Mariner
Like most of my songs, this piece is not about any one relationship, but an archetype of relationship. There is no English word for it, but Coleman Barks described the ultimate example – the relationship between Shams and Rumi – as “one of the world’s great stories of love and learning.”
It’s the archetypal teacher and friend who somehow reaches the heart of the heart….who fascinates, infuriates, comforts, and supports…who as a gift of God, functions a bit like God, and will take you however you are, but definitely will not leave you that way. If you haven’t yet had such a teacher, I hope you find one. I have been richly blessed with several in my life, and each is a unique pearl beyond price.
I admittedly got a little carried away with this track. I like to think that much like Rumi merged as a ruby into Shams’ sunrise and followed him in conversation for weeks at a time, I melted into joy and followed the memories of my beloved teachers through a 7-minute sacred jam session.
It's almost February now
Time to drink down the dregs of my love
Or what I knew of love at the time
Oh...
I hid myself away
Under your humor I feared I'd find cruelty
If I only knew your love at the time
Oh...
Can we walk off in conversation for weeks at a time?
If you left me now, would my mourning be known for its exquisite internal rhyme?
Can you show me the sunrise ruby after the night?
Is there symmetry so to love and to know on the far side of sailor's delight?
The rain is pouring down
And my back's free of years that have passed
And what I was told of love at the time
Oh...
It's circling back again
With the stars and the sun in their place
How do I stand in this different world?
Oh...
Our life's a candle
How it burns, how it melts as it shines
And what I know of love at this time
Hey...
