Why I Came This Way

Tomorrow morning, way too bright and early, I fly back to Lima. Saturday, I begin about a week of beaching it with some girl friends from the trip. Then the 21st, I'm comin' home!

It feels like forever now since the first time I saw the Southern Cross. At the time, I couldn't get this song out of my head. I remember tilting my head back in Lunahuana that first night and crying silently as I stared at those stars because it was all so new, beautiful and distant from everything I knew before.

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet. I enjoy Jimmy's version, but listen to the original, too, if you have the time! I better get to bed.

Southern Cross

Got out of town on a boat
Goin' to Southern islands.
Sailing a reach
Before a followin' sea.

She was makin' for the trades
On the outside,
And the downhill run
To Papeete.

Off the wind on this heading
Lie the Marquesas.
We got eighty feet of the waterline.
Nicely making way.

In a noisy bar in Avalon
I tried to call you.
But on a midnight watch I realized
Why twice you ran away.

Chorus:
Think about how many times
I have fallen
Spirits are using me,
larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.

I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woman/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.

When you see the Southern Cross
For the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way

'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a comin' day.

So I'm sailing for tomorrow
My dreams are a dyin'.
And my love is an anchor tied to you
Tied with a silver chain.

I have my ship
And all her flags are a flyin'
She is all that I have left
And music is her name.

(Chorus)

So we cheated and we lied
And we tested
And we never failed to fail
It was the easiest thing to do.

You will survive being bested.
Somebody fine
Will come along
Make me forget about loving you.
At the Southern Cross.