'Across the veil' is a song written to light the way of a dear brother, much loved in our community, who passed away tragically in 2018. The song came through to me in the weeks and months after his death as I spent time with some of the many people who loved him, immersed in the raw grief and the many questions left in his wake. It's a song that speaks of broken hearts, the myriad ways of transforming love and above all, the call to honour our loved ones as they pass across the veil.
Lyrics
Sitting here looking out at the sea
I ask your brother how can this be
Did you hear did you see did you know
Always that this was the time you would go
Sitting here looking out at the sea
I ask you brother how can this be
Did you hear, did you know, did you see,
The moment that bound you to this destiny
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Receive your light as we pray
We’ll honour your way
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Oh so soon came your day
We’ll honour your way
So I look to the east and I look to the west
To the arc of this earth
From our birth to our death
We can love, we can hold our loves tight
But we cannot change when their days turn to night
Oh I look to the east and I look to the west
Hunger the souls for a chance of this breath
Yet no matter our love, our sight
We cannot know when these souls will take flight
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Receive your light as we pray
We’ll honour your way
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Oh so soon came your day
We’ll honour your way
So I lift up my pipe and I offer a prayer
To all the young ones who reckon and dare
To all the seekers who dance by the veil
Our flickering lights so precious and frail
Oh I lift up my pipe and I offer a prayer
To all the young ones who reckon and dare
To all the seekers who dance by the veil
Our flickering lights so tender and frail
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Receive your light as we pray
We honour your way
Way-ey yeh yeh oh oh-ey
We’ll honour your way
Oh so soon came your day
We’ll honour your way
Oh wey-ey yey yey yey yeh yey yey yey
Oh wey-ey yey yey yey yeh yey yey yey
Oh wey-ey yey yeh yeh yey yey yey yeh
Oh wey-ey yey yeh
Oh is this a dream or am I sailing out there with him
Over these waves so thin, veil so thin
Oh is this a dream or am I sailing out there with him
Over these waves so thin veil so thin, veil so thin, veil so…
Oh wey-ey yey yey..