The Blood and The Fire (The Song)

I was going through a very tough time in my life going into the year of 1999. I had sold my sports card business, broke up with a long time girl-friend, quit a job that I had worked for about three years, my longest tenure with any company since my military days. In fact, outside of the military, there was only two companies I ever worked for more than two and a half years each. I spent most most of life working through temp services, by design. It made it easier for me to get up and go travel when ever I felt the urge. (And that urge I felt often)

Anyhow, I was coming at the end of my "little" disagreement with my mother at that time which lasted for several years. I call this, the moment when I realized that I had to attend to my writing. The year of 1999 was in fact, the year of my epiphany. I had changed everything around and upside-down. My family and friends thought I had lost my mind. They actually conspired to admit me into a mental hospital.

The only thing that was really happening, and they soon discovered this as the years rolled by, was that I was finally taking charge of my writing. Up to this point, it was in charge of me. Still, I ventured outside that proverbial "comfort zone" and went in search of who I really was. I was alone in this journey with no support or understanding, except that of my newly found friendship with Vincent Crowley and David Henderhan.

Dwelling in the lonliness of what this major transition of my life brought me, I was coming off a bad day while sitting in my kitchen at the table and drinking a beer, reflecting on the challenges that awaited me. (And perhaps mulling over my Jesus complex in the process) Oddly enough, it was raining outside and had been all that day, a mirror to my emotions at that time. In fact, it was storming really bad. Lightning and thunder raging outside with the wind blowing hard. It was then when I heard this music in my head. I knew what was coming. It went a little something like this.

Within a matter of about fifteen or thirty minutes, I had penned the lyrics. By Spring of 2002, I had met the guy who would become instrumental to helping me get my music recorded. That guy is Brian Preston. Through him, I would also meet Kent Robbins and Mark Rinehart, both of which appear on this track. My relationship with Brian, Kent and Mark remains in tact to this day. They continue to be the driving force to my ability to turn my thoughts into sounds. And while I have had opportunities to work with other people, I have decided to continue to work with them. Hey, if it's not broke then don't fix it.

THE BLOOD AND THE FIRE - Written by Carroll Bryant

     

The cross is carried alone

The burden gets so heavy at times

And it eats right down to my bones

Walk the trail alone

The people will talk but offer no help

The cross is carried alone

So now you know

I preach to the blood and the fire

Lightning strikes right to the soul

The cross is carried alone

To who’s heart do I bury?

The power can get so out of control

Roads which to choose from are many

Ghosts gallantly roam

The people will gawk but do nothing exposed

The power gets out of control

So now you know

I preach to the blood and the fire

Lightning strikes right to the soul

The cross is carried alone

Watch them turn to stone

Stand on a beach all by yourself

And watch the ocean roll

And through the cracks of the thunder

Fear is like darkness, one can only wonder

The cross is carried alone

So now you know

I preach to the blood and the fire

Lightning strikes right to the soul

The cross is carried alone

The cross is carried alone

I preach to the blood and the fire

Lightning strikes right to the soul

The cross is carried alone

Lightning strikes right to the soul

The cross is carried alone