Ithkos Lyrics - Incredible String Band

Sardis 

(Oud Tune) 

Lesbos, dawn, Lesbos, evening 

Aegean Sea, dreams fade 

Port of Sybaris, go down Sybaris 

Huntress, hold my gaze 

I sailed out from Sardis just one day past 

Ithkos, Ithkos 

Sailed ot meet the dawn on Lesbos fair 

Ithkos, Ithkos 

My marchant's task on this isle is done 

I call soft evening forht 

To ease up my care 

Aphrodite's temple is sweet with sandorac 

Bright torches start the night to praise her 

Ithkos wipes his mouth and drops the wineskin 

Salt wind fresh in his mind 

Bark brown eyes has Ithkos from Sardis newly come 

The carmined lips of Lesbos fail to please 

And through the noisy night 

Just one plaintive song will match his heart 

The beautiful Aegean sea 

Brings out a weeping need in me 

I can't stand by like a thief in the night 

While that aching lovely light shines on 

Dreams fade now, a new day rings 

Trade pulls the galleon ever on 

To rich Sybaris, port of our call 

Beyond the blue Aegean 

How sweet the sight of peopled shores 

To a wanderer as I, kown from here to Lydia far 

Pale Sybaris knows not my tread 

And fear stalks in my heart for reason unknown 

Gotta come right out and say it 

Pale Sybaris I bear you great scorn 

Tlakin' 'bout your fluted pillars and your muted life 

It's worse to me than death's own chariot rollin' 

Oh hold my gaze light of day 

That my thoughts they will not stray 

To Hippolyta 

The vows that set her free, denied me 

It was right there in Sybaris famed 

That I met with her who's named 

Hippolyta 

Oh hold my gaze bring not the sight 

Of that awful wondrous night 

Far outside the city walls 

Hte Huntress Dance does call 

Hippolyta 

And the vows that set her free, denied me