From the recording Lorelei

Sometimes a song seems to come from outside of me. This is one of them. When they come from elsewhere, it's easier to say how much I like them, as if they don't belong to me but to someone or something else. I like this one very much. It feels old and established, like whoever wrote it was alive a hundred years ago. But the tale is familiar: an older woman has lived by water most of her life. She's coming to the end; grateful for each day's beginning and its end. I had most of the lyrics for the verses before I started singing the name Lorelei out of the blue. When I googled the name, it all made sense. Listen first, then look her up.

Lyrics

Lorelei

When the moon shines on the river
and the sun has left the sky
After boats are tied to moorings with a sigh
I can hear the water lappin’
on the shoreline keepin’ time
and say a prayer that another day is done

Lorelei, oh, Lorelei
I hear your voice when you sing at night
Then say a prayer for another day to come

Then the sun comes through the window
and the crow’s back in the yard
the bed is made for leavin’ by and by
I listen for the quiet of sails caught by the wind
and say a prayer that another day’s begun

Lorelei, oh, Lorelei
I hear your voice when you sing at night
Then say a prayer for another day to come

Now the snow lays on the mountain
the cold is dark and hard
but the river waits below for melt to flow
I hear your voice, it’s singin’
with the Blackbirds’ on-ke-lee
and say a prayer for another day to come

Oh, Lorelei, my, Lorelei
I hear your voice when you sing at night
Then say a prayer for another day to come

I say a prayer that another day will come