Zack Hemsey - 'Teachings Of A Ronin'

Track 9 from the album RONIN.

Music, Lyrics, Production, and Vocals by Zack Hemsey
Mixed by Zack Hemsey
Mastered by Lou Hemsey
Artwork & Design by Omead Afshari

[TheVampirePredator]

"Hit em with the truth and that body gonna shatter...I call that mind over matter."

FUCKING. EPIC. LINE.

[cristianrodriguezsilva]

You may never see this, but 10 years later, I have returned to say: thank you. This album managed to help me through some really tough times. I have a tattoo in my chest for the line that hit me the most: “If you wish to know peace, you must come to know pain”. Now, after all this time, I still come back for this song to learn something new. This is how deep your music is.

[joolspirog]

Long story very short. I've lost all of my I, mediate family in 3.5 years. Two elder brother to prolonged heroin and crack addiction, mum from dementia then a massive stroke then dad from heart failure but at least in his peaceful sleep and now some time has gone by, I can appreciate the blessing of an end such as his and at 89.9 years old.
I needed this song today, it has very literally saved me from an overdose of morphine and diazepam.
God bless you for posting this and it was by accident I found it as I was looking for fight songs, to ring walk to.
You don't know how much impact you have made to one Bristolian 53 yr old guy who also has a life limiting disease. My name is Julian Pirog. Look it up.
Blessing be upon you.

[KairosTemporalis]

"Received the match of life, but then decline to ignite. That's what the Sage calls the wrong of two rights". Damn, that's so deep. That's so descriptive of humanity.

[endwar]

Here's the lyrics for anyone wondering:

Dogma looks but never peers through the smog
So in the clear will appear that black swan
To trap love you must wade through the fog
But try to grab it once you have it then it's gone
Now some never see beyond these walls
And some never see those worms that crawl
But mind your step or you will trip on pride's fall
Trust no man if his head above all

Stance still like the world on pause
Eased breath of a wind pre-storm
Firm grasp, let the blade conform
Manifest thy will, transform
Become sword unsheathed, cut raw
Become myth turned life, real lore
Meet the rage on the field of war
But never drink of the blood that pours

Look upon ruin and behold these ways
When you remove that leash then you'll end the dog days
Only by hand can you turn that page
Only keys of integrity unlock that cage
If you swim in foul play you will live among plague
If you cut a man's spirit he will bleed just the same
When you linger in the desert don't expect to find rain
And if you wish to know peace you must come to know pain
Every pioneer leaves a home of the brave
Every last deed has a seed that remains
And with every backlash some are shocked and afraid
But you will never see the light if you refuse to leave shade

This that jewel of the master
Steady wins the race though impatience run it faster
Turn to face the dragon as it brews your disaster
Ride upon it's back breathing flames with a rapture
In this world only victory or capture
Never sleep until that Reaper come and snatch ya
And you can't starve with a belly full of laughter
Learn to take risk so reward can come after
We all the same but aint no two of us alike
And when push come to show you abstain from the fight
Receive the match of life but then decline to ignite
That's what the sage calls the wrong of two rights
So live or die, choose the former or the latter
Walk that tight rope but don't fall to the flatter
Hit 'em with the truth and that body gone shatter
I call that mind over matter
Real talk, this aint the rhyming of a rapper
It's expression of my heart but all these people got it backwards
Jam me in a box but I don't fit inside your pattern
Maybe now they'll get the message when these lyrics gone and slapped 'em
So pay attention to the key of my tone
I can lend a hand but I can't save your soul
And if you want a leader you should lead yourself home
I call my own shots, I won't sit in your throne.

[wearesavingtherepublic]

I felt both angry, inspired and yet I cried during this song.

Why are you not an American Icon? This isn't 'rap'. This is art in it's purest form.

[charlesalexanderdavison]

The lyrics are brilliant in the way that they are guidelines for a strong, honest, knowledgable way of life.

It's as if he's found 'The Way' he's been preaching about in previous albums.

[CorporateGth]

Most are musicians, they entertain. Zack is an artist, he enlightens.

[DanishRaza-jidu]

the lyrics are so good that even after 10 years I keep coming back to it

[tacianomm]

This is neither Rap nor Trailer Soundtrack. Don't get too stuck onto labels fellas, it's simply Zack Hemsey's music.

[BasicShapes]

"If you swim in foul play you will live among plague....if you cut a man's spirit he will bleed just the same."

[clown_wrld]

Truly Zack Hemsey is a rapper, but he is also so much more. THIS is what the rhythm of words was made for, not for people bragging about how gangster they are.

[IgnacioLepe-zpij]

Wow ever since listening to zack hemsey ive been hooked!! This guy's music is truly motivating and inspirational totally underrated in my opinion.

[vexeyr]

I cannot even begin to express how amazing and touching this song is. Feels like songs like these are treasures waiting to be found by those that need it. After 6 years i finally understand what this artist really meant. I have nothing but respect, know that you have changed at least one life.

[whitelampmrz]

"Real talk, this ain't the rhyming of a rapper, It's expression of my heart but all these people got it backwards."

[mohamedsolimanH]

I don't know about other people, but i'm always searching for good lyrics and decent music, but damn man... Zack make great music with a very deep lyrics, and "i call that mind over matter", I Think he was speaking to the fans when he said
"this aint the rhyming of a rapper
It's expression of my heart but all these people got it backwards
I can lend a hand but I can't save your soul'
We understand you zack, i don't know if you will ever read this but i really learned a lot listining to your songs and lived so many stories.
So "to the greatest artist in the world you've never heard", I hear you and your art is so special and so beautiful.

[ItalyBoy]

I never fail to be amazed by the way that this music expresses the intangible. And I would have never expected to find a musician who spoke to me personally as a philosopher. Zack addresses so much yet it remains unified. Beautiful.

[kontraformalan]

Zack you are an old soul full of dimensions. Your words are from the univers, not from this world... I can feel that what is hiden inside. Respect man!

[WayneQuashie-qexd]

Zack Hemsey is THE His words in this one cuts so deep, that they invigorate the minds, bodies, souls of everyone

[IBennxI]

There is no light without shadow, no shadow without light. Humans cant interpretate if something is "good" or "bad", without "bad" things we wouldnt value the "good" things, its like saying death is evil, death is bad, death is a part of life and also peace. A true master has failed more times than the beginner has ever tried. Thats what i take from this song.