Assemblage 23 - Otherness 

Perhaps you may not see this comment but perhaps you will. I can only hope. With deepest of regard I tell you now Mr. Shear... these lyrics are the words I have needed to recharge my soul’s batteries. Givers per se and being a human is the truest form of life lived well. In my 56 years I have never wavered but the strength this song provides is a promise that I never will. Thank you most kindly.

"But the packaging is not what makes the gift." Point where tears well up every time.

To give completely From within yourself To treat compassion As the truest form of wealth No small adjustment For the average soul To give yourself away In order to be whole To trust completely With an open heart To risk the wounds Of having it all fall apart Seems paralyzing With implicit risk But the packaging Is not what makes the gift It isn't weakness It isn't frailty It's being human And it's sustaining To love completely And utterly To give yourself away So unselfconsciously Is altruism In its purest form A kind of otherness From which ego is torn It isn't weakness It isn't frailty It's being human And it's sustaining

"To give yourself away in order to be whole"... That's just the perfect way to describe love and compassion.

One of Tom’s best songs right here. It should be over 1000 likes by now..

I'm losing my mom soon. She only has a few days left. She's lived her life as a testament to this message and will leave this world casting a wide shadow on us children who cannot hope to live up to her lofty examples. But we are trying, and I hope to some day find that kind of peace.

Beautiful

If only more music put across a message like this...

people are always talking about how we can't improve the world with better regulated economic systems because of "human nature" i'm glad i'm not the only one who sees showing compassion and being selfless as being human. this album never ceases to bring me to tears

This is a masterpiece, the soundtrack of my moment of clarity.

I wanto this album, greetings from south america

this song, it keeps me alive

Absolutely beautiful song! And really love the message:D

This song is AMAZING!!!!

beautiful melody.

Sublime:3, You speak for the Planet.

Thankyou for sharing this Tom, this whole album is beautiful and quite possibly my favourite from you. One day, one day...I will see you live. Thankyou for existing

Soo good. What a perfectly well balanced album.

mister T, let me tell you once more how much your words and melodies have held me up over the years. i look forward to future hugs :)

Beautiful sound from a great band of synthpop. I'll put on my list playing on track

A perfect end track, to a perfect album.

Thanks Tom for uploading the track.

Brilliant!

yes!!

I dont know if you remember me but years ago i ordered a box set and it never came because Mexico, you also had another person from Greece who didnt get it. I just wanted to say i love you and you changed my life. I really hope i can speak with you this year at Amphi. Thank you for you amazing music. -Mena from Mexico

I love otherness...

great band, great song. synthpop for quality

Trusting others is hardest thing I'll ever do

genial....

i can dig it

Sure wish theyd come out with a new album to trump Imperative Reaction, lol