Sweet William

Sweet William - Johnny Flynn

I was born with this story it's older than I

Yet you when you hear it you'll know in the sky

In the wind of your knowledge in the cut of your jib

That the fibre of wind is as new from my lip

As was ever and more

And ever will be

'Til the union we face casts us finally free

For we in the love of an earth bidden dance

Stand enthralled of that

Which from heaven perchance

Let's us move with the gifts we were given in grace

And smile in the arms of sweet William's embrace

William's wanderings took him abroad

Showed him the lay of the searcher's long road

To the place he stood now 'neath the black laden sky

And the crook of his father had brought fortune nigh

Read the sign where he looked

Not the bull nor the bear

Nor a burly red lion or the tortoise and hare

For we in the love of an earth bidden dance

Stand enthralled of that

Which from heaven perchance

Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace

And smile in the arms of sweet William's embrace

The end of the world was the name of the Inn

Said fair William farewell to the world and it's sin

It's sin

Full balmy was the winter air

All wet with what might die

A wishing well the ocean bear

A millpond in his eyes

A glance to see from whence he came

For William with a landlocked turn

Vermin what he stood to lose

The skin shot snakes and earthy worms

His boots trod soft inside the inn

His greeted all was here

Abrasive lowly nods came back

Then bent toward their beer

They must know I thought willy now

They've seen me come from miles

The thought was struck as whisky poured

And barmen gave all smiles

Then followed this a curious thing

The eldest of the host

Sang softly where he sat and drank

To love a worthy toast

His song was of a stranger

Summoned for his rope

In all would be to set us free

His song was strong and bold

It went

For we in the love of an earth bidden dance

Stand enthralled of that

Which from heaven perchance

Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace

And smile in the arms of sweet William's embrace

I was born with this story it's older than I

And yet you when you hear it you'll know in the sky

In the wind of your knowledge in the cut of your jib

That the fibre of wind is as new from my lip

As was ever and more

And ever will be

'Til the union we face casts us finally free