Maya Lyrics - Incredible String Band

Dust of the rivers does murmur and weep 

Hard and sharp laughter that cuts to the bone 

Ah, but every face within your face does show 

Going gladly now to give himself his own 

And twelve yellow willows shall fellow the shallows 

Small waves and thunder be my pillow 

Upon the gleaming water two swans that swim 

And every place shall be my native home 

The east gate like a fortress dissolve it away 

The west gate like a prison, oh, come break it down 

Island, I remember, living here 

Wandering beneath the empty skies 

In time her hair grew long and swept the ground 

And seven blackbirds carried it out behind 

It bore the holy imprint of her mind 

As greenfoot slow, she moved among the seasons 

The great man, the great man 

Historians his memory 

Artists, his senses, thinkers, his brain 

Labourers, his growth, explorers, his limbs 

And soldiers his death each second 

And mystics his rebirth each second 

Businessmen, his nervous system 

No-hustle men his stomach 

Astrologers, his balance, lovers, his loins 

His skin it is all patchy 

But soon will reach one glowing hue 

God is his soul, infinity, his goal 

The mystery, his source 

And civilisation, he leaves behind 

Opinions are his fingernails 

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play 

Be thou the joyful player 

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play 

Be thou the joyful player 

The wanderer no sense does make 

His eyes being tied in the true love's knot 

The trees perceive his soul 

Do not detain him long 

Dear little animal, dark-eyed and small 

Caring for your fur with pointed paws 

This hawk of truth is swift and flies with a still cry 

A small sweet meat to the eyes of night 

Oh, dandelion be thou thine 

Reflecting the sun in sexual glory 

In ever changing tongues 

The ever changing story 

The book, man, bird, woman, serpent, sea, sun 

Blessed, oh, blessed are they of the air 

Your eyes, they are the eyes of the glad land 

Ye twelve that will enter the seasons 

The great ship, the ship of the world, long time sailing 

Mariners, mariners, gather your skills 

The great ship, the ship of the world, long time sailing 

Mariners, mariners, gather your skills 

Jesus and Hitler and Richard, the lion heart 

Three kings and Moses and Queen Cleopatra 

The Cobbler, the maiden, the mender and the maker 

The sickener and the twitcher and the glad undertaker 

The shepherd of willows 

The harper and the archer 

All sat down in one boat together 

Troubled voyage in calm weather 

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play 

Be thou the joyful player 

Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play