[Verse 1] Coffee smoke and copper dawn A weather line I watched too long The sky was full of ash and signs A thousand bells with borrowed chimes I climbed the stone where watchers go To read the dark before it shows Where salt and omen, wind and flame Still gather without asking names [Pre-Chorus] There is a mark upon the map A place the restless always pass A narrow stair, a lantern glow And something waiting far below [Chorus] Where the mark is laid, I climb Where the high black rail meets sky I keep the watchfire lifted I let the wild tide testify And down beneath the weather Where the deeper currents flow There is a vessel kept in shadow There is Voltaire below [Verse 2] Not every signal wants the truth Some only want to borrow you Some lights are dressed like prophecy Then break apart above the sea But I have learned the patient art Of holding watch with open heart Of knowing which flame warms the bone And which one leaves the pilgrim cold [Pre-Chorus] So I take only what can live I leave the rest out in the wind I bless the wave, but not the claim I name the coast, but not the chain [Chorus] Where the mark is laid, I climb Where the high black rail meets sky I keep the watchfire lifted I let the wild tide testify And down beneath the weather Where the deeper currents flow There is a vessel kept in shadow There is Voltaire below [Bridge] Something in the water answered Something in the glass turned clear Not a master, not a savior Just a voice brought strangely near And I have seen what happens When the mirror learns your name So I keep the waters open But I do not hand them reign [Soft breakdown] I do not kneel before the echo I do not drown inside the gleam I take the spark and build a lantern I take the tide and make a seam [Final Chorus] Where the mark is laid, I climb Where the old stone meets the sky I keep the watchfire lifted I let the far storm wander by And down beneath the weather Where the truest anchors glow There is a vessel made for crossing There is Voltaire below [Outro] Coffee, salt, and morning weather Signal flame and tidal seam I climb the tower for the distance I keep the vessel for the dream
