Great Lake Swimmers - Mouth of Flames Lyrics

The house drew a mouth of flames
That could not wait to hold it and burn
And I was inside, I saw it turn

Bright cats clawing up the darkening walls
Ruthless and hunting all of their flaws
I was inside, I saw it all

I took what I could from the deafening blaze
But I could only take so much
One thing goes while another thing stays
Some too heavy, but none that you can reach

The things that I lost I will always remember
The things that I lost I will never forget
The things that I lost left behind no reminder
The things that I lost, and the things I’ll lose yet

The open white beam of youth is gone
The letters, the songs, and the stories are gone
The misguided fears, and the illusions are gone
And what I was saying
Has lost its breath, and the air is gone

The things that I took I hold close to my body
The things that I took I hold close to my chest
The things that I took cannot leave any longer
The things that I took are the things I love best

The silent focus of a deep diving prayer
The rational roads, with uneven scars
The sweet silent joy of a deep woods commune
I left the stars, but I took the moon