GlassPages

Songs from Liquid Days

Music by Philip Glass

Lyrics by Paul Simon, Suzanne Vega,
David Byrne and Laurie Anderson

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc., New York

 
 

• CHANGING OPINION

Lyrics by Paul Simon

Gradually
we became aware
of a hum in the room
an electrical hum in the room
It went mmmmmm

We followed it from
corner to corner
We pressed out ears
against the walls
We crossed diagonals
and put our hands on the floor
It went mmmmmm

Sometimes it was
a murmur
Sometimes it was
a pulse
Sometimes it seemed
to disappear
But then with a quarter-turn
of the head
it would roll around the sofa
A nimbus humming cloud
mmmmmm

Maybe it's the hum
of a calm refrigerator
cooling on a big night
Maybe it's the hum
of our parents' voices
long ago in a soft light
mmmmmm

Maybe it's the hum
of changing opinion
or a foreign language
in prayer
Maybe it's the mantra
of the walls and wiring
Deep breathing
in soft air
mmmmmm

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.



 
 

• LIGHTNING

Lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Lightning struck a while ago
And it's blazing much too fast
But give it rain of waiting time
And it will surely pass
Blow over

And it's happening so quickly
As I feel the flaming time
And I grope about the embers
To relieve my stormy mind
Blow over

Shaken this has left me
And laughing and undone

With a blinding bolt of sleeplessness
That's just begun
And a windy crazy running
Through the nights and through the days
And a crackling
Of the time burned away
Burned away
Now I feel it in my blood
All hot and sharp and white
With a whipcrack and a thunder
And a flash of flooding light

But there'll be a thick and smoky
Silence in the air
When the fire finally dies
And I'm wondering who'll be left there

In the ashes of time
Burned away
Burned away

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.



 
 

• IN LIQUID DAYS

Lyrics by David Byrne

Oh Round Desire
Oh Red Delight
The River is Blood
The Time is Spent

Love likes me
Love takes it shoes off and sits on the couch
Love has an answer for everything
Love smiles gently...and crosses its legs
well here we are well here we are

Sleep
Sleep

Sleep...Being in Air
Sleep...Turning to speak
Sleep...Losing our Way
Sleep...Pour it all Out

We are old Friends
I offer Love a Beer
Love watches Television
Love needs a bath
Love could use a shave
Love rolls out of the chair and wiggles
on the floor
Jumps Up
I'm Laughing at Love

Drink Me
Drink Me
Drink Me
Drink Me

Drive...Why do You Ask?
Breaths...Still is the Night
Drive...It is much Further
Sleep...Than We Thought

In Liquid Days
Land Travel(s) Hard
Fly Home Daughter
Cover Your Ears

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.



 
 

• OPEN THE KINGDOM

Lyrics by David Byrne

Days of Fishes
Distant Roar
Turning to Speak
Turning to Hear

Open the Kingdom
Open the Kingdom
Open the Kingdom
Open the Kingdom...

In my way
In my way

Being most uncertain
And This Remains

Still for better
Birds of Voices
The Field of Living
I am Asking
I am Asking
I am Asking

Returning Love
Returning With Love
Then it was
Written with Love

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.



 
 

• FREEZING

Lyrics by Suzanne Vega

If you had no name
If you had no history
If you have no books
If you had no family

If it were only you
Naked on the grass
Who would you be then?
This is what he asked
And I said I wasn't really sure
But I would probably be
Cold

And now I'm freezing
Freezing

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.



 
 

• FORGETTING

Lyrics by Laurie Anderson

A man wakes up to the sound of rain
From a dream about his lovers
Who pass through his room.

They brush lightly by, these lovers.
They pass. Never touching.
These passing lovers move through his room.

The man is awake now
He can't get to sleep again.
So he repeats these words
Over and over again:
Bravery. Kindness. Clarity.
Honesty. Compassion. Generosity.
Bravery. Honesty. Dignity.
Clarity. Kindness. Compassion.

Words © Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc / Chester Music Ltd. All rights reserved.