The Incredible String Band - Maya lyrics

The dust of the rivers does murmur and weep

Hard and sharp laughter that cuts to the bone

Ah, but ever face within your face does show

Going gladly now to give himself his own

And twelve yellow willows shall fellow the shallows

Small waves and thunder be my pillow

Upon the gleaming water two swans that swim

And every place shall be my native home

The east gate like a fortress dissolve it away

The west gate like a prison O come break it down

Island I remember living here

Wandering beneath the empty skies

In time her hair grew long and swept the ground

And seven blackbirds carried it out behind

It bore the holy imprint of her mind

As green-foot slow she moved among the seasons

The great man, the great man, historians his memory

Artists his senses, thinkers his brain

Labourers his growth

Explorers his limbs

And soldiers his death each second

And mystics his rebirth each second

Businessmen his nervous system

No-hustle men his stomach

Astrologers his balance

Lovers his loins

His skin it is all patchy

But soon will reach one glowing hue

God is his soul

Infinity his goal

The mystery his source

And civilisation he leaves behind

Opinions are his fingernails

Maya Maya

All this world is but a play

Be thou the joyful player

The wanderer no sense does make

His eyes being tied in the true love's knot

The trees perceive his soul

Do not detain him long

Dear little animal dark-eyed and small

Caring for your fur with pointed paws

This hawk of truth is swift and flies with a still cry

A small sweetmeat to the eyes of night

O dandelion be thou thine

Reflecting the sun in sexual glory

In every-changing tongues

The every-changing story

The book, man, bird, woman, serpent, sea, sun

Blessed O blessed are they of the air

Your eyes are the eyes

Of the glad land

Ye twelve that will enter the seasons

The great ship, the ship of the world

Long time sailing

Mariners, mariners, gather your skills

Jesus and Hitler and Richard the Lion Heart

Three kings and Moses and Queen Cleopatra

The Cobbler, the maiden

The mender and the maker

The sickener and the twitcher

And the glad undertaker

The shepherd of willows

The harper and the archer

All sat down in one boat together

Troubled voyage in calm weather.