The Light On The Shore

Karine Polwart

Old as I am, older than
The threads of understanding, which we weave between us
Old as you are, older by far
Than the contours of the love that we leave behind us

Bold as I am, bolder than
The pioneers who swept their way across the desert
Bold as you are, bolder by far
The lovers who have swum the tide to be together

Are we old enough and bold enough to say goodbye?
Old enough and bold enough that we do not need to cry?
Well I'm not so old and not so bold I don't need you more
Now the light is slowly beckoning you to the shore

Cold is the ground for which you're bound
It's a place where we can never more be together
Cold is the air that takes you there
On a passage that will end with your end forever

But it's not so cold I do not feel the warmth of your skin
Not so cold I do not know the fires that burn within you
Though they are fading now I wish that they would burn once more
And keep you from the light that's slowly beckoning you to the shore

If I could sail the seas of time then I would keep you from harm
But I am no sailor and I cannot warn you
Though there's nothing in my life I ever wanted more
Than to keep you from the light that's slowly beckoning you
Than to shield you from the light that's slowly beckoning you to the shore