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Shaman, Shaman what can you say?
That hasn’t already been said to this day
Fire, wind and water consume and the earth just decays.
Shaman, what can you say?
Wiccan, Wiccan, what’s on your mind?
Nature’s forces have begun to unwind
Mother Earth’s in labor, no midwife she finds
So tell me Wiccan just what’s on your mind?
Pastor, Pastor who feeds your lambs?
The ones who’ve entrusted their faith to your hands
You preach, you teach, you breach God’s commands
Pastor who feeds your lambs?
And Rabbi, Rabbi where is the peace?
Ancient conflict refuses to cease
Eye for eye ends just leaves the blindness increased
Tell me Rabbi, where is the peace?
Father, Father how do you sleep?
Cardinal sins reveal you’ve no secrets left to keep
Paradise lost again and the Innocent weep
Tell me Father just how do you sleep?
Who guides the Hindu who guides the Sikh?
Sunni or Shiite, Beggar or Thief?
When the dogma & doctrines collide
It begs the question “Who Is On God’s Side?
Lessons from history when we gonna learn?
How much a Holy war costs in return
Beyond religious pretension we yearn
When we gonna learn?
Please keep your comments constructive. Any postings deemed offensive or of a personal nature will be deleted.
Ralston's the best
— Eileen Duty
Ralston used to bring me coffee and give me encouragement in the beginning of WYCE! Ralston has never been anything but GOLD to our local music scene. Thanks for everything, Ralston. Hope you take this one!
— Wendy S Allyn - WYCE Class of 1988.
I just love this song
— Tina Lie, Norway
Ralston... Grand Rapids' real deal!
— Bruce Ling
This guy is great. And the real deal!
— Danny McGough
Ya gotta go out and hear his Carwreck Conversations - a masterwork. I love this tune.
— Deborah Lader
sounds great
— jonathan Strymish
voting for ralston
— Keith Oberfeld
Just voting for Ralston
— Mine is Tamara
Ralston is the Grand Rapids Dylan so we might as well share him with the rest of the world!
— Eric Elzinga
Brilliant. Ralston often reminds me of Dylan... only with his own twist.
— Randy Buist
Great guitar playing. Great vocals & lyrics.
— Ana
Love the content - reminds me of the 60s - and Dylan!
— Celeste Sisson
Ralston's words here are profound!
— Jerry Sisson
Ral is the real deal - love listening to him....
— Ginger Sisson
Ralston is an incredible artist. WOW~
— Emily Sanders
Great song, sung very well!
— eric p
I got to see Ralston do this song at Rothbury 2009, opening for Willie Nelson and Dylan himself. Ralston is a treasure and philosopher and one hell of a songwriter. I hope he wins this thing.
— Clayton Boothe
Ralston Bowles is an artist in every sense of the word...and looks a bit like Dylan, too
— Tim Steele
The previous writer is "clearly" sick in the head. I have to feel sorry for someone so pathetic that he (or she) could write something so hateful. Probably someone who is losing the competition miserably. I hope you know in your own heart that "this" is a beautiful song.
— Ella
Indeed, when will we learn that we are all one? Such perception and insight, unmatched in this competition. Namaste to you, Ralston.
— Tracy Lee Taylor and John MacAulay
Great music!!!
— Wade
This Guy is the Real Deal.....The Best!!!Amazing Talent.......Thanks again for all the books and consultations!!!
— Tom Jansen
Ralston is awesome!
— Lee
Ralston Bowles is an amazing talent & the Grand Rapids Ambassador for local music. I am here to vote for him!
— Lisa Verhil
what a masterpiece
— Helena
RALSTON!!!!!!! xoxox
— Suzy Cole
RALSTON WINS!
— Richard app
Close your eyes......listen, you travel to another place.
— Susan
Life's big question - captured in a song.
— vudu
it's just GREAT!!!
— Ranka
Wow. What more can I say?
