Water Between Us - Joe Henry

A holy ghost hangs in our trees

A cool eye watching over these

And every perfect, crooked thing;

While every crooked dream

Imagines that it walks between

Straight arrow days…

Great water lies between us

I’m bending at the knee—

Great water lies between us

Great water gives my face right back to me

Words may all escape me now

And any song they do allow

Will pull the blinds and push me to the floor

There are lost among the found

Who follow at the hollow sound

Of every shoe outside the door…

Great water lies between us

A vain and reckless sea—

Great water lies between us

Great water lies, but won’t lay down with me

The tongues have been cut from the bells

Lest they swing out loud and tell

How still we hide away

Shadows whisper by like brooms

Skirting halls to basement rooms;

They hunker low, waiting out the day…

Great water lies between us

Great water moves below—

Great water lies between us

Great water begs we both arise and go

Measured up against the air

Everything’s beyond compare;

We’ve never been what we are right now before—

Our victories are unconfirmed

Beyond the pale of what we’ve learned;

But our empty hands are open as a door

Great water lies between us

The way it knows to do—

Great water lies between us

Great water begs I walk across to you