Incredible String Band Maya Lyrics

Maya Lyrics

Dust of the rivers does murmur and weep

Hard and sharp laughter that cuts to the bone

Ah, but every face within your face does show

Going gladly now to give himself his own



And twelve yellow willows shall fellow the shallows

Small waves and thunder be my pillow

Upon the gleaming water two swans that swim

And every place shall be my native home



The east gate like a fortress dissolve it away

The west gate like a prison, oh, come break it down

Island, I remember, living here

Wandering beneath the empty skies



In time her hair grew long and swept the ground

And seven blackbirds carried it out behind

It bore the holy imprint of her mind

As greenfoot slow, she moved among the seasons



The great man, the great man

Historians his memory

Artists, his senses, thinkers, his brain

Labourers, his growth, explorers, his limbs



And soldiers his death each second

And mystics his rebirth each second

Businessmen, his nervous system

No-hustle men his stomach



Astrologers, his balance, lovers, his loins

His skin it is all patchy

But soon will reach one glowing hue



God is his soul, infinity, his goal

The mystery, his source

And civilisation, he leaves behind

Opinions are his fingernails



Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play

Be thou the joyful player

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play

Be thou the joyful player



The wanderer no sense does make

His eyes being tied in the true love's knot

The trees perceive his soul

Do not detain him long



Dear little animal, dark-eyed and small

Caring for your fur with pointed paws

This hawk of truth is swift and flies with a still cry

A small sweet meat to the eyes of night



Oh, dandelion be thou thine

Reflecting the sun in sexual glory

In ever changing tongues

The ever changing story



The book, man, bird, woman, serpent, sea, sun

Blessed, oh, blessed are they of the air

Your eyes, they are the eyes of the glad land

Ye twelve that will enter the seasons



The great ship, the ship of the world, long time sailing

Mariners, mariners, gather your skills

The great ship, the ship of the world, long time sailing

Mariners, mariners, gather your skills



Jesus and Hitler and Richard, the lion heart

Three kings and Moses and Queen Cleopatra

The Cobbler, the maiden, the mender and the maker

The sickener and the twitcher and the glad undertaker



The shepherd of willows

The harper and the archer

All sat down in one boat together

Troubled voyage in calm weather



Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play

Be thou the joyful player

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play