WHITE BIRDS

WHITE BIRDS

I would that we were, my beloved, white birds on the foam of the sea
far from the rose and the lily and the fret of the flames would we be
for the flame of the blue star of twilight hung low on the rim of the sky
has awaked in our hearts, my beloved, a sadness that may never die
a sadness that may never die

A weariness comes from those dreamers, dew-dabbled, the lily and the rose
Ah, dream of them not, my beloved, the flame of the meteor that glows
or the flame of the blue star that lingers, hung low in the fall of the dew
for I would we were changed, my beloved, to white birds on the foam, I and you
to white birds on the foam, I and you

Bend low, that I may crown you, flower of the branch
silver fish my hands have taken from the running stream,
morning star, trembling in the heavens like a white fawn on the border of a wood
Bend that I may crown you, that I may crown you

For the flame of the blue star of twilight hung low on the rim of the sky
has awaked in our hearts, my beloved, a sadness that may never die
and far from the rose and the lily and the fret of the flames would we be
were we only white birds, my beloved, white birds on the foam of the sea
white birds on the foam of the sea

Adapted from The Rose, 1893, except the bridge ("Bend low that I may crown you..."), adapted from the play The Shadowy Waters, 1901

Music composed by Freddie Stevenson and Mike Scott, musical arrangement by Mike Scott.

12-string Acoustic Guitars, Organ, loop archaeology: Mike Scott
Drums: Ralph Salmins
Earth Resonator: Marc Arciero
Piano, Voices: Mike Scott
Trombone: Blaise Margail
White Birds: Steve Wickham