Back Here on Earth lyrics

The perfume that she wore was from some little store
On the down side of town
But it lingered on long after she'd gone
I remember it well
And our fingers entwined like ribbons of light
And we came through a doorway somewhere in the night
Her long flowing hair came softly undone
And it lay all around
And she brushed it down as I stood by her side
In the warmth of her love

Upon the bitter green she walked the hills above the town
Echo to her footsteps as soft as Eider down
Waiting for her master to kiss away her tears
Waiting through the years
Bitter Green they called her
Walking in the sun
Loving everyone that she met
Bitter Green they called her
Waiting in the sun
Waiting for someone to take her home

Some say he was a sailor who died away at sea

I came down from Albany to New York to find what I'd been missin'
I looked across the river to the city where the windows all stood glistenin'
I stood listenin'
Into a tunnel I did rise, like a grave inside, but I was young and able
When I came out the other end, ah through the smoke the winter light was feeble
Unreadable
I was optimistic though, a cabbie told me where to go
I thanked him

When he was a man, my father would stand
I never saw him run
There wasn't anyone could make the man bend
And the strength of his will was the tool of his trade
And he did his work well
Till the powers that be took a liking to him
And they traded his body for a cold empty shell
Don't beat me down
Don't beat me down
I've got something to say
Don't you stand in my way

If I could sing like the poets and kings of this world
If I could rise like the wind or the tides of the sea
I would sing you to sleep my love with sweet melody
And let you dream away till the morning light returned again
To take you away from me
If I could speak with the tongues of the masters of old
If I could tame all the fleeting perceptions I hold

That long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again
I've seen the hills of Frisco and the streets of Montreal
In every town I've been to I've had someone to call
From Winnipeg to Edmonton, Vancouver to St. Paul
I've had so many good friends I couldn't miss them all

And that long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

From the railhead to the boatyard
From the factory to the farm
From the mines to the millhouse
I've weathered the storm
From the bar room to the bedpost
I've wasted my days
All I have is my drink
And the time left to think
While time slips away
Just look at my face
As you tell me goodbye
You'll see what I'm after
By the look in my eye
Just walk away
And leave me alone

Have you seen the lighthouse shining from the rock
For the ship Marie Christine and all her gallant lot
Now have you seen the lighthouse
Oh we are close to land
Cried the brave young captain to his wretched band
Now have you seen the harbor cried Marie Christine
Have you seen the jagged rocks in the waters in between
Now have you seen the lighthouse
Oh save me if you can

It's alright for some, but not alright for me
When the one that I'm lovin' slips around
You think it's fine to do things I cannot see
And you're doin' it to me, baby, can't you see
That I know how it is?

I can see it in your eyes and feel it in the way you kiss my lips
I can hear it in your voice whenever we are talking like this

Step inside my tent, said she, I'd like to read you palm
Leave the dollar in the jar, this won't take very long
Leave the circus noise behind, close your eyes, relax your mind
I'll tell you if you should quit now or if you should go on
Then I said, now what do ya see
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee

Forgive me my unsettled ways
Don't linger in time or finger what's mine
Don't make me do
What you wouldn't do yourself
Forgive me the bad things I do
Don't ask me to change or exchange what I am
For something else
You know that wouldn't do

If time gets to heavy and you can no longer bear it
And you need someone to share it
Tell me girl, I'll try to make amends