The Bird In the Gravel

[THE MASTER]
I was dreaming in the steam room
Everything was so clear for a minute
And the dripping tiles and...
And I said I'll confess everything
Yes, I own this land
I own these forests surrounding my... my estate
This is my tea coming
Everything I can—I confess

[THE SERVANT]
Bend
Now I have the bend
The best I ever
Place the tea just so

Then release and turn
Oh no not yet
Then release and turn
Turn away then go

[THE MAID]
I was walking through the forest

[THE SERVANT]
Better try again
Looking at me he's

[THE MAID]
On my break today

[THE SERVANT]
Wait 'til tomorrow
Don't want him to know

[THE MAID]
I had this funny feeling

[THE SERVANT]
Next time he orders tea
Release and turn

[THE MAID]
Something was going to change

[THE SERVANT]
Turn and limp away
Turn and limp away

[THE MAID]
I was walking through the dry leaves

[THE SERVANT]
Turn and limp away
Turn and limp away

[THE MAID]
It was very strange
They hadn't changed their colour
All the leaves were green

I don't mind when it's over
I don't mind when it's all done
It's just the moments in between
Just before it's gone

Something's gonna happen
Something's gonna change

[THE PANTRY]
And when, and when autumn comes
Well, there's lots of work to do
Bill—that means you
Time to clean the kettles and the pots on the wall
Pickling and preserving all the vegetables
Stop kicking the apples
Are we pickling this year?
Yes—you know we are

And when, and when autumn comes
Well, there's lots of work to do
Bill—that means you
Time to get the twigs up—you know, all those stick things
Time to trim back the roses so next year even more grow
Does it hurt them to do that?
Does it hurt them?
No, no, no

[The truck driver FRANCESCO arrives]

And when, and when autumn comes
Well, deliveries start to go
Here he is now
Down into the valley fo the market he goes
Down along the tiny roads that wind along the vineyards
And people lean on their rakes and they say hello
Hello there Francesco
Francesco there hello

[THE BIRD, high sustain]

[A BOY COMING HOME FROM LESSON walks on gravel]

[ANOTHER BOY]
And those are my swans, believe me...
There's no light
And there isn't because...
It's so dark
Because it's so dark
Because it's so dark

[THE MAID]
I was walking through the dry leaves
It was very strange
The leaves fell without changing
No yellows and no reds

Something's gonna happen
Something's gonna change

[THE SERVANT]
Place the tea just so

[THE MAID]
And just then as I looked up

[THE SERVANT]
Then release and turn
Oh not yet

[THE MAID]
I remembered what you said

[THE SERVANT]
Turn away then go

[THE MAID]
I'm crying because I love you

[THE SERVANT]
Better try again
He's looking at me

[THE MAID]
I know that things must change

[THE SERVANT]
Wait until tomorrow
Don't want him to know

[THE MAID]
I can't be there when you leave

[THE SERVANT]
Next time...
Time he orders tea

[THE MAID]
What if you're afraid?

[THE SERVANT]
Release and turn
Turn and limp away...

[THE MAID]
You said something about the leaving

[THE SERVANT]
Turn and limp away...
Turn and limp away...

[THE MAID]
The moments in between

[THE SERVANT]
Turn and limp away...
Limp away just go

[THE MAID]
The yawning when the world shifts
The clanging of the trains

And a dog sits up and growls
And a cow begins to bawl
And a nun nearby stops to listen
Cross herself and then move on

I was laughing in the forest
I fell down in the leaves
And I watched the trees above me
Crossing in the breeze

I love the bare branches
I love the healing bells
The bareness in the last sun
The greyness and the gold

And a flock of geese flew over
And I laughed harder still
I laughed 'til I was heaving
Then everything was still