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The Great Exhale Lyrics
Look at the names carved into rocks
Look at the days when they were lit up
Brush of my hand, and I feel their age
Years of radiance, years of rain
And the world stops spinning when you stop spinning
And sighs when you sigh, when you sigh
I’m coming home, so leave the light on for me
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
Uncertain ground, so I walk lightly
Translating names of lost families
Some body’s sleeping, that you should not wake
Drifting whispers over damp clay
And the world stops spinning when you stop spinning
And sighs when you sigh, when you sigh
I’m coming home, so leave the light on for me
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
Wide and open spaces, been asleep a long time
Punctuating places, coming up like old teeth
I’m coming home, so leave the light on for me
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
I’m soaring in on the great exhale
Look at the days when they were lit up
Brush of my hand, and I feel their age
Years of radiance, years of rain
And sighs when you sigh, when you sigh
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
Translating names of lost families
Some body’s sleeping, that you should not wake
Drifting whispers over damp clay
And sighs when you sigh, when you sigh
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
Punctuating places, coming up like old teeth
I’m drawing over the luminous veil
And when I get in I will see you all there
I’m drawing on the great exhale
I’m soaring in on the great exhale
Song Info
Submitted by
cyberghost On Apr 24, 2012
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I find this to be a sublime reference to remembering ancient peoples who occupied the land. You can imagine caves where "they were lit up", as the writer feels the walls and imagines ghosts that "whisper over damp clay," and he gives them their due respect for passing, being careful that he "should not wake" them.
I also believe this is a song about the fragility of life, and our imminent passing away from this realm. But there is hope in it: he is drawing the "luminous veil" aside, like a glowing, beautiful curtain between this world and the next. He's coming home, soaring in on the last breath of his life, and expecting to see all those who have made the transition. He is drawing a great lesson from that "great exhale".
Beautifully written, and sublimely performed.
I could be wrong but there are some adjustments I'd make to the lyrics.
"Look at the names carved into rocks"
"Brushing my head and I feel their age"
"Drifting whispers over damp clay"
"Somebody's sleeping that you should not wake"
"Im coming home so leave the light on for me. Im drawing in on the luminous veil."
"I'm soaring in on the great exhale"
At first I had one lyric change in mind but then saw many other mistakes. Please delete my multiple posts! I can't seem to find a delete button or l procedure.
I could be wrong but there are some adjustments I'd make to the lyrics.
"Look at the names carved into rocks..."
"Brushing my head and I feel their age..."
"I'm coming home so leave the light on for me. Im drawing in on the luminous veil..."
"Somebody's sleeping that you should not wake. Drifting whispers over damp clay."
"Wide open spaces. In a sleep a long time (?) Punctuating places (?) Coming out like old teeth."
"I'm soaring in on the great exhale."
Also, the line "Certain grounds are water more likely" seems highly suspect.