet
is long-lost family
no reason more to grieve
no need no more to leavena-na-na-na-na-na-na…
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Patrick Rickelton (ASCAP) 100%
Description
Based on Psalm 121, a song about faith and abandonment. Ethereal & mid-tempo, featuring driving drums, organ, harmony vocals, and acoustic guitars
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lift up
lift up, lift up
my eyes, my eyes
my eyes, my eyeshold on
hold on, hold on
my hand, my hand
my hand, my handwhere does my help come from?
I look to the hills
where does my help come from?
I look to the hills but I see nonelight up
light up, light up
my way, my way
my way, my waylift up...
where does my help come from?
I look to the hills
where does my help come from?
I look to the hills but I see none… -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Patrick Rickelton (ASCAP) 100%
Description
About the longing for simpler times, the wisdom of ancient values in an increasingly impersonal world. Features acoustic guitar, harmonies, cello, and shaker, with sprinklings of piano and glockenspiel.
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i've got a yearning aching in me
i've got to sing it out in the swirling breeze
i've got a feeling ancient and free
if i don't let it flow it will conquer mei'm wondering can you hear a single line
over and above those televised lies
or can you hear me screaming off to the side?i've got a darkness growing in me
a symptom of a century spiraling
this never-ending need to succeed
a clinging to a line that's unravelingi'm trying to remember simpler times
i'm tangling in your wireless lines
i can only speak one word at a time
would you look me in the eye – and listen?you can take me as i am
as you are you are alright, alright
come hear the song our fathers sang
come hear the song our fathers sang
come hear the song our fathers sang
and speed away the painwhen did you last have your hand held?
or speak with friends and family face to face?
there's no need to request my friendship
i would like to invite you into my spaceyou're carrying so many loads at a time
i just wanna hear what's on your mind
what are the questions of your life?
i will look you in the eye – and listenyou can take me as i am
as you are you are alright, alright
come hear the song our fathers sang
come hear the song our fathers sang
come hear the song our fathers sang
and speed the pain awayi've got a yearning aching in me
i've got to sing it out in the swirling breeze
i've got a feeling ancient and free
if i don't let it flow it will conquer me -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Patrick Rickelton (ASCAP) 100%
Description
About lost inspiration, finding it again in nature and submission. Featuring driving acoustic guitar, harmonica, shakuhachi, percussion, and swirling guitar loop
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since the trees stopped to whisper
and the wind's refused to blow
what is left to do but tremble?
let your knees fall, let it gowhen the bird withholds his singing
and the rivers cease to flow
when the sun is always setting
let your head fall, let it go
let your head fall, let it gowhile the leaves keep in their secrets
and creation speaks too low
all that you can do is suffer
let your pride fall, let it go
let your pride fall, let it go
why always run
when your feet can't go on?
why curse the sun?
it'll shine when it wantssince the trees stopped to whisper
and the wind's refused to blow
what is left to do but tremble?
let your knees fall, let it go
let your knees fall, let it go -
