you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile

and I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat to beckon me in languages I've never learned
and I'd like to have you navigate two hills where no musicians live and on the way decide what bendings of your will you're willing to forgive

and I'd like to think the actors never banded
and I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed
and I'd like to think I am not one of them but I know I am
so I'd like to just follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile

when me and the boys were out
we killed a thousand butterflies
so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival
and then a big black car crossed our path
and I wondered whether or not that shit(ship?) was empty
you go

see the sirens and the lizards lick their tongues behind the stage
see the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay
he would like to come home naked without war paint on his face
and appear before you, virgin white if virgin's are still chaste

so when you've got to wait
and you've got to wait (x4)
and you've got to wait for me

and I will appear before you virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
then I'd like to just follow you awhile

and if there are two eyes in my head there are four seasons
in a year
and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere
and the days add up to weeks add up to months
and add up
and add up to years

and if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears
we can watch them change in shape without pushing off the pier



Lyrics submitted by russe, edited by smileyoureontv

You Go On Ahead (Trumpet, Trumpet II) song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    You go on ahead for a while. I would like to follow you a while.... I would like to just follow you a while. I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat, to beckon me in languages I've never learned. I'd like to have you navigate to hills where no musicians live, and on the way decide what 'bendings' of your will you're willing to forgive. And I'd like to think the actors never banded. I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed. I'd like to think I am not one of them, but I know I am, so I'd like to just follow you a while.

    When me and the boys were out we killed a thousand butterflies, so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival. Then a big black car crossed our path, and I wondered whether or not that shit was empty.

    See the sirens and the lizards flick their tongues behind the stage. See the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay. He would like to come home naked without war paint on his face, and appear before you virgin white if virgins are still chaste. So wait, you've got to wait... you've got to wait for me. I'll appear before you virgin white if virgins are still chaste, then I'd like to just follow you a while.

    And if there are two eyes in my head, there are four seasons in a year, and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere. And the days add up to weeks, add up to months, and add up, and add up... to years. And if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears, we can watch them changing shape without pushing off the pier

    copied from their site.

    Miython October 20, 2009   Link

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