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Canary in an Ancient Mine

from Eventual Spring by Terry Champlin

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from the song cycle Eventual Spring

lyrics

V.Canary in an Ancient Mine

Across the plains of memory,
the full moon sets and day begins;
things we count and things we see,
the swaying grass, the hollow wind...
The swaying grass that keeps the time
like a chime that seeks release.
Canary in an ancient mine,
taster at the emperor’s feast.

Some people you know by their song,
and some you know by the things they sell.
Walk across the sacred lawn,
these fields of the wishing well.
These fields of the wishing well that sing,
as the questing stream, as the unsure wind.
Choose the things that you will bring,
and remember, in the end.

Who knows what the prophets see,
who knows what the wise men think?
We head with greatest certainty
to the well from which we dare not drink.
To the well we dare not find
which reflects the most but shows the least.
Canary in an ancient mine,
taster at the emperor's feast.

We were too clever by a half,
too stupid by a whole.
Drinking from an old carafe,
singing songs we used to know.
Dancing with a witch’s brood,
in some ancient moonlit clearing-
Sing a song of solitude
to anyone who's within hearing.

The horse breaks cover at the pass,
sunlight shining through the trees.
Last day’s journey going fast,
heading for the moonlit sea;
Heading for the moonlit shoal,
the waiting boat, the distant chime;
The night belongs to other souls;
may they profit from the time.

Pack the basket, pour the tea.,
be sure to bring enough to drink
We shuffle towards eternity
on a horse that stops too long to think.
Though it’s hard to tame the beast,
still I stand and guard the time;
Taster at the emperor’s feast;
canary in an ancient mine.

credits

from Eventual Spring, released January 31, 2012
performed by:
Chris Connors, percussion
Helen Avakian, guitar, voice
Sabina Torosjan, violin
Terry Champlin, guitar

recorded by Chris Connors at Highwater Studios.
produced by Chris Connors.
mixed by Chris Conners.
mastered by Mark Dann.

license

all rights reserved

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about

Terry Champlin image

Terry Champlin Pleasant Valley, New York

Originally educated as a theoretical physicist at MIT, Terry switched to music at the age of 21. His music has been performed around the world by such artists as Evangelos and Liza, David Starobin, and The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall.

Terry is on the faculties of Vassar College and the Mannes College of Music. ... more

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