LONI

© 1986 Jan Harmon

Gordon – vocal & 12-string guitar 

Will, Matt, Kat, Jim, David, Anne –vocals

 

An early, off-season visit to Yosemite by Jan and a friend inspired this song.

 

High along the John Muir trail from Whitney toward Star King

Lon and I set pace to reach Yosemite that spring

And like some dream of Gulliver we spied El Capitan

Wild gables, spires and granite walls not shaped by any man

 

Night fell like talus from the stone and Loni said to me

Douse the fire, but keep the flame, 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

Douse the fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

 

Black bear roamed the tamarack from Cloud's Rest to Cock's Comb

Where silent snowmelts filled the streams that burst and tumbled down

And where Tananya caught the moon Loni said to me  

Douse the Fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

Douse the Fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

 

From dogwood and Sequoia stands we climbed the Vernal Trail

By Big-leaf Maple shine with mist we scaled the Bridal Veil

And when Half-Dome, the hooded hawk set her shadow free

We doused the fire but kept the flame 'til morning warmed old Tuolemne

Douse the fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

 

Now I know around Cathedral Peak the seasons cloud and clear    

And it seems I can't quite count the years since Lon and I were there

Still when all the darkness falls, it's Loni close to me

Douse the Fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

Douse the Fire, but keep the flame 'til morning warms old Tuolemne

 

 

 

 

Loni is recorded on the album Because You Asked and can also be found on the album So Bravely Dream, songs by Jan Harmon recorded by the Quasimodal Chorus.