Darwin Prophet

Lyrics

Nightingale and the Rose

She said that she would dance with me
if I brought her a scarlet rose
the nightingale listened as he wept
for the only love he had known
she sings of him everynight
for all the roses are white
what as the foam of the sea
white is the rose of this tree

all I want is one to give to my love
only a red rose will do
can I get one from you?

Nightingale found a rose of gold
and she offered his sweetest song
if he’d tell her where the red one grows
and he started to sing along,
“ My brother’s roses are red,
but winter left him for dead.
You can ask, but I must warn,
all that he has left are thorns. “

all I want is one to give to my love
only a red rose will do
can I get one from you?

“ There is a way,” said the tree to the little bird.
“The price may be too high to pay,
for some, love is just a word.
You’ll build a rose out of song
and pierce your heart on my thorn.
Sing to me all thru the night.
There’s magic in the moonlight
If you believe
Love is better than life.”

She pressed her breast into his thorn
With each song, pink petals were born
She sang of love until the dawn.
“Hurry,” he said, “or the moon will be gone.”
and as the sun rose overhead,
she cried out with her last breath,
“My heart has turned the rose to red.”