I had the music for this song for months before I stumbled on the lyrics. I had written a poem in college and, for whatever reason, I started singing it with the music I had been playing and it worked. I used the beginning and end verses from the poem, re-wrote the middle, and presto!
lyrics
The man in the water breathed deeply
And lifted his feet from the stones.
“Gone west” his old friends will say of him
Though they'll never really know.
The water here is inviting
Not barren and cold like the shore.
Even strokes of his arms break the sea-foam
Leaving plenty of strength left for more.
Avalon
It won't be long now.
Avalon
Just a little farther
To Avalon
Through a night of crystal and diamond
Making impossible all thoughts of hell.
Towards that land, a purified Eden
Where only the truly alive may dwell.
There to find enough peace to gather
All of the dreams that have not flown yet.
To seek shelter from all of the legions
And find fulfillment without regret.
Avalon
It won't be long now.
Avalon
Just a little farther
To Avalon
Avalon
It won't be long now.
Avalon
Just a little farther
To Avalon
Fear and confusion finally behind him
Like oil, a stain on the waves.
Ahead only the humble horizon
Alive with the promise of a new day.
In time the Westing man floundered
A swelling blue was the last thing he'd see.
“Avalon is not drowned!” he cried in the end
“Its just a little farther out to sea.”
Avalon
It won't be long now.
Avalon
Just a little farther
To Avalon
credits
from Blood&Honey,
released May 13, 2010
Written and performed by Stephen Cluff
Four indie-pop reflections on growth and loss from the Australian singer-songwriter, sustained by robust pianos and fervent vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 29, 2024