I do not exist
We faithfully insist
Sailing in our separate ships
And from each tiny caravel
Tiring of trying
There's a necessary dying
Like the horseshoe crab
In its proper season sheds its shell
Such distance from our friends
Like a scratch across the lens
Made everything look wrong
From anywhere we stood
Our paper flew away
Before we'd left the bay
So half-blind we wrote these songs
On sheets of salty wood

Caught me making eyes
At the other boatmen's wives
And heard me laughing louder
At the jokes told by their daughters [1]

I'd set my course for land
But you well understand
It takes a steady hand
To navigate adulterous waters [2]

The propeller's spinning blades
Held acquaintance with the waves
As there's mistakes I've made
No rowing could outrun

The cloth low on the mast
Like to say I've got no past
But I'm nonetheless
The librarian and secretary's son

With tarnish on my brass
And mildew on my glass
I'd never want someone so crass
As to want someone like me

But a few leagues off the shore
I bit a flashing lure
And I assure you
It was not what I expected it to be [3]

I still taste its kiss
That dull hook in my lip
Is a memory as useless
As a rod without a reel

To an anchor ever-dropped
Seasick yet still docked
Captain spotted napping
With his first mate at the wheel

Floating forgetfully along
With no need to be strong
We keep our confessions long
And when we pray we keep it short

I drank a thimble full of fire
And I'm not ever coming back

Oh, my God

I do not exist
We faithfully insist
While watching sink the heavy ship
Of everything we knew
And if ever you come near
I'll hold up high a mirror
Lord, I could never show you
Anything as beautiful as You