Mike Oldfield - The Song Of Hiawatha Lyrics
By the shore of gitche gumeeBy the shining big-sea-waterAt the doorway of the wigwamIn the early summer morningHiawatha stood and waitedAll the air was full of freshnessAll the earth was bright and joyousAnd before him through the sunshineWestward toward the neighbouring forestPassed in golden swams, the ahmoPassed the bees, the honey-makersBurning, singing in the sunshineBright above him shone the heavensLevel spread the lake before him;From its bosom leaped the sturgeonSparkling, flashing in the sunshineOn its margin the great forestStood reflected in the waterEvery tree-top had its shadowMotionless beneath the waterFrom the bow of hiawathaGone was every trace of sorrowAs the fog from off the waterAs the mist of the meadowWith a smile of joy and gladnessWith a look of exultationAs of one who in a visionSees what is to be, but is notStood and waited hiawathaToward the sun his hands were liftedBoth the palms spread out towards itAnd between the parted fingersFeel the sunshine on his featuresFlecked with light his ***** shouldersAs it falls and flecks an oak-treeThrough the rifted leaves and branchesO'er the water floating, flyingSomething in the hazy distanceSomething in the mist of morningLoomed and lifted from the waterNow seemed floating, now seemed flyingComing nearer, nearer, nearerWas it shingebis, the diver?Or the pelican, the shada?Or the heron, the shuh-shuh-gah?Or the white goose, waw-be-wawa,With the water dripping, flashingFrom its glossy neck and feathers?It was neither goose or diverNeither pelican nor heronO'er the water floating, flyingThrough the shining mist of morningBut a birch canoe with paddlesRising, sinking in the sunshineDripping, flashing in the sunshineAnd within it came a peopleCan it be the sun descendingO'er the level plain of waterOr the red swan floatin, flyingWounded by the magic arrowStaining all the waves with crimsonWith the crimson of its lifebloodFilling all the air with splendourFilling all the air with plumageYes, it is the sun descendingSinking down into the waterAll the sky is stained with purpleAll the water flushed with crimson!No, it is the red swan floatingDiving down beneath the waterTo the sky its wings are liftedWith its blood the waves are reddened!Over it the star of eveningMelts and trembles through the purpleHangs suspended in the twilightWalks in silence through the heavens!(h. w. longfellow. vocals: maddy prior)
