Types & Shadows

Eyes wide in this reverie but it’s all still dark as night I’m falling fast asleep Black tides of my misery coming down upon my sight I drown into the deep Is there but a ghost inside these bones? Come now My darling! Come now beloved, My love it calls you! Am I just a ghost inside these bones? Walking as the dead; hearts made of stone Nightmares of my darkest fears all around crippled with fright I’m falling fast asleep Come now My darling! Come now beloved, My love it calls you! Come away My darling! Come now beloved, My love remains for you! I’m lost, so long! The spirit’s willing, but the flesh is weak I hear Your song! My fears are chilling so I dare not speak For you, My blood was spilled But I made my bed in hell In you I see no guilt But you know how far I fell My friend be wretched, mourn and weep Oh, may it wake you from your sleep Am I just a ghost inside these bones? Walking as the dead; hearts made of stone Hasten up my feet so I may fly Wash me now, my God, or I will die Black tides of my misery coming down upon my sight Come now My darling! Come now beloved, My love it calls you! Come away My darling! Come now beloved, My love remains for you! I'm lost, so long! The spirit's willing, but the flesh is weak I hear Your song! My fears are chilling so I dare not speak Though You know how far I fell You've saved my soul from hell

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Oh, I wanted to see a fire ablaze in my heart A flame not full of smoke I know Your love is a fire (Why am I so cold?) My flesh it screams, “You’re a liar” (Those cries are so old) The smoke ascends, the embers dim (Just follow its trail) Help me I’m weak and so frail I’m waiting for a reaction (And the motions in between) I’m looking for You (Looking for you) Every night I watch and wait as my candle’s burning out Every night I scream and shout as my patience turns to doubt Stay with Me, my flickering flame Stay with Me, I know your name Quit your fight, it's all in vain When your flame takes flight, it will last the pouring rain I’m waiting, flame smoking, and fading out I’m fading, withering, will I weather? I’m waiting, sustain me, help me weather I’m fading, flame smoking, flickering and fading out Oh, I wanted to feel the fire before mine goes out A flame so bright it blinds I’m waiting for a reaction (And the motions in between) I'm looking for You (Looking for) I'm waiting for a reaction I’m looking for You, right now Stay with me flickering flame, I know your name Every night I’ll watch and wait as my candle’s burning out Every night I’m filled with doubt I will cry to You and shout

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Marching alone where I don't belong Tapping along in the dark before the dawn Nothing is wrong, you're here Abandon the sound of the captain's call Grabbing my gear as I jump the wall before, before nightfall is here I've crossed the line of the great divide I heard Your orders I sneak past land mines Watch them with each stride I know the borders Stumbled upon to the battleground Search and look for the fight but a white flag's all I found It's all I've found out here I know, I know You said You've overcome But I think it's time I joined the fight Lay down your arms young one I realize it's hard to see the war is won My son You must see the war is won over and done Caught in the snare of the rival's jaws Digging in deep as it rears it's vicious claws I guess my fight is here What have I done? I'm trapped and all alone I'm bleeding out and fading quick Footsteps draw near (Could this be it?) Is my death now here (Could this be it?) Who's this that's come for me in this dying and desperate state? Lay down your arms young one I realize it's hard to see the war is won My son You must see the war is won over and done Over and done! Done! Rough hands are placed upon me I'm far too weak to fight and break myself free I was chasing apparitions What's wrong with my volition? Just as my body floated I dread and fear what is this stranger's motives? What have I done? I opened up my eyes to see the stranger bore a dear old face And water filled my eyes, it was my Captain that I had disgraced I turned to look away in shame But in tender words You called my name "See I bear the marks that fought the war!" Lay down your arms young one I realize it's hard to see the war is won My son You must see the war is won over and done Over and done!

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

I'm lying barren in my own blood It's drowning me like a rushing flood A wave of crimson eclipse my eyes No sign of pity here My lips are silenced with blistering The utter silence is deafening Vultures fly above They're calling out my name The vipers watch below Taunting my crippled frame Desolate is love Surely a curse and my name The same - a plague is all I know The lover I had claimed has sent me out here to die Ashes for beauty and shame my ally The lover I had claimed has left me here to die The wings of death black out the sky Isolated in deserted lands Isolated in deserted lands Suffocating under dirt and sand Cursed, despised, I am anathema! Cursed, despised, I am anathema! Glory speak to me Call upon my name Tell my soul to live, to live Grant to me the life only Your hands can give I take a breath as I try to shout I go to scream but no words come out No shred of solace I'm left to die No sign of pity here My lips are silenced with blistering The utter silence is deafening The lover that I had claimed has sent me out here to die Ashes for beauty and shame my only ally The lover that I had claimed has left me out here to die Ashes for beauty and shame my only ally Vultures fly above They're calling out my name The vipers watch below Taunting my crippled frame Desolate is love Surely a curse and my name The same - a plague is all I know Oh Rising SON, won't you dawn on me Descend just like a dove Oh Rising SON, hear this sullen plea Hide me, hide me in Your love Glory speak to me Call upon my name Tell my soul to live, to live Grant to me the life Isolated in deserted lands Isolated in deserted lands Suffocating under dirt and sand Cursed was I and surely left to die But Glory became my anathema

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Bold sounds rise upwards Cold words thunder Oh how I cried aloud Though no one heard a sound How I was locked and chained But none could see me bound For I spoke of peace But I dreamt of war Secrets have a voice Screaming without breath My heart speaks of its choice Calling for my death Mountains take flight, rain down from above Shadows and night aren't dark enough Rocks and hills, cover me! Rocks and hills, hide me from Your face! Rocks and hills, hide me! I claimed to be rich Truly, I was poor Secrets have a voice Screaming without breath My heart speaks of its choice Calling for my death Choosing my own path Shrouded treachery Ignore the aftermath, living carelessly Tempting you to wrath with infidelity So where's the fire? Where's the flood? These guilty hands are covered in blood Shouldn't I die when Your laws I deny? Earth heeds not my cries Mercy come or I die You speak with Your own voice "Come be not afraid Weep no more rejoice Punishment is paid?" I feared the One who bears all sin Will You take me in Father? Cover me with Your blood! Cover me with Your blood! Cover me!

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away With all my guilty stains Wash all my sins away Wash all my sins away Wash all my sins away Wash all my sins away Ever since by faith I saw the stream Your flowing wounds supplied Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Keeping watch while the whole world sleeps (Listen close) Feel the earth toss and turn and weep (Hear its voice) A wearied ground opens up to roar (Hear it roar) "How much longer will this pain endure?" We're waiting for a better day The shadows gone, all things pass away Listen close and hear it say "We're cursed and we're dying" Hills shake and mountains quake (Mountains shaking) Earth's fires have come awake No words, but hear it speak (Hear it speaking) As the deep calls to the deep Beauty, beauty mixed with dread Hanging by a thread We're waiting for a better day The shadows gone, all things pass away Listen close and hear it say "We're cursed and we're dying" Skies wake, the heavens ache (Heavens aching) Thunder and lightning break O glory come, come like a thief (Like a thief) Bring us relief from grief Still on and on, we're waiting for the hour On an on, our cries are growing louder How long must darkness reign in a world so violent (So violent) While we toss and turn in pain, in vain, and it's still so silent Waiting, wait for what's ahead These tattered rags will be shed We're waiting for a better day The shadows gone, all things pass away Listen and hear it say "We're cursed and we're dying" Hills shake and mountains quaking The earth's fires have now awakened No words, but hear it speak "We're cursed and we're dying" "We're cursed and we're dying" (We're cursed and we're dying)

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Prisoned am I to this shell of the dust It speaks of only fiction that I could never trust Captured alive in this sinful estate Vexed am I to see I do the things that I hate Rip out the framework leave no stone unturned Until my heart forgets all that my flesh ever learned Tear down the structure till nothing is left God deliver me from this body of death O wretched man, wretched man that I am Lowly man, who can save such a wretch that I am? Who can save such a man? O wretched man, wretched man that I am Lowly man, who can save such a wretch that I am? Who can save such a man? In light of this truth: "There is no good in me" It causes all my soul to long for liberty Be freed from my lies of death, spared from the shame No more this sinner's breath forsaking your name I will be free I will be free I will, I will be free Freed from my lies of death, spared from the shame No more this sinner's breath forsaking your name Woah, woah, woah Woah, woah, woah O blessed man, blessed man that I am Lowly man! You have saved such a wretch that I am Blessed man that I am, lowly man! You have saved such a man!

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

Barely alive, but who'd believe it I'm living clean, but my heart is defiled Barely alive, but who'd believe it I bear a heart of stone Yeah I look alive but the inside is something worse Fooling all with the right deeds and nice words I'm feeding lies and my heart doesn't feel the remorse Fooling all with the rights deeds and nice words Buried alive, but who could see it? My heart is numb but I'm just in denial Buried alive, but who could see it? I wear a dead man's bones Don't be nervous to face the truth that you're not fine, you never were So don't be frightened to see the Light when you open up your eyes Washed in the blood or just in the water? Oh how white you have washed your tomb Washed in the blood or just in the water? Hiding death inside its womb I look alive but the inside is something worse Fooling all with the right deeds and nice words Barely alive, but who's believe it I wear a dead man's bones Don't be nervous to face the truth that you're not fine, you never were So don't be frightened to see the Light when you open up your eyes Washed in the blood or just in the water? Oh how clean you have washed your tomb Washed in the blood or just in the water? Hiding death inside its womb Don't be nervous to face the truth that you're not fine, you never were So don't be frightened to see the Light when you open up your eyes When you open up your eyes, you'll find that you're lost as hell When you open up your eyes, don't fear you'll be fine When Your words touched my heart (You opened up my eyes) It ripped straight through my bones and tore my pride apart I spoke not a word (And death inside me dies) For the claims I had made were revealed to be absurd When You opened up my eyes I was shaking and trembling Then You told me to "Arise! Don't fear you'll be fine" Don't be nervous to face the truth that you're not fine, you never were So don't be frightened to see the Light when you open up your eyes Now I'm alive, would you believe it? My heart is clean though it was so defiled Now I'm alive, would you believe it? Inside these broken bones

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

I know who you are, you wanted to be perfect In all that you were, but you bailed, you bailed I know who you are, you wanted to be worth it In all that you were, but you failed, you failed Kill all the lights, you fear what's inside Cover Your eyes, I'm trying to run and to hide (in shadows) Filling the void with just a veneer Watching your steps hoping that I don't come near (don't follow) I know you thought, you thought you'd never need it But you can't hide behind all your claims, your claims Guilt is now the anchor pulling, dragging your head under Drowning deeper down below Fear is just a false claim, vanity has locked the irons Sinking faster, heart is hollow Show Me your sorrow My love This burden is the millstone 'round your neck Convalesce and I will bear, bear your shame The voice of hell screams and roars Of what has been done Tens of thousands and countless more Yet I'll remember not one You know who I am, I wanted to be perfect In all that I am, but I failed, I failed Would You walk in darkness just to find a broken rebel? Crippled legs won't find their way Could You look upon my blackened soul I've wrecked and ruined How could You see me without clean hands or a pure heart? Show Me your sorrow My love This burden is the millstone 'round your neck Convalesce and I will bear, bear your shame, every stain Bear your shame, every stain

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

You should send me away, I've been such a liar With the strongest of words, but the weakest desire But look at me now, I'm reaching much higher I'm trying so hard, but quickly I tire (When will it be enough?) So often I see Your beauty surrounding me (But find my way out) What's wrong with my heart? This friction of bound and free (That fills light with doubt) When will it be enough to know just grace and stop chasing the wind? (Stop chasing the wind) I tried to be wise with foolish volition (Working to earn my place) Oh how I was bold, but ignored my condition (Forgetting "all of grace") I feel the push and the pulls as it all tears me apart I'm tripping over my pride, what's wrong with my heart? I feel the push and the pulls as it all tears me apart I'm tripping over my pride, what's wrong with my heart? When will it be enough to know just grace and stop chasing the wind? (Oh how much I've sinned!) So often I see the darkness that's found in me (But clinch my eyes shut) My guilt will agree, I drown in the deepest sea (The deepest sea) Yet how could this be? I've been such a liar Who's got nothing to give and none You require How could I forget? Your ways are much higher (I couldn't afford mercy) Declaring to me Your love doesn't tire (You must be everything) You've taken my curse and all that I've squandered (There's nothing that I could bring) That despite all my flaws and how far I've wandered (You've given everything!) You're longing to show Your mercy, mercy My weakness reveals Your beauty You're longing to show Your mercy, mercy My weakness reveals Your beauty

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

As I drift on the water, a voice calling to me had said "Sail in to the harbor, cast down your nets and follow Me" First of all the chosen, I saw the raising of the dead It must be my devotion, for I stood alone upon that sea So I walked on the tempest, I saw the waves below my feet It's clear I was the bravest, to meet the stranger on the deep I am the rock on which to build this land Got the keys to the kingdom, I'm at His right hand I was the first among the chosen, the boldest in devotion Walking out upon the ocean, what else could I need? I'm well-versed in forgiveness, as many as seven times repeat In service was I fearless; attack my king, my blade you'd reap What else could I need? What else could I need? Haunting my reflection, a bitter thought comes to my mind I made known my objection, about how You had come to die You said my thoughts were of the devil's kind I was opposed to Your kingdom, and I should get behind But You were talking like You're cursed, already laying in Your deathbed Maybe somehow You were mislead, may it never be! You said I would fall away, before the rooster's crow would end To my shame did I betray, deny You as my closest friend I'm singing, heart is hardened I'm sleeping in the garden I'm swinging swords I'm guarding my kindgom and my stardom Am I different than Judas? For I betrayed the kindest friend I'm all out of excuses With nothing to make my amends O Love! O Love! O Love! You bottomless abyss! O Love! O Love! O Love! You bottomless abyss! How tender You had spoken Though I betrayed the kindest friend Faithful in devotion Such love I cannot comprehend Oh when You found me I was broken From the words that I had spoken But You were faithful in devotion You remembered me! You remembered me!

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026

I awoke, the ground was hard and barely broke The air was filled with morning's smoke The hours fly by so I work There's bound to be wealth in this dirt The heart of the earth holds the key Where all my troubles will flee So I dig, and I dig, and I dig Cause I can't find another way, I'll dig You say that you are dying to live (But at this pace your life you'll give) Death always gets the best of us (And then abandons to the dust) Your work and toil leave only room (For coffins, graves, and deathly tombs) Your work and toil leave only room (For coffins, graves, and deathly tombs) Dig, and you dig, and you dig, and you dig And you must see my friend there's another way I'll capture this life in my cold hands I'll make it fulfill all my demands I'll rip from the earth, the treasures it will bring And crown myself as a conquering king Tell me now what you have found Digging in the earth's cold ground Working with such vigor It's all foul and bitter Tell me now what you have found Digging in the earth's cold ground Working with such vigor All I see's a grave digger So you spoke, and all that you said was a joke On all of your words you will choke You told me "I'm so very lost and that I could have joy without cost" So I'll dig, and I'll dig, and I'll dig, and I'll dig Cause I don't really care what you say, I'll dig And a haunting voice demands and craves (That in its depths a body lays) I feel its cry inside my soul ("That I could never fill this hole") My work and toil leave only room (For coffins, graves, and deathly tombs) My work and toil leave only room (For coffins, graves, and deathly tombs) My pride wrapped me tight and it laid me down to sleep Telling me all that I build and find I keep All that I made was a terrible cold grave In death here I laid is there any way to save my soul? Dig, and I dig, and I dig Dig, and I dig, and I dig Will my body fill this grave? Tell me now what you have found Digging in the earth's cold ground Working with such vigor It's all foul and bitter Tell me now what you have found Digging in the earth's cold ground Working with such vigor All I see's a grave digger How wondrous the sight that had caused these eyes to weep All of my death and hell You would bear and reap Though all that I made was a terrible cold grave In death there You laid, for You took my place to save my soul To save my soul To save my soul To save my soul

Submitted by johnmansley — Feb 21, 2026