STEPHEN

I grew up in a three-storey house looking over the Wexford harbour. At night, especially a winter’s night,
I loved to look out across the black water towards Wales, mesmerised by the glistening porthole lights of
fishing boats in the distance. I loved to imagine the fishermen inside having tea or playing cards.

It was never my intention to emigrate or leave my large, loving family. But the first song I wrote was called
“I Climb into My Boat” so that sea was beckoning even then, whether I liked it or not. This song tackles
a very large subject; I have always admired Leonard Cohen for taking on subjects of biblical proportions,
and telling the story concisely and economically. The only way to write a song like this is to have it come
naturally, and know exactly where it is going, I personally could never fabricate it, I’m no good at fiction.

Stephen’s preparing to leave
He has to go to the sea
He’s been so mesmerized
By glistening porthole lights
Along the horizon line
Imagining the life inside

Stephen believes in the blue
Nothing but water and the roof
Just like a burial ground
Where the mourners are gone
And there’s nothing around
But the silence and the corpse best friend
The weathered stone
And the massive wild deep sky

He wants to leave while he can
Otherwise he could lose his chance
He knows he’s blessed with this
A curious need to leave the nest
Before the heart inside his chest
Becomes too old to experiment

He wants to conquer his fears
Counting the mounting years
He wants to face the place
Where nothing is but thoughtlessness
A bed of sea
And a roof of stars
And there to be until he feels
At peace with the dark

Oh darkness
I know you are my friend
And in the end
I’ll be with you all alone
I know you every night
And I knew you in the womb
You wait beyond the light
Inside my tomb
And I know I have to kiss you
Before our wedding day
And I know I have to kiss you
Every night
And I know I have to love you
Before I let you go
Then I’ll laugh at dark grey clouds
Then I’ll see the setting sun with you
And know darkness

Stephen’s preparing to leave
He has to go to the sea