The White Tent The Raft Lyrics - Jane Siberry

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...