Interpret:

Genesis

Album:

Nursery Cryme

From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood, 
Mount Ida rises like an island. 
Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child; 
Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love. 


As the dawn creeps up the sky 
The hunter caught sight of a doe. 
In desire for conquest, 
He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before. 


(Hermaphroditus): 
"Where are you, my father? 
Give wisdom to your son" 
(Narrator): 
(Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun" 
Then he could go no farther) 


And as his strength began to fail 
He saw a shimmering lake. 
A shadow in the dark green depths 
Disturbed the strange tranquility. 


(Salmacis): 
"The waters are disturbed 
Some creature has been stirred" 
(Narrator): 
(The waters are disturbed 
Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred)


As he rushed to quench his thirst, 
A fountain spring appeared before him 
And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist, 
A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring". 


The water tasted strangely sweet
Behind him the voice called again
He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone 
And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the 
darkness of the lake


(Salmacis): 
"We shall be one 
We shall be joined as one" 
(Narrator): 
(She wanted them as one 
Yet he had no desire to be one)


(Hermaphroditus): 
"Away from me cold-blooded woman 
Your thirst is not mine" 
(Salmacis): 
"Nothing will cause us to part 
Hear me, O Gods" 


Unearthly calm descended from the sky 
And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged 
Forever to be joined as one. 


The creature crawled into the lake. 
A fading voice was heard: 
"And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this 
spring 
May share my fate" 


(Salmacis): 
"We are the one 
We are the one" 
(Narrator): 
(The two are now made one 
Demi-god and nymph are now made one)


Both had given everything they had. 
A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last, 
Forever still beneath the lake.