— Rolin Timmerman
Great presentation of your song. I like the lyric and rythm. Good job!
— Michele
"The lights go down - And its just you up there - Getting them to feel like that" ~ Joni Mitchell
— CAC
deep stuff. Brilliant.
— Alan Bashara
Rock!
— Charlie Cheney
Ralston is a living legend.
— Brother Bear
Sublime with an appropriate sense of reverence and respect. Superb arrangement, too!
— Mark Newman
Mr. Bowles effortlessly finds the lyrical viscera that other artists wish for.
— David Deaver
Keep using your gift, Ralston. Hope you have a swift recovery.
— Mark VanDerKolk
Awesome performance! Great vocals ... as I've always known.
— Doug Crysler
Nice job Ralston!!
— Chris Moore
Ralston awesome tune Mr. Bowles, Great lyric & arrangement, let's face it dude, more proof; you're an inspiring artist.
— Chris Darling
hey Ralston, another great song!
— Brenda Beerhorst
Questions I keep asking myself.
— Mary Mann
Lovin this a LOT. Mother Nature in labor with no midwife...nice visuals.
— Billy Sea
the very best lyric -- and when will we learn?
— Nan Cheney
Good writing and good arrangement. Could be a winner
— Ron Tocknell
as a teacher i tried to give the kids exactly what you are singing from ! let´s all keep on putting questions......
— IRMI*
Ralston is one of a kind.
— Jon Hansen
Get em' Ralston! Sounds GREAT!
— Kevin Hockin
ralston is a genius. plain and simple.
— joecartoon
Ralston always knows how to turn a phrase for the daze we're in. The music truly serves the lyrics. But "Fragile' is still my all-time favorite.
— Tim Cosby
A great song in the true spirit of dylan...
— Wendell Burton
WOW!!!
— Christine Hofstra
Bob Bowles - Ralston Dylan - no its just RB sounding like Zimmy.
— John Raymond
Ralston is the first live performer I heard that moved me immensely and inspired me to work up the nerve to try and start performing at open mics in GR when I was 17. I was kind of in awe I guess you could say.......hell, I still am. Thank you Ralston.
— Rachel Botruff
Always like Ralston's music.
— julie frye
yeah, that's my pops...love you dad!!
— Ralston Bowles
Ralston is the real thing.
— Timothy J Ripley
Ralston Zimmerman!!!!
— Michael Packer
Always been one of my favorites... good luck!!
— YVette Walker
Ralston is simply "the man."
— Jim Sprague
Ralston is great!!!
— Drew Nelson
Grand Rapids' own poet "lariat"
— Tom Good
broken and spilled out
— Timothy Stoner
As a Grand Rapids legend himself, Ralston beats the competition hands down. Go, RB!
— John Frye
great! excellent groove, poignant lyrics.
— paul brandt
Ralston, you got my vote.
— Amy Himmelspach
OKAY!
— CJ.MafBlaf (=Netherlandish: "Shaman Jockey The Weird Barker")
Ralston Bowles; True To Thyself...After All these years, Still Dares to Ask The Question! Sing On~
— Susie Tock~
provocative and edgy.
— Jan Chapman
Great song, incisive lyric. And I dig the grungy guitar, gives it a fine edge and echos the words. Good stuff Ralston!
— David Nefesh
Ralston is great! Love this lyric.
— Pam Howland
I love me some Ralston Bowles!
— Christina Elsenbroek
Believe in yourself, that's religion.
— Jim Gebben
I bought a Bouzouki just so I could play it like Ralston. Still trying...
— Martin
RALSTON Bowles
— Susan Mumma
Sweet
— Ted Kallman
heavy........but oh so true
— ken mekkit
I didn't know that you were from Grand Rapids, Ralston. I'm less than a hundred miles from you in Battle Creek, Michigan. I love your song "Begging the Question" and would like very much to see you perform some time. Ellen Driesbaugh
— Ellen Driesbaugh / Pen name Ella Dean