Strange face, with your eyes
So pale and sincere
Underneath you know well
You have nothing to fear
For the dreams that came to you when so young
Told of a life
Where spring is sprung

You would seem so frail
In the cold of the night
When the armies of emotion
Go out to fight
But while the earth sinks to its grave
You sail to the sky
On the crest of a wave

So forget this cruel world
Where I belong
I'll just sit and wait
And sing my song
And if one day you should see me in the crowd
Lend a hand and lift me
To your place in the cloud


Lyrics submitted by Sweet Blue Way, edited by smallwonderrobot

Cello Song Lyrics as written by Nick Drake

Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

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Cello Song song meanings
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    A disturbingly beautiful song about leaving the pain of earthly existence.

    The end is the transcendent part - where the cello keeps going up the eastern-sounding scale, ascending higher and higher into the clouds until it vanishes. In the final bars, the conga beats are like the singer who stayed behind, on earth, and the upward floating cello notes are like the departed friend being sung to. It's like a more serene version of "Into the Blue" by Roxy Music. But the Roxy song is far less melancholy - it's only about being deliriously in love; not leaving your life behind.

    I feel that this song is dangerous. It can slowly, imperceptibly overtake your soul. It needs a warning label - "Abandon hope all ye who listen here".

    But it is singularly, hauntingly melodious too.

    NomadMonadon April 03, 2012   Link

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