When You Call My Name

If all my lovers sing the big words
And all my brothers keep them small
Then I'll get lost in the difference
Between their whisper and the echo of their call

So I am headed for the ocean
To let the sea smoke guide me in
I'd give up my belongings and questions
They only ever taught me to begin

So I will not turn around as I step up to the train
But I'll hear it when you call my name
And I will not be the sound of your roof under the rain
But I'll hear it when you call my name

So I am takin' off my wristwatch
To let the time move how I please
To let my day be guided by the sunlight
Through morning's mill and twilight's soft release

So if you wanna get to know me
Follow my smile down into its curves
All these lines are born in sorrows and pleasures
And every man ends up with the face that he deserves

So I will not give you bread as you reach out from your cage
But I'll hear it when you call my name
And I will not give applause as you step off of the stage
But I'll hear it when you call my name

There's a river running through the city
Gently reminding me what's what
Of course, you are invited to come with me
But I don't think that's really what you want

I think you want a world that will hold you
Through security and gravity, and love
And I can't think of anyone who'd blame you
And I can't think of how that'd be enough

So I won't come back around
When you curse the ground you've tamed
But I'll hear it when you call my name
And when you realize once I'm gone
That I never really came
Oh, I'll hear it when you call my name

And when the burden of the sun reveals to you, its pain
Oh, I'll hear it when you call my name
And when you realize that you're wrong
But you still give me all the blame
I'll hear it when you call my name