The Bird In the Gravel

Lyrics

[THE MASTER] I was dreaming in the steam room Everything was so clear for a minute And the dripping tiles and... And I said I'll confess everything Yes, I own this land I own these forests surrounding my... my estate This is my tea coming Everything I can—I confess [THE SERVANT] Bend Now I have the bend The best I ever Place the tea just so Then release and turn Oh no not yet Then release and turn Turn away then go [THE MAID] I was walking through the forest [THE SERVANT] Better try again Looking at me he's [THE MAID] On my break today [THE SERVANT] Wait 'til tomorrow Don't want him to know [THE MAID] I had this funny feeling [THE SERVANT] Next time he orders tea Release and turn [THE MAID] Something was going to change [THE SERVANT] Turn and limp away Turn and limp away [THE MAID] I was walking through the dry leaves [THE SERVANT] Turn and limp away Turn and limp away [THE MAID] It was very strange They hadn't changed their colour All the leaves were green I don't mind when it's over I don't mind when it's all done It's just the moments in between Just before it's gone Something's gonna happen Something's gonna change [THE PANTRY] And when, and when autumn comes Well, there's lots of work to do Bill—that means you Time to clean the kettles and the pots on the wall Pickling and preserving all the vegetables Stop kicking the apples Are we pickling this year? Yes—you know we are And when, and when autumn comes Well, there's lots of work to do Bill—that means you Time to get the twigs up—you know, all those stick things Time to trim back the roses so next year even more grow Does it hurt them to do that? Does it hurt them? No, no, no [The truck driver FRANCESCO arrives] And when, and when autumn comes Well, deliveries start to go Here he is now Down into the valley fo the market he goes Down along the tiny roads that wind along the vineyards And people lean on their rakes and they say hello Hello there Francesco Francesco there hello [THE BIRD, high sustain] [A BOY COMING HOME FROM LESSON walks on gravel] [ANOTHER BOY] And those are my swans, believe me... There's no light And there isn't because... It's so dark Because it's so dark Because it's so dark [THE MAID] I was walking through the dry leaves It was very strange The leaves fell without changing No yellows and no reds Something's gonna happen Something's gonna change [THE SERVANT] Place the tea just so [THE MAID] And just then as I looked up [THE SERVANT] Then release and turn Oh not yet [THE MAID] I remembered what you said [THE SERVANT] Turn away then go [THE MAID] I'm crying because I love you [THE SERVANT] Better try again He's looking at me [THE MAID] I know that things must change [THE SERVANT] Wait until tomorrow Don't want him to know [THE MAID] I can't be there when you leave [THE SERVANT] Next time... Time he orders tea [THE MAID] What if you're afraid? [THE SERVANT] Release and turn Turn and limp away... [THE MAID] You said something about the leaving [THE SERVANT] Turn and limp away... Turn and limp away... [THE MAID] The moments in between [THE SERVANT] Turn and limp away... Limp away just go [THE MAID] The yawning when the world shifts The clanging of the trains And a dog sits up and growls And a cow begins to bawl And a nun nearby stops to listen Cross herself and then move on I was laughing in the forest I fell down in the leaves And I watched the trees above me Crossing in the breeze I love the bare branches I love the healing bells The bareness in the last sun The greyness and the gold And a flock of geese flew over And I laughed harder still I laughed 'til I was heaving Then everything was still