Meet Chris Wells…a songwriter, actor, teacher, and Siloist based in New York City. Since the early 90s, he has been part of the Humanist Movement, an all-volunteer international movement launched by Silo, working for deep social and personal change through the methodology of active non-violence. A professional actor for many years, he teaches acting at a wonderful artistic community and professional school in NYC.
Participating in the Humanist Movement for more than 20 years, the spokesperson for North America before and during the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, he is now participating in the community of Silo’s Message, a loosely organized community of friends engaged in spiritual search…
He has been writing music and songs since his 20s. He collaborated with other musicians and artists to produce an album, Songs for the Sala, a collaboration between songwriters on five continents inspired by the projects and teachings of Silo. Released in December 2020, the album was meant to help raise funds to build a meditation hall at the Hudson Valley Park of Study and Reflection in Kingston New York, a sacred space dedicated to the search for profound inspiration and the teaching and learning of nonviolence. https://salasongs.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-the-silence
Now, here are two new songs by Chris Wells…
Dancing in the Graveyard
“I don’t want to say too much about this song because it morphed in the process of writing and I like it when a song means different things to different people. But it’s an interesting story.
“Some years ago, I had the opportunity to dance with a large group of people in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. It was part of an extraordinary work of art by Janine Antoni called I am fertile ground http://www.janineantoni.net/i-am-fertile-ground-at-the-green-wood-cemetery-home-page. After dancing together for two hours at sunset, I found myself in a state of deep peacefulness and calm, which lasted an unusually long time.“
“The song was originally just my attempt to express that experience. But as the lyrics evolved, I started to hear meanings beyond the obvious theme of physical death and what that means about how we live — like war and peace, violence and non-violence, and the relationship between “east” and “west.” I also began to hear black humor in lines like “bodies kept on moving“ and “a town of bones“ that I like very much. “
Dancing in the Graveyard (Lyrics)
We were dancing in the graveyard
As the sun sank in the west
Shyly dancing in the graveyard
And I found myself at rest
How the music held me
as we wandered up the hill
Bodies kept on moving
and my heart got still
We were dancing in the graveyard
As the bombs fell in the east
Wildly dancing in the graveyard
Where my people planted peace
Our Janine prepared the ground
and no-one danced alone
Circled by the monuments
a town of bones
We were dancing in the graveyard
And I knew I had been blessed
Merely dancing in the graveyard
As the sun sank in the west
To listen to the song, click on this link: https://chriswells1.bandcamp.com/track/dancing-in-the-graveyard-2
Credits: Released September 9, 2024
Words, music, guitar, percussion, and vocals: Chris Wells
Keyboards: Seth Barrish
Heart Like an Open Hand
“This song took me years to finish. It went through various phases, with different chords and musical “feels”. Even the structure changed, and various friends gave me wonderful notes. I’m still not sure it’s finished, but I think it’s time to let it go and move on.”
“It’s been so long since I started it, I don’t remember very clearly where the initial seed came from. I think it was simply the phrase “I need a heart like an open hand,” which came to me when I found myself in some stressful and upsetting personal situations. I think the lyrics are pretty straightforward.”
Heart Like an Open Hand (Lyrics)
I’ve got a fist in my chest
Makes me work to get a breath
I’ve been wrestling with the dead these days
I was doing pretty well
‘Till a stranger took to casting me in hell
His little passion play
Now my body’s pulling in
Like my thoughts and my emotions
No one’s winning in this mindless maze
I need vision that is grounded as it flies
like a beast in the sky
moving in unreasonable ways
I need a heart that is peaceful, fearless and free
To be like I always planned
Heart that will feel impossible things
I need a heart like an open hand
Heart like an open hand
Well I bet you know the feeling
Everything seems fine
then I’m reeling from a blind-side blow
I go looking for relief
Or a culprit, some new reason to believe
but in my flesh I know
I need a heart that is peaceful, fearless and free
To be like I always planned
Heart that will feel impossible things
I need a heart like an open hand
Heart like an open hand
There’s an urge to hold on tighter
As things fall apart
Like a fighter who’s about to fall
And there’s a stirring, there’s a need
For a different kind of living
Not so greedy and so frightened of losing it all
Fingers, palm, and open spaces
Letting go as one
Living lesson in what grace is
The blessings of what is yet to be done
I need a heart that is peaceful, fearless and free
To be like I always planned
Heart that will feel impossible things
I need a heart like an open hand
Heart like an open hand
To listen to the song, click on this link: https://chriswells1.bandcamp.com/track/heart-like-an-open-hand
Credits: Released September 9, 2024
Music, Lyrics, guitars, vocals and percussion: Chris Wells
Vocals: Seth Barrish and Lee Brock
Two songs with lyrics that tell a story and music that opens the heart of the listener from Chris Wells, singer-songwriter, Siloist and humanist.
