there's a red leaf
|
that falls from a purple tree
|
it falls it floats down
|
one red leaf against a clear blue sky
|
it floats down
|
past the marbles in the clearing
|
beneath the geese in flight
|
to the darkening river
|
in the autumn light
|
where it touches down
|
oh, like a great bird landing
|
tears of autumn
|
|
there's a white tent that sits
|
in the middle of a raft
|
that floats down
|
floats down the middle of a river
|
of a stream floating down
|
and the tears streaming
|
from the mind's eye
|
streaming back beyond
|
the white sheets that flap and fly
|
oh, tears of wanting
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
fists and chests
|
|
MANGO CLEARING:
|
oh Mango in the clearing
|
it's his leg or something
|
waiting
|
everything would be alright
|
watching the trees
|
then his toes
|
then the trees
|
deeper into the jungle
|
and leaves him there
|
we turn off the t.v.
|
never forget that night
|
never heard you
|
couldn't sleep
|
hotel window
|
get up to those dark peaks
|
everything would be
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
fists and chests
|
|
GREAT OVERCOAT CLEARING:
|
and when it's not our great overcoat
|
it's a grey and yellow dress
|
so beautiful the bees
|
they followed you through the mall
|
to the clearing in the wilderness
|
and you lay down and I picked you up
|
and I said you must never leave
|
your beautiful hands
|
like knitting needles
|
and I said- it's Jane, it's me
|
|
she said -
|
when you go that's when you go
|
lighten up and pass the cup
|
fifty bucks and that's all you got?
|
yeah, I love you
|
|
there's a white tent that sits
|
in the middle of a raft that floats down
|
floats down the middle of a river
|
of a stream floating down
|
and the tears streaming
|
from the mind's eye
|
streaming back beyond the white sheets
|
that flap and fly
|
oh, tears of hardness
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
fists and chests
|
|
OVERKILL CLEARING:
|
found the snake in the clearing
|
and it tried to kill him of course
|
but then...only after it tried to get away
|
he said -
|
youse the meanest ugliest low-down
|
and he cursed and swore
|
gonna shoot the damn thing
|
(I'll never let nobody hurt you)
|
I watched from the raft
|
and I withdrew my scent
|
it's not hard to kill a snake
|
it's not hard
|
it's not hard to kill a snake
|
it's not that hard
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
fists and chests
|
|
ANGRY CLEARING:
|
what do you mean I love you
|
stop saying I love you
|
I don't know what you mean anyway
|
I don't know what love is and...
|
you don't know what love is and...
|
it doesn't change anything anyway
|
|
ah...who cares
|
who gives a...
|
because all I see
|
is more hate
|
more fear
|
less light than before me
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
fists and chests
|
|
BIRDS AT DAWN CLEARING:
|
get off my branch...
|
stick legs -they are not
|
this is my tree
|
it's getting lighter
|
I'm talking to you
|
turn down your radio
|
dawn is coming - run!
|
|
every morning when the sun comes up
|
as loud as he can Get Up! Get Up!
|
yeah, I love you I love you a lot
|
lighten up and pass the cup
|
|
there's a thousand white tents
|
on a thousand rafts all floating down
|
there's a thousand fists
|
and a thousand chests
|
they come thundering down
|
and the tears streaming
|
from a thousand eyes
|
streaming back beyond the white sheets
|
that flap and fly
|
oh, tears of hunger
|
|
there's a white tent that blows
|
in the middle of a raft
|
that floats down down the middle
|
of a long and lonely dream
|
or is it lovely? can't always tell...
|
and the clearings pass
|
like blowing scarves
|
the slightly familiar
|
the slightly apart
|
and the river never runs dry
|
oh, tears of open
|
|
the white tent the raft
|
the white tent the raft
|
and one red leaf
|
for my love...
|
for your love...
|
|
-----------------
|
The White Tent The Raft
|
Jane Siberry |