Douglas Traherne Harding Lyrics - Incredible String Band

When I was born I had no head 

My eye was single and my body was filled with light 

And the light that I was, was the light that I saw by 

And the light that I saw by, was the light that I was 

And many's the time that I've passed by the river 

And saw no tollman and needed no ferryman to cross 

And I enjoyed the world aright 

For the sea itself floweth 

And warm I was and crowned. 

But one day walking by the river 

I met a tollman with an angry face 

And many's the time I passed through his tollgate 

And paid no silver and paid no fee 

But rather I did hide my sheep and goats under the bags of oatmeal 

And cold I was, no crown did I wear 

But if you're walking down the street 

Why don't you look down to the basement 

And sitting very quietly there is a man who has no head 

His eye is single and his whole body also is filled with light 

And the streets are his and all the people 

And even the temples and the whole world 

And many's the time he walks to the river 

And seeing the ferryman and seeing the tollman 

The light within him leaps to greet them 

For he sees that their faces are none but his own 

One light, the light that is one though the lamps be many 

You never enjoy the world aright 

"Till the sea itself floweth 

In your vein and you are clothed 

With the heavens and crowned with the stars"