Up In Gold

Up In Gold

Guide her safe over the fires

Hold to the bridge where the river’s so cold down below

I’ll change the flowers here

Followed her down to the station

I turned around and her train pulled away in the night

Under the stars so clear

But if I’d known, I would’ve wrapped her little heart up in gold

Shining and crazy like diamonds

Held out for more than our power and money could buy

Wouldn’t play pretend

She’ll fly away a fair maiden

Leave us down here where the birds still fly chained to the sky

No answers in the wind

But if I’d known, I would’ve wrapped her little heart up in gold

(7pm, October 25, 1995)

Notes:

· “fires" and "bridges” are what souls typically encounter in the Bardo, immediately following demise of the physical vehicle (many see "Jesus", at least for a moment...)

· “train stations”, ditto

· “crazy like diamonds” – twice-removed reference to Pink Floyd

· “No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky.” - Bob Dylan on his first cross-country trip, in a Buick 6, somewhere in Kansas, 1962, arguing with Suze, the “love of his life”

· "no answers in the wind" - an obvious lift of “Blowin’ In The Wind”, Bob Dylan, 1963 (Suze is featured on the cover of the album, “The Free-Wheelin’ Bob Dylan”) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowin%27_in_the_Wind)

· “Heart/Gold” is probably is an echