?Jim Stewart, SOCAN
From the pen of my favorite New Brunswick poet, Jim Stewart, who composed the epic Marco Polo Suite, "a tribute to one of Canada's most famous ships."?I quote from the notes of his CD: "On its first voyage to Australia (1852) the Marco Polo lost 52 children to a measles epidemic."?The "light" is Cape Otway off Melbourne, the "birds" are Australian swans.
牋牋牋牋牋?Carol was the harper on the original recording of the suite.
Carol ?harp? 牋牋牋牋牋牋?牋牋牋牋牋?Gordon
?viol
There's a light in the
distant darkness tonight
Soon we'll be there,
tomorrow I swear
May the fire in your heart
and eyes be as bright
This is my silent prayer.
牋牋牋牋牋?So rest, baby rest ?by the shining be blest
牋牋牋牋牋?Never in shadows lost
牋牋牋牋牋?This lone holy candle is guiding us on
牋牋牋牋牋?Under the Southern Cross.
There were birds in the
twilight, reeling on high
Like Noah's sign, their
freedom was mine
And although they were
wandering in a strange sky
Theirs was the far
shoreline.
牋牋牋牋牋?So hush, baby, hush ?by wing sounding rush
牋牋牋牋牋?Never in sunset lost
牋牋牋牋牋?These cloud-dwelling dreamers are guiding us on
牋牋牋牋牋?Under the Southern Cross.
And this ship has seen
glory, heartache and mirth
Sunlight and hail, in
doldrums and gale
Though she's ten thousand
miles from the land of her birth
On through this night we
sail.
牋牋牋牋牋?So sleep, baby, sleep ?by the wind and the deep
牋牋牋牋牋?Never again be tossed
牋牋牋牋牋?This proud weary traveler's taking us home
牋牋牋牋牋?Under the Southern Cross.
牋牋牋牋牋?
Southern Cross is recorded on the Gordon Bok album Gatherings, and on the Jim Stewart album Marco Polo Suite