From the recording Many Miles Away

from the album: Cowboys and Brazilians

Lyrics

he left the back bay looking tired
in a yellow cab and a yellow shirt
he held on to his guitar case
like he held on to his hurt
June sweat in the evening
curling up his hair
rolling down the window
he could feel her in the air
and he asked, he asked
is it the northern lights, is it the southern breeze
is it the western moon, or the eastern freeze
is it you I hear - who can say
many miles from here, many miles away
on the corner of the bed
with the bottle in room eight
holding on to a guitar case
well she’s probably running late
now there’s no promised land for Joshua
no one’s gonna be set free
vodka and valium, the new Plan B
And he asked, he asked
is it the northern lights, is it the southern breeze
is it the western moon, or the eastern freeze
is it you I hear - who can say
many miles from here, many miles away
she stopped and looked up at the sky
she knew that she had sinned
she left one without an answer
the other twisting in the wind
holding on to her guitar case walking back into the plane
she said “I’m just not gonna answer and I’m not gonna explain”
and she asked out loud to no one
is it the northern lights, is it the southern breeze
is it the western moon, or the eastern freeze
is it you I hear - who can say
many miles from here, many miles away