Chris Whitley – Vertical Desert lyrics

I LEAN BACK ON THE SUNDIAL
WHERE ANGELS FALL;
TOO LATE TO TELL THE TIME -
YOURS OR MINE
NOW THE LANDSCAPE GESTURES QUESTIONS -
HOW DOES YOUR BODY CLIMB
THE LATITUDE BEYOND ME?
WEIGH THE EVENINGS
SILENCE, SCIENCE, SECRETS;
THE WRECKAGE AND THE PRIZE -
BEHIND YOUR EYES TWO COULD HAVE TASTED
VISIONS RAISED ON VACANCY AND LIES
AND A VERTICAL DESERT;
WHERE YOU STAND NOW,
WHERE I WILL BE MEASURED
UNTIL WE FINALLY FIELD
THE STATIONS, NATIONS, CIVILIZATIONS
UNDERGROUND

CAUSE NOW I KNOW THE LAY OF LAND -
HOW LIVING WITH THE LAW CAN COME APART
CAUSE IF I CARE ENOUGH I WILL BREAK YOUR HEART
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF PLEASURE
UNTIL WHERE WE STAND ALOFT
AT A VERTICAL DESERT

WELL I COME BACK HERE SOMETIMES
ANGELS FALL FIREFLIES ASCEND
OUT BEYOND THE ACHING SKYLINE
RECKLESS DISTANCES ERUPT IN INTOXICATION
BETWEEN THE HARD AND SOFT
OF OUR EVAPORATIONS.

WHERE WE STAND ALOFT
IN THE VERTICAL DESERT
IN THE CURVED AIR OF COLLAPSE
AND CREATION
THE BALLAST OF CHAOS AND
GRAVITY'S LIBERATIONS