Track 10 of the album Saudade Sundays · 2020
The Keeper Counts the Passing Lights
“A lighthouse keeper counting the passing lights, and me counting the days. The slowest, most wistful thing on the record, and the last song we cut.”
bossa nova · bossa nova · lighthouse ballad · hushed jazz · 3:29
Lyrics
Up the stairs at the end of day Where the old lamp waits to turn I wind the gears and wipe the glass And let the great light burn The sea is wide and the sea is dark But I know how to wait For every ship that passes by I leave a light at the gate I count the passing lights Out on the water tonight They never know my name But I keep the lamp the same I count the passing lights Little stars on the tide Safe home, safe home, I say As they sail away A kettle singing on the stove A radio turned low The foghorn sighs, the gulls are gone And the slow waves come and go I think of those I'll never meet Out there in the spray I hope they know that someone's here Till the break of day I count the passing lights Out on the water tonight They never know my name But I keep the lamp the same I count the passing lights Little stars on the tide Safe home, safe home, I say As they sail away The beam goes round, the beam goes round Over rock and foam It says to every sailor out there Someone's keeping home I count the passing lights Out on the water tonight They never know my name But I keep the lamp the same I count the passing lights Little stars on the tide Safe home, safe home, I say As they sail away Safe home, safe home, I say As they sail away