David Stolpe shares with us the inspiration behind his song, “Threshold,” from his project, “Alchemists and Infidels.” The piece is used as the outro music every week on the podcast

Threshold
by David Stolpe
from the project “Alchemists and Infidels”

Verse 1
Still dark when I woke and got up out of my bed.
Tossed and turned all night, rambling thoughts in my head.
Trying to find the secret, searching for the key.
Frustrated by my progress, held back by me.

Verse 2
Walked downstairs to the lab, unlocked the chain on the door.
Froze at the threshold, wondering could I become something more?
I’ve pumped the bellows in this furnace for longer than I can recall.
Will I get back up eight times if on this seventh trial I fall?

Chorus
If I can render gold from this lead,
Could I also tender Life to the dead?
Impurities defected this ore I refine,
Can my soul be perfected, love make me divine?

Verse 3
Do I stand at the threshold of achieving something great?
Will lead transmute to gold? Is righteousness my fate?
What’s it all been for, my sacrifice and toil?
If what I find is pure, surely it will never spoil.

Chorus
If I can render gold from this lead,
Could I also tender life to the dead?
Impurities defected this ore I refine,
Can my soul be perfected, love make me divine?

Bridge
I’ve set out to find the truth of this strange alchemy.
Too far to turn back now, the path forward I’m trying to see.
Stoking coals under this crucible, filled with metals of no worth.
Will I pull from it precious gold, and my soul find its rebirth?

Chorus
If I can render gold from this lead,
Could I also tender life to the dead?
Impurities defected this ore I refine,
Can my soul be perfected, love make me divine?

Well I have rendered gold from this lead,
And I have tendered life to the dead.
No impurities defect this ore I refined
Will my dark soul perfect, love make me divine?
Love make me divine!