Spirit Voices

Album: The Rhythm Of The Saints (1990)
Play Video
  • We sailed up a river wide as a sea
    And slept on the banks
    On the leaves of a banyan tree
    And all of these spirit voices rule the night

    Some stories are magical, meant to be sung
    Songs from the mouth of the river
    When the world was young
    And all of these spirit voices rule the night

    By moon
    We walk
    To the brujo's door
    Along a path of river stone
    Women with their nursing children
    Seated on the floor
    We join the fevers
    And the broken bones

    The candlelight flickers
    The falcon calls
    A lime-green lizard scuttles down the cabin wall
    And all of these spirit voices
    Sing rainwater, sea water
    River water, holy water
    Wrap this child in mercy â?? heal her
    Heaven's only daughter
    All of these spirit voices rule the night

    My hands are numb
    My feet were lead
    I drank a cup of herbal brew
    The sweetness in the air
    Combined with the lightness in my head
    And I heard the jungle breathing in the bamboo

    Saudocoes -- Greetings!
    Da licenca um momento -- Excuse me, one moment
    Te lembro -- I remind you
    Que amanha -- That tomorrow
    Sera tudo ou sera naoa -- It will be all or it will be nothing
    Depende coracao -- It depends, heart
    Sera breve ou sera grande -- It will be brief or it will be great
    Depende da paixao -- It depends on the passion
    Sera sujo, sera sonho -- It will be dirty, it will be a dream
    Cuidado, coracao -- Be careful, heart
    Sera util, sera tarde -- It will be useful, it will be late
    Se esmera, coracao -- Do your best, heart
    E confia -- And have trust
    Na forca do amanha -- In the power of tomorrow

    Lord of the earthquake
    My trembling bed
    The spider resumes the rhythm
    Of his golden tread
    And all of these spirit voices rule the night Writer/s: PAUL SIMON
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Nomadicpsyconaut from North AmericaI’ve always had a strong affinity to this song. After my own experience with the herbal brew I instantly understood what the song was about. The DMT does connect you with your perception in ways that can’t be effectively articulated. Hand going numb, feet feel lead, then hearing the world breathe is a standard experience and was life altering for me as I hope it was for Mr. Simon.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."