Long River

Inside the ambulance. the sound of sirens. i feel cold and heavy sleep. the sirens sound distant. i shut my eyes closed, reopening them beside the margins of a river, through which one balsa slowly approaches. i think i know the man that leads the balsa, so i walk to the margin. then i see dead men emerging from the waters.

The choir of drowned men:

Let it drown

Let it drown

I step into the balsa.

Charon, the coriphaeus:

Understand that rivers flow to the ocean

So will this one that now we sail

Understand the beauty in the need of these winds to come

Beautiful ship so fragile

See this fish that feeds the man that will feed the worm

Then to the salmon feed again

Does the fish ask why to die or to be born?

Why the worm, the hook, the man?

Let the long river run

Drowned men:

We all gonna drown

Let the long river run...

Charon:

Life is short, friend, there's no time, you must realize

Till death takes you by the hand

Understand that to us all death is no surprise

So be prepared, my dying friend

Let the long river run

Drowned men:

We all gonna drown

Let the long river run...

Charon & drowned men:

Waters go by beneath the skies

Running from my eyes

As long i sail, my will prevail

When wind ceases i will die

Charon:

Understand you have to let the long river run

Understand you have to let the long river run

Let the long river run...

I fall from the balsa, sinking into the deep icy waters.

Charon:

Let the long river run

Inaction is action

Now you know the way

Let the long river run...

Run over lover and mother

Possessions and mind distractions

Run over pushing too far

Run over family, enemies,

Religion, friendly prisons,

Boring days and my guitar

I drown.