Carrie Newcomer - I Do Not Know Its Name

He leaned and whispered as he turned the page,
And he said "Make yourself into a flame"
A crazy old lion with his hair all backlit,
Grinnin’ like a little boy who has a secret.

Chorus:
I do not know its name
‘Though it’s ever intertwining,
And I believe it must look like an old man shining

We were eating summer peaches by a roadside stand,
Juice running down like laughter on our chin and on our hands
When we were done we looked around and smiled at each other,
And you said, “Come on Carrie, let’s have another."

Chorus:
I do not know its name
No matter how I try
But I think it must taste like peaches eaten by the roadside

He drove a rental car shuttle to the airport on Sundays
We chatted that grey morning ‘bout the choir he sang with Wednesdays.
He sang a haunting gospel hymn shameless and clear,
With only me a wandering stranger sitting there to hear.

Chorus:
I do not know its name
Elusive and subtle,
But I believe it must sound like that man singing in the shuttle.

Standing in the river barefoot in the current,
I hear a birdcall and try to learn it.
The water is a wonder, it’s cold and fast and deep,
I saw fish go swimming out too far for me to reach.

Chorus:
I do not know its name,
Swimmer or watcher.
But I believe that there is always something,
Moving beneath the water.

If holy is a sphere that cannot be rendered,
There is no middle place because all of it is center

I do not know its name
I do not know its name
I do not know its name