Marillion: Ocean Cloud

(Hogarth/Kelly/Mosley/Rothery/Trewavas)

[Dedicated to Don Allum, and the Ocean Rowers]

He's seen too much of life
And there's no going back
The loneliness calls him
And the edge which must be sharpened
He's losing it. And he knows.
But there's a fighter in his mind and his body's tough
The years have been unkind but kind enough

The smell of the earth
It's his favourite smell
But he's somehow compelled to the stinging salt hell
To the place where he hurts and he's scared
And there's no one to tell
And no one who doesn't listen

"You can take all the boys and the girls in the world
And I'll trade them this morning for my sweet Ocean Cloud
I've seen too much of life
So the sea is my wife and a sweet Ocean Cloud is a mistress I'm allowed
for now."

"You can take all the boys and the girls in the world
I wouldn't trade them this morning for my sweet Ocean Cloud
I've seen too much of life
So the sea is my wife and a sweet ocean cloud is a mistress I'm allowed
for now."

"Only me and the sea
We will do as we please."

He remembers the day he was marched to the front
By the physical knuckle head teacher of games
"Look lads" he declared, "This boy's a cream puff
No guts and no muscles
No spine and no stuffing"
The whole schoolroom sniggered
And silently thanked God it wasn't them..

But time is revenge. All the bullies grow weak
And must live with faithless women who despise them
I'll be in Barbados in a couple of weeks
With a rum on the table and yarns by the yard
A story to tell and a story to save
..unless she changes her mind
I'll trade them this morning for my sweet Ocean Cloud
I've seen to much of life so the sea is my wife
And the sweet ocean clouds will look down on my boat tonight

The wind changed
I felt it run beneath my ear
Like silk drawn across my neck
A dream of your legs
Defying gravity in love

The medium wave
Brought signals here from far away
Your tender voice riding on the sea spray
Something in the air
For those who know the signs
Something in the air
A storm..

When I was alive
When I was alive
Don't wanna remember
When I was alive

Watch me watch me
Paint this picture
Stretchin Hurtin Cursin
Watch me
Takin it Takin it Takin it Takin it....
Watch me. Watch me. God above..

Between two planets
In between the points of light
Between two distant shorelines
Here am I

Between two planets
In the black daylight of space
Between two heavenly bodies
The invisible man.
Ripping out the radio
I want to be alone

"You can take all the boys and the girls in the world
I wouldn't trade them this morning for my sweet Ocean Cloud
I've seen too much of life
So the sea is my wife and a sweet Ocean Cloud is a mistress I'm allowed
I've seen too much of life
So the sea is my wife
And the sweet ocean clouds will look down on my bones tonight..