Halo

the driver says
‘if i were someone years away i’d think of you
and all the silence in that wood
as sure as the day
we’re all forgiven in the end
even the maid
who drives the devil through the hills’
and pilot says ‘if i was sunlight
just a ray of falling sun
i would blindfold everyone and rise again’

the driver says
‘think of someone years ago
a martyr yourself
and all the summers in that wood
and all it said
‘son we’re never cast away
can’t fall by the wayside
though we try harder every day’
and all decided
and all’s forgiven every word that cried in vain
‘if i was sunlight
just a ray of falling sun
and all was silent everyone
i’d call you day
who are the limit of my eyes i’d call you all’

i understand
the roads are narrow
and you’re driving much too slow
first you come find me
then you go quiet
how long can you hold your breath
before you wait too long

you’re so lucky
we all agree
you hold your heart out
for everyone to see
you’ve got money but you’d better not stay
no don’t you wait too long

you’ve got problems
that you can’t confess
you’ve got an eye dear inside your dress
you’ve got a highway
behind your smile
don’t you wait too long

now it’s midnight
in the hall of fame
you try to telephone but you can’t explain
you go upstairs
and you never come down
how long can you hold your breath
before you wait too long

night is a friend
sun it sleeps again
moon waits at the window
while the violins descend

and i’ll pretend
i’m a senator yes i am
and you be the bride
with a bird caught in your smile

and while you’re asleep
somebody pulls the puppet strings
and your blue thing
goes singing out in a cornfield after all

and i’d be the nurse
and doctor to your ills
your water, your pills
and your nervous daffodils

and i’d be the judge
and punish every bruise
and i would be the jailor to thee
but i know that it’s no use

’cause while i’m asleep
somebody sets you free

and you just pretend
that you don’t understand
with a tear stain sky
and a train crash in your eye

so you be the stranger
and you be the prize
locked in some eternity
that we don’t realise

but while you’re asleep
somebody steals your eyes
and your blue thing
goes singing out in a cornfield after all

come on eat sugar
time is ripe
you’ll make your fortune tonight
in a halo of light

looks don’t decieve you
don’t believe that it’s done
if he’s fortune’s son
who might you be

they don’t dream sugar
under the glass
take a look inside
it’s on the table for us

come on eat sugar
come complete sugar
with your darkness inside
in a halo of light

come on smile sugar
now there’s no surprises any more
with your lino breath
and your talking hair

looks don’t decieve you
don’t believe that it’s done
now he’s fortunes son
who might you be

come on eat sugar
time is ripe
make your fortune tonight
in a halo of light
in a halo of light

rabbit and malone
were drunk in a boat
with eyes made of coals
and madelaine
she sang like a stone
‘i’d rather stay here at home’

driving in the sea
that brings you close to me
i’ll hold your head down to a shell
where everything is small

alice called
with her filthy rainbows
but she won’t say what she knows
for you i’m falling alive
but i won’t break my bones
heaven’s head is hollow
her hair all drunk with sorrows
she holds her head down in a bowl
of crawling stars

all i knew
was the guns far below
and the sun shining in
and i never believed anything
though the night was filled with eyes

dancing in the ruin
sometimes you’re almost human
please hold my head down to the stones
till i am small

white eyed
winters come
driving in the wind
with a cold design

light are you afraid
high in the wind
i can find you over again

sun i heard you sing
at the waters edge
old again
on winter’s day

light are you afraid
high in the wind
i can find you over again

sun i hear you say
forget me
now is like then
at winters end

wide eyed
following your sign
take me
to the water’s edge

light are you afraid
high in the wind
i can find you over again

sun i hear you sigh
forget me
now is like then
at winters end