Break this Stone
It was shortly after my son died at age 27, a beautiful man with so much to offer the world, and his music was extraordinary.
Having been left alone to cope with this tragedy, I had to write about it, sharing the pain, and also the prayer that he was taken up into the afterlife/heaven, and that he was now at peace and mentally and physically whole again. That’s when Break This Stone formed and wrote itself.
In all sincerity, I writhed on my bed like a snake in pain, and truly felt that living was the only thing worse than death.” But I also called out to whatever or whoever God was up there to bring him peace, and bring us all peace, especially those who suffer. And so I wrote the words of the song, “with tears bleeding from my eyes.” This song helped me make it through, and we dedicate this to my son, Jason, the rock star in heaven, every time we play it.
I can see the broken hearted
Doubled in their pain.
In the darkness swelling mists
Of stillness breaks the frozen rain.
Colder than the lowest places
Empty warn out sullen faces,
Drops the colors of the skies,
The tears are bleeding from my eyes.
Break this stone and quell the heart-ache
Take the cold dead dear departing
Calling on the other station,
Who’s the one in adoration?
Left alone to writhe like a snake
Swimming through a fiery lake.
Dying a thousand times a breath
When only living is worse than death.
What’s real is anyone’s guess to me
I only see love and that’s all I see,
If that’s the only thing that’s left
I can take another breath.
Open up this house of glory
Let him speak and tell his story
Turn the broken into power
Let this be your finest hour
Break out in love
And one and Peace
This one’s allowed
To know relief
Set the soul free
The one who cries.
Give them to see.
Let them rise. [REPEAT]
Through the fallen times and faces
Must be another day.
Cut short in empty places
Take them where they lay.
Cut through the heart of madness
Past the cold dark lonely sadness
Isn’t this the past of lies,
Caught up in your paradise?
Break this stone and quell the heart-ache
Take the cold dead dear departing
Calling on the other station,
Who’s the one in adoration.
Lift him through that final hour
Break the clouds that caused this shower
Shot within the walls of leaven
Like a rocket toward the heavens.
Now
Give live and love
Peace
This one’s above
Life
It’s through the brawl
Heaven
It waits them all.
Now
Give live and love
Peace
This one’s above
Life
It’s time to live.
Love
For this to give.
It was the love of others that pulled me through. Though Alan sings the song, and with such heart, having lost a brother as well, my fairly lengthy lead guitar at the end, is where I get to give each concert my instrumental tribute through the combination bended strings and loving-warrior-heart blasting into the silence, and crying out to the universe – Peace, Love, Life!
Grant Schnarr
