From the recording Soar
“Wayfarer’s Son” takes us on a journey from innocence to betrayal. It feels like a traditional story song with a narrative form, but something straight from a dream which is not fully explained. Its acoustic instrumentation and almost repetitive form continue to draw us in deeper as fiddle and layered voices try to push out the darkness brought on by the exploitation of our natural world.
Lyrics
When I was young, I longed to wander
Far from everything I’d known
So I hopped a train, goin west through the plains
And there I met a wayfarer’s son
He told me of his life,
And the places he would go
I knew right then I’d be his wife
And he’d keep me with silver and gold
The wayfarer’s son he kept his word
And our days were sweet and fine
He could build anything, and he loved to hear me sing
I never questioned his mind
But one day I wandered far
And couldn’t believe what I’d seen
The land was sick and the sky was thick
And only my house was green
No, No No, No, No, No, No, No No No
The wayfarer’s son he laughed at me
Said how do you like it now?
I gave you everything you ever asked of me
You never asked me how
I’m leaving here before long
Now I see the damage you’ve done
The land and the seas and the fish and the trees
Are better then your hole in the ground
I’ll be leavin here before long
Though you have flown me around the sun
Cause I cannot carry the weight of your world
Not even for a wayfarer’s son
No, No No, No, No, No, No, No No No
I’ll be leavin here before long
Cause I see the damage you’ve done
And I cannot carry the weight of your world
Not even for a wayfarer’s son
Not even for a wayfarer’s son