Love and Death
Eternal Dance: Unveiling the Symbolism of Love and Death in The Waterboys' Melody
Lyrics
Behold the flashing waters
Observing the sparkling waters
A cloven dancing jet
A divided, lively stream
That from the milk-white marble
Flowing from the pure white marble
For ever foam and fret
Continuously bubbling and agitating
Far off in drowsy valleys
In distant, sleepy valleys
Where the meadow saffrons blow
Where the yellow flowers of the meadow bloom
The feet of summer dabble
Summer's feet playfully touch
In their coiling calm and slow
In the winding, peaceful water
The banks are worn forever
The riverbanks are forever eroded
By a people sadly gay
By a sadly joyful people
A Titan with loud laughter
A powerful being with boisterous laughter
Made them of fire clay
Shaped them from clay with fire
Go ask the springing flowers
Consult the blossoming flowers
And the flowing air above
And the air above, in motion
What are the twin-born waters
Ask about the paired waters
And they'll answer Death and Love
They will respond: Death and Love
With wreaths of withered flowers
Adorned with dried-up flowers
Two lonely spirits wait
Two solitary spirits linger
With wreaths of withered flowers
Wearing wreaths of withered flowers
'Fore paradise's gate.
Before the entrance to paradise
They may not pass the portal
They are unable to enter the gateway
Poor earth-enkindled pair
Poor earthly pair ignited with love
Though sad is many a spirit
Though many spirits sorrowfully desire
To pass and leave them there
To pass and leave them behind
Still staring at their flowers
Continuously gazing at their faded flowers
That dull and faded are
Which have lost their vibrancy
If one should rise beside thee
If one rises beside you
The other is not far
The other is not distant
Go ask the youngest angel
Consult the youngest angel
She will say with bated breath
She will say quietly
By the door of Mary's garden
At the entrance of Mary's garden
Are the spirits Love and Death
Reside the spirits Love and Death
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