Crossing the Water

Joanne wrote this song at the Pinewoods Camp's Folk Music week. She first performed it there with cello, concertina and harp. I've accompanied it in various ways; here, with twelve-string and Quasi Modals.

I have seen you leave the shore at sunrise

I have felt your oars as they glide

I have poured you honey from the morning sun

Heard you call to the other side.

I have carried your voice along the wind

I have tumbled it on the tide

I have lifted it as its sound grew dim, swallowed it as it died.

You may row the boat forever, believing you are free

You cannot cross the water, you can only row to me.

I have see you pause at midday

Your hands all tired and sore

I have heard you curse yourself for a fool

That you had not progressed more.

And I've hear you curse the water for keeping you from the land

Even as you reached for me to cool your weary hand.

You may row the boat forever, there is nowhere I won't be

You cannot cross the water, you can only row to me.

I have seen you in the sunset with a compass in your hand

I have felt you change direction trying to reach the land.

And I've seen you looking homeward

Ah, but sailor this water is wide

If you knew my voice would tell you, lay the oars aside.

For you'll turn the boat forever, there is nowhere I won't be.

You cannot cross the water, you can only row to me.

You may row the boat forever, there is nowhere I won't be.

You cannot cross the water, you can only row to me.

Crossing the Water is recorded on the album Schooners