THE TIDE
Words and music by Sarah McQuaid
Recorded on Walking Into White (2015)
These tidal waters tell a lie
Their broad and shining surface hides
A narrow path through muddy shallows
Marked by secret signs
The channel twists and turns
And heaven help you if you try
To find a shorter way across
Or if you fail to read the signs
You’ll run aground with no way out
Until the turning of the tide
But the tide will rise in time
Be ready with your boat to meet it
Feel the water lift you
Till you’re floating free
Hoist your sail and find a channel
Deep enough to carry you
To open sea
Well there’s been time for many tides
To fall and rise since you and I
Fetched up in shallow waters
That have muddied up our lives
The channel flows just out of reach
In sight of where we lie
And watch so many ships and sailors
Gliding effortlessly by
They glance at us with pity
In their sad and knowing eyes
But the tide will rise in time
We’ll be ready with our boat to meet it
Feel the water lift us
Till we’re floating free
Hoist our sail and find a channel
Deep enough to carry us
To open sea
