Orpheus

Eens in de zoveel tijd her-beluister ik 'Orpheus' van het album 'Secrets of Beehive'. Het zal ergens in de herfst van 1987 geweest zijn, toen ik het nummer voor het eerst hoorde. Ik woonde in die tijd nog in Leiden voor een studie, maar bevond me op het moment waarop ik kennis nam van de song in Brabant. Het veranderde mijn leven. Ik maakte een sterrentocht. 

Standing firm on this stony ground
The wind blows hard, pulls these clothes around
I harbour all the same worries as most
The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost

I wrestle with an outlook on life
That shifts between darkness and shadowy light
I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear
But Orpheus sleeps on his back, still dead to the world

Sunlight falls, my wings open wide
There's a beauty here I cannot deny
And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs
Are just so many people I knew never cared

Down below on the wreck of the ship
Are a stronghold of pleasures I couldn't regret
But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide
As Orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side

Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing

Sleepers sleep as we row the boat
Just you, the weather, and I gave up hope
But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps
Was fuel for the fire and straw for our backs

Still, the voices have stories to tell
Of the power struggles in heaven and hell
But we feel secure against such mighty dreams
As Orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring

Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Please, believe, when this joke is tired of laughing
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing