WaterFlight

2 weeks ago by @shuttlebat

Liner Notes

I spent 6 years as a crew/rowing athlete, and while those days are behind me, there's a lot of poetry to be found in that for me. I've long said that rowing, when done well, feels as close to uncontained flight as I probably will ever get, and I wanted to explore that here.

This is another one that's very rhythmic, and if I had the time and energy to demo it would have a very specific backbeat - if you can find a YouTube video or two that lets you hear what it's like in a racing shell, you'll know what I mean.

Lyrics

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

Callused hands are gripping tight
Bracing back for lifting
Press your heels down, blade will bite
Shell below you shifting

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

Centered body, centered mind,
Forward focused eyeline
Every driven stroke you’ll find
Inching towards the skyline

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

Rolling, turning, gliding, free
Clock-precision timing
Swinging of your oar plus three
Lungs, the engine priming

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

Easy grace unto the eye
Feeling muscles burning
Skimming between lake and sky
Faster, cleaner, yearning

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

As waterbirds from tide ascend
Wing’ed waves created
From Earthen grasp we ever wend
Our longing never sated

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

Creak of wooden wings
Catch, send, catch, send
Flowing water sings
Catch, send, fly

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