The White Tent The Raft Lyrics - Singles - Siberry Jane

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 tv 

never forget that night 

never heard you 

couldn't sleep 

hotel window 

get up to those dark peaks 

everything would be alright 

(transparent): 

there's a clearing to the right 

there's mango 

clutching his knees 

looking at his feet 

watching the trees 

bees bees 

like he's always there 

that he doesn't care 

maybe not 

but he's been waiting there 

for them to return 

for a long long time 

i get angry as i watch 

see him wait 

only half alive 

so patient there 

looking at his toes 

picking at his fur 

watching the trees 

... finally she comes 

picks him up 

safe now 

clings to her 

waited all this time 

i guess he was right 

what do i know 

at both things i cried 

and she holds him tight 

knows his little body well 

he's come from her 

she moves back into the trees 

not like northern trees 

but the jungle somewhere 

moves deeper and deeper 

into the thickness 

she leaves him there 

why should he survive?... 

i turn off the tv 

that night we both cried 

i will never forget that night 

another man, dancing 

i came back so alive 

you were so open 

someone i didn't talk to much 

not really talk 

------ 

though travelled side by side 

we cried for mango 

you were so open 

-- 

side by side 

mango in the clearing 

the ships in the harbour 

finally fell asleep 

cried ourselves 

well, i couldn't sleep 

got up 

frowned alone 

the middle of the night 

the summer breeze 

raised my eyes 

up to the peaks 

so dark and moving back 

the crouch white 

and i knew 

if i could only get there 

everything would be alright 

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 i love you a lot 

(transparent): 

(ASSISI, ITALY 1986) 

as you move away from me 

for whatever it all means 

i call you back but you don't hear 

at least you have some joy in my dreams 

and when it's not my great overcoat 

it's a grey and yellow dress 

i tried to find for you 

so beautiful the bees followed you too 

through the mall 

out into the fields where the flowers blow 

and when i woke one night 

and the wind was blowing ceaselessly 

and with such violence 

i walked out to the terrace 

to throw myself off 

then the darkness charged 

my shirt with such light 

i forgot my purpose 

and drifted away 

through the gardens 

to find my great overcoat 

and i sat and waited for you 

i waited and watched 

but you lay transparent and waxen 

only your see-through fingers 

fluttering a description 

of her "silver umbrella 

the most beautiful you had ever seen" 

you can't ever leave me 

because part of me goes with you 

and part of you stays with me 

and waits for the wind to stop 

and understands the silence with me 

and drifts through the darkened garden 

in our great overcoat 

`til we are stopped by a marbled portico 

that stares at us like a map 

i've remembered and will 

for many years 

or all my life 

for who will know 

when i lay back 

the time i go 

my hands will flutter 

in the same way 

like the sifting snow 

the drifting snow 

the silver umbrella 

it was so beautiful... 

i'd never ever ever ever... 

it's very warm 

are you warm... 

there's water nearby 

i can tell... 

(assisi, italy `86) 

and her soul escaped or tried to 

but me- i tried not to let her 

i ran and picked her up 

she was light as a feather 

and her hands were knitting needles 

and we talked about the weather 

and the hands fluttered in the air 

about a silver umbrella she saw there 

her friend has won it at the fair 

the most beautiful she'd ever seen 

fluttered down the autumn leaves 

caught like jags of silver 

in the woolen weave of my love for her 

i said - it's me 

you must never ever leave 

and her hands described a silver umbrella 

or was it a silver tent... 

or was it a white tent now... 

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 

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 

bird 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 long 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 for 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 scarfs 

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