In the shadow of a mountain I’m supposed to climb

In the shadow of a mountain where I’ve spent all my time

In the shadow of a mountain where it’s dark and cold and low

In the shadow of a mountain I’ve got so far to go

In the shadow of a mountain where the cliffs arc overhead

In the shadow of a mountain chasms keep my worries fed

In the shadow of a mountain I’m afraid to send

In the shadow of a mountain will this journey be my end

Avalanches bring me down, they bring me down down down

Avalanches bring me down They bring me down

Did I choose the wrong path Did I choose the wrong time

To think that this mountain Oh was mine to climb

I’m clinging now To a rope in the wind, a rope in the wind

Battered and bruised But climbing again

I am sinking in the river, sinking from the river stones

Round and smooth, ancient too,

each one a story all their own

On my chest so gently rests

this rocky plate to guard my heart

Though the arrows never pierce

submerging then begins to start

Stones keep stacking ‘bove my heart,

weight of them is growing

Hair is dancing in the current

while my breath is slowing

While my breath is slowing

Pinned down to the riverbed

I peer up towards the sky

Watch the rapids overhead

while I miss the air so dry

Oh to float up once again,

feel the lilt of motion

Breathing in the purity,

the spectrum of emotions

Stones keep stacking ‘bove my heart,

weight of them is growing

Hair is dancing in the current,

while my breath is slowing

In my place a pyramid

to show where I lay knowing

The weight of stones left me in bones

while the river keeps on flowing

while the river keeps on flowing

Stuck my hand out the window today to see if I’m alive

been living like a zombie with no light behind my eyes

I could feel the wind between my fingers as I drove

I could hear the trucks pass by me roaring down the road

I stood out on a cliff today to see if I’m alive

See if heights could threaten me, make the stomach in me rise

I could feel the nerves begin to tremble in my hand

I could feel the sweat tell me quickly get back down to land

I’m alive, had to check that I’m alive

I’m alive wasn’t sure wasn’t sure I could feel it

Gotta ask if I’m alive, gotta ask if I’m dead

Gotta ask if there’s still time, to reinvigorate my head

I’m alive, had to check that I’m alive

I’m alive, wasn’t sure if I could feel it

I’m alive, I’m alive, If I’m dead I’d love to heal it

I’m alive, I’m alive, yes I’m here oh I’m alive

When I look down into you I see the bluest sky

When I look down into you I’ll watch the clouds pass me by

When I look down into you I see the wind dance across

When I look down into you sometimes my mind gets lost

Puddle blue, rain’s receipt, deeper than we all may think

When I look down to see the sky I know, I know, that it’s a lie

When rain falls down into you I see a broken mirror

When rain falls down into you nothing is made clearer

When rain falls down into you I’ll watch the ripples ride

When rain falls down into you I feel the drops inside

Puddle blue, rain’s receipt, deeper than we all may think

When I look down to see the sky, I know I know that it’s a lie

You don’t jump into puddles to fly, you don’t jump into puddles to fly

When I look down into you, I see the bluest sky

Flood water starting up high in the hills,

trickle down, trickle down, creek beds fill

Wash away, wash away, dust until

earth drinks up what the mountains spill

Flood water turning the golden grass green

Soak it up, soak it up, grass grow lean

Take it in, take it in, oasis unseen

Wait and see what the flood waters bring

Flood water, flood water, flood water, come

Flood water, flood water, come

Gonna flood the delta relieve us of the sun

Flood water, flood water, flood water, come

Flood water shimmering sifting the sand

Lay it down, lay it down, shifting the land

Make your way, make your way, task at hand

Spread across the delta, ninety-mile fan

Grassland, woodland, swampland too

Feed ‘em all, feed ‘em all, water renews

Gather now, gather now, everyone come

See what the flood water, flood water’s done

Flood water, flood water, flood water, come

Flood water, flood water, come

Gonna flood the delta relieve us of the sun

Flood water, flood water, flood water, come

I bear with me the guilt of Mercury,

only light within my view

It seems I’ve been just facing in,

unable to face the bitter truth

Finally I heard your plea,

“Come and save me from the void”

Once I turned then I learned

how the darkness left you destroyed

Mercury, blinded by the sun

Mercury, back is turned to everyone

So you see the guilt of Mercury

tore me from my selfish path

Learn from me be burden-free,

don’t repeat the past,

don’t repeat the past

You alone in the dark and waiting

You alone in the dark and praying

Can you forgive me?

You alone in the dark and waiting

You alone in the dark and praying

Can you forgive me?

Can you forgive me for everything?

Mercury, blinded by the sun

Mercury, back is turned to everyone

Every year I savor rain because I know its absence

Every year I feel the strain that keeps the world in balance

As I watch the seasons change I know what is to come

Wrapping me in rope silencing my tongue

Ripplin heat off desert sand mutes my ears and voice

Severity across the land increases yet I have no choice

On this barren earth I wait yearning for the clouds

in mirage’s dancing waves the drought, the drought abounds

I’m waiting, I’m waiting for the rain

I’m waiting for the rain I’m waiting for the rain

Every year I savor rain because I know its absence

Every year I feel the strain that keeps the world in balance

I’m waiting for the rain, I’m waiting,

I’m waiting for the rain, I’m waiting

I’m waiting for the rain

Throw off your cover, toss your shroud away

I want to see you, I want to see you shine

It’s time to rise, and thaw a little

I want to see you, see you come alive

Throw off your cover, stretch your limbs out

I want to watch you, I want to watch you grow

It’s time to smile, with lifted chin

I want to watch you, watch the sun take hold

Each step forward, your mask is breaking

It’s time to see, your green awakening

Throw off your cover, It’s time to see your light

Throw off your cover, It’s time to see your light

Throw off your cover, reveal your color

I want to hear you, I want to hear your sound

It’s time to sing, and celebrate

I want to hear you, hear your voice unbound

Each step forward, your mask is breaking

It’s time to see, your green awakening

Throw off your cover, It’s time to see your light

Throw off your cover, It’s time to see your light

Why can’t tomorrow run to me?

I’d like for it to jump to me

I used it say, please go away, and hide my face in fear

Why can’t tomorrow leap to me

not flutter like a leaf to me

I used to lay in pain all day wishing it would never near

I’ll rope the sun and shade my eyes,

If no one else will I will rise

To pull the orb across the sky

and in the arms of morrow lie

When will tomorrow sing to me

What melodies will it bring to me

With its songs will right the wrongs and its gladness share

When will tomorrow comfort me,

not sorrow or encumber me

In the flesh my mind will rest knowing I’ve made it there

I’ll rope the sun and shade my eyes,

If no one else will I will rise

To pull the orb across the sky

and in the arms of morrow lie

When tomorrow finally comes,

I’ll make sure the seconds run

Slowly, slowly, the day will last for moons,

Helios will finally rest

His chariot and horses blessed

with a welcomed holiday not a moment too soon

I’ll rope the sun and shade my eyes

If no one else will I will rise

To pull the orb across the sky

and in the arms of morrow lie

And in the arms of morrow lie

Sometimes I wonder if I’m too far uprooted

Am I cut too deep to lay claim to this land?

Perhaps I’m estranged, I’m too far pulled out

Left on the side with the weeds and the sand

What happens when severed

But I still grow up strong?

Where do my veins reach?

Do I even belong?

Where do I pull from

When I stand in a crowd?

Where is my common face?

Is it masked in a shroud?

Are these peaks my mountains?

Is this water my stream?

Can I claim this rock,

A stretch though it seems?

My bare feet to the earth

Who hears me call?

Who feels my heartbeat

When I’m alone and small?

Which family’s ghosts

Will haunt me and play?

Which ancestor’s spirits

Protect me and stay?

What is blood?

What are lines?

Are cuts healed through time?

Am I accepted, am I enough?

Are vines sutured with love?

You’ve always been a part of me,

the worst part I feared

my arms have been empty

all of these years

I may have regrets

but this isn’t one

I gave you the best chance

under the sun

I love you child,

I love you so

I love you child,

so I let you go

I love you child,

I love you so

I love you child,

so I let you go

The air we breathe

and the rain too

Is my only way

of being with you

So I love the drizzle

and I love the wind

perhaps then in time

I’ll see you again

I’m building my wall so I can hide

I don’t want to show you what is inside

Admire the carvings, fine inlaid bone

Don’t peek within, I’m chiseling stone

Stone walls are going up,

I want to deceive you

Stone walls, are they enough

I want to believe it’s true

My structure is heavy, it’s hard to leave

It burdens me plenty, a struggle to breathe

I made the effort, I spent the time

to craft this facade, disguise what you’ll find

Don’t look for cracks or catapult in

Whatever you throw will be met with a grin

Stones are quiet, leave them as they lie

My wall is up and everything’s fine

Shifting with the breath of wind

Curls unfold invisibly

Running tendrils through my hair

Infiltrating where I sleep

In my dreams I see flames

kept me warm for so long

Sleep must end and I must wake

Smoke remains, the rest is gone

All I have is smoke to wear

All I have is smoke to see

All I have is smoke to bear

Smoke to hold my memories

In fifteen-thousand days

Will you still want me

In fifteen thousand days

will you know my face

In fifteen thousand days

what will we have in common

In fifteen thousand days

will your heart have space?

Is there a right or wrong way

Uncertainty is an uneasy place

What do we do, what do we say,

after fifteen thousand days

Fifteen thousand, fifteen thousand,

Fifteen thousand days

What do we do, what do we say,

After fifteen thousand days

Never been a ghost before,

Risen from the dead

thought that I’d accepted death

Put thoughts of life to bed

Woke up unexpectedly

Haunting those I meet

I wish to be a bit opaque

I don’t mean to be a freak

Suddenly so suddenly

I became a ghost

summoned unexpectedly

popped up fresh as toast

Wonderfully so wonderfully

I can see again

See the world through your eyes,

a chance to live again

Funny people don’t believe

I am who they think

looking at me closely now

Their doubts begin to sink

They can’t deny my likeness

Or what their gut may feel

I was hidden well away

now there’s no dispute

I’m real

Tree trunks are my skeleton,

Ivy, veins that climb

The leaves will hug me soon,

once the sun returns to shine

No yellow or ruby red,

to show upon my limbs

still I’ll sway in cloudy gray,

moved by the northern wind

Even through the bitterness,

the world can be so beautiful

So beautiful, so beautiful,

the world can be so beautiful

Into the chill, winter’s thrill,

the wind will pierce you through

Wrap your sides, storm subsides,

warmth again renews

On shortest days darkness hangs,

all seems heavy on your brow

Know the cold won’t be so bold,

change is coming now

Always felt a little scattered

Unsure of the blue skies

Unsure of the sunny days

Shifting like tornado’s eye

Always felt more comfortable

Dancing in the pelting rain

Dancing to the thunder

made me a little more sane

When my arms reached as wide

As wide as they could go

Saw a spark flash ‘cross the sky

saw my life unfold

I finally reached the ground

Reached the ground

and touched the sky

I finally came together

Came together for the very first time

Always felt the weight of static

searching in the air

Searching for the perfect path

an answer to a prayer

Always felt content enough

Living with my storm

Living with the hope to find out

How I’ve been transformed

I can hear the birds in the gray dawn

I can hear them murmuring

about what’s to come

Louder and louder their voices raise

Until just outside my window pane

Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up

The cold air lingers frigid from the night

Soon to be broken with morning’s light

The sun reaches the tops of trees

Spreads to the forest surrounding me

I’m waiting for the sun’s rays

Waiting for the light to dispel the haze

It’s a new day, it’s a new day

Time to rise

I never knew that love

Could wrestle me to the ground

I never knew that love

Could stretch my heart,

further expound

I never knew that love c

ould pierce me through and back again

I never knew love so profound

could sprout in days and bloom within

I stood beneath the biggest wave

The biggest wave I’ve ever found

I found the biggest wave of love

The kind of love

that knocks you down

The kind of love

that knocks you down

It stripped me of my flesh and blood

Hollowed out my bones

Disintegrated all of me like

Sand the dust of crushing stones

Yet beyond the undertow

the aftermath of the storm

With love from the biggest wave

I am now reborn

Do you know my thirst for rain?

Do you know, oh do you know?

The happy sound going down the drain?

Do you know, oh do you know?

Do you know the sound it makes?

Do you know, oh do you know?

Dancing on the rooftop shakes

Do you know, oh do you know?

I await the breath of fog,

held until the clouds do nod

Release and let the heavens drain,

yes it’s time for rain

Do you know the old oak grove?

Do you know, oh do you know?

Gnarled arms no longer grow

Do you know, oh do you know?

Do you know the brittle grass?

Do you know, oh do you know?

Do you know how long my thirst can last?

Do you know, oh do you know?

I asked the moon and stars to play

one evening in the spring

radiant and glowing

adore the light they bring

But clouds begin to gather

the night no longer clear

Celestial friends move on,

I’m wishing they were near

Lovely silver moon stars

shining at your side

Smoothly sailing overhead

in the darkness ride

How do you rise and fall,

look so near to me

I wish you’d stay, I wish you’d stay

But we go on separately

Climb up starlight’s ladder

grab a moon beam’s hand

Meet them where they rise,

follow where they set on land

Keep on building stairs

until toppling to the sea

Moon is locked in heaven’s box

the sun the only key

Ignite the sky, ignite the sky,

the moon and I, the moon and I

Together run and meet the sun

then we’ll know the stars align

We’ll know the stars align

I found my stars,

I found my stars,

I can see them shine

So far away, so far away

At least I know they’re mine

They don’t know, they don’t know

I’m here shining too

Will they find out,

will they find out

Perhaps someday

they’ll know the truth

For too long, for too long,

I only knew the sun

Now I know, now I know

where in the sky I belong

My shooting star, my shooting star

Came to guide my gaze

So I looked, so I looked,

above through heaven’s maze

Perhaps in time, perhaps in time,

My stars will know me too

Closer ever closer,

I hope to meet them soon

I hope to meet them soon

I found my stars, I found my stars,

I can see them shine

o far away, so far away,

now I know they’re mine.