The Bird In The Gravel

The master:

I was dreaming in the steam room

Everything was so clear for a minute

And i thought...

And the dripping tiles and...

And i say i'll confess everything

Yes. i own this land

I own these forests surrounding my...my estate

This is my tea coming

Everything i can-i confess

The servant:

Bend

Now i have the bend

The best i ever

Place the tea just so

Then release and turn

Oh no not yet

Then release then go

Better try again

Looking at me he's

Wait til tomorrow

Don't want him to know

Next time he orders tea

Release and turn

Turn and limp away

Turn and limp away

The maid:

I was walking through the forest

On my break today

I had this funny feeling

Something was going to change

I was walking through the dry leaves

It was very strange

They hadn't changed their colour

All the leaves were green

I don't mind when it's over

I don't mind when it's all done

It's just the moments in between

Just before it's gone

Something's going to happen

Something's going to change

I know i know i know...

The pantry:

And when autumn comes

Well, there's lots of work to do

Bill-that means you

Time to clean the kettles and the pots on the wall

Pickling and preserving all the vegetables

Stop kicking the apples

Are we pickling this year?

Yes-you know we are

And when autumn comes

Well, there's lots of work to do

Bill-that means you

Time to get the twigs up-you know, all those stick things

Time to trim back the roses so next year even more grow

Does it hurt them to do that?

Does it hurt them? no.

(truck driver - francesco)

And when autumn comes

Well, deliveries start to go

Here he is now

Down into the valley to the market he goes

Down along the tiny roads that wind along the vineyards

And people lean on their rakes and they say hello

Hello there francesco

Francesco there hello

The bird:

(high sustain)

A boy coming home from lesson

Another boy:

And those are my swans, believe me...

There's no light.

And there isn't because...

It's so dark.

Because it's so dark.

Because it's so dark.

The maid:

I was walking through the dry leaves

It was very strange

The leaves fell without changing

No yellows and no reds

Something's going to happen

Something's going to change

And just then as i looked up

I remembered what you said

I'm crying because i love you

I know that things must change

I can't be there when you leave

What if you're afraid

You said something about the leaving

The moments in between

The yawning when the world shifts

The clanging of the trains

And a dog sits up and growls

And a cow begins to bawl

And a nun nearby stops to listen

Cross herself and then move on

I was laughing in the forest

I fell down in the leaves

And i watched the trees above me

Crossing in the breeze

I love the bare branches

I love the healing bells

The bareness in the last sun

The greyness and the gold

And a flock of geese flew over

And i laughed harder still

I laughed til i was heaving

Then everything was still

The servant:

Bend

Now i have the bend

Place the tea just so

Then release and turn

Oh not yet

Turn away then go

Better try again

He's looking at me

Wait until tomorrow

Don't want him to know

Next time

Time he orders tea

Release and turn

Turn and limp away...

Limp away just go

Turn away just go

Just go...

Just go...

Just go...