I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves.
I keep my lamp lit, to warn the sailors on their way.

I'll tell a story, paint you a picture from my past.
I was so happy, but joy in this life seldom lasts.

I had a keeper, he helped me warn the ships at sea.
We had grown closer, 'till his joy meant everything to me.

And he was to marry, a girl who shone with beauty and light.
And they loved each other,
And with me watched the sunsets into night.

And the waves crashing around me, the sand slips out to sea.
And the winds that blow remind me,
Of what has been, and what can never be.

She'd had to leave us, my keeper he prayed for a safe return.
But when the night came,
The weather to a raging storm had turned.

He watched her ship fight,
But in vain against the wild and terrible wind.
In me so helpless, as dashed against the rock she met her end.

And the waves crashing around me, the sand slips out to sea.
And the winds that blow remind me,
Of what has been, and what can never be.

Then on the next day, my keeper found her washed up on the shore.
He kissed her cold face,
That they'd be together soon he'd swore.

I saw him crying, watched as he buried her in the sand.
And then he climbed my tower, and off of the edge of me he ran.

And the waves crashing around me, the sand slips out to sea.
And the winds that blow remind me,
Of what has been, and what can never be.

I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves.
And though I am empty, I still warn the sailors on their way.


Lyrics submitted by kevin

The Lighthouse's Tale Lyrics as written by Chris Thile Adam Mckenzie

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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The Lighthouse's Tale song meanings
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    General Comment

    This song is very ineteresting. It begins with the personification of a lighthouse into being a keeper's best friend. Perhaps this could signify that the keeper valued his work over his relationship with his love. As both the dominant role in a relationship, and his job as a lighthouse's keeper-- his job was to protect and save, yet come the focal point of the song (his love's death) he could do nothing as either her lover or the lighthouse/guardian. That one failure could have set him off the edge, realizing that he coudln't save the one person who really mattered. For a while when i listened to this song, i coudln't understand the line "and off the edge of me he ran" I coudln't hear the words properly. Today whilst listening to this song, that clicked and i got so choked up. What a great story.

    perpetual_songbirdon August 20, 2006   Link

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