[Short instrumental intro: low singing bowl resonance, deep drum heartbeat, distant bronze bell, rolling tom pickup] [Verse 1: warm earthy female vocal, bouncing bass, low frame drum, distant bowl resonance] Life is the stream Often unseen Captured by loss Pause, swirl, then across [Brief ritual fill: wooden slit drum, descending toms, small temple bell] [Verse 2: groove thickens, hand drums join, low reed drone underneath] Never the same Revival and change A calm liquid flow The way to transcend… This stream with no end [Chorus 1: full bouncing percussion, bronze bells and deep drums answering vocal] Pull me in nearer Make waters clearer So I can seek more On the other shore [Short ritual drum break: rolling taiko and barrel drums, slit-drum response, bending ceremonial horn call] [Verse 3: groove drops to bass, frame drum, hand percussion and singing bowl] You can’t look twice At the same stream The water’s gleam Will shift and bring change, It’s just rolling on…. And then it is gone [Bridge: deep heartbeat drum, low drone, sparse wooden knocks] Enter the stream To gain insight A step to enlight [Brief silence, single singing bowl strike] Oooooo! [Huge suspended gong, low ceremonial horn blast, massive drum groove returns immediately] [Verse 4: exuberant rolling percussion, bells and ritual instruments answering phrases] The other shore Offers you more, But do not cling To songs it sings, Since no two extremes Will set you free, And your float to shore… Won’t stop the rain’s pour [Chorus 2: full joyous ceremonial procession, polyrhythmic drums, bells, bowls and horn responses] Pull me in nearer Make waters clearer So I can seek more On the other shore! Oooooo… Oooooo… [Brief ritual outro: rolling drum cascade, singing bowl resonance, scattered bronze bells, one enormous final gong]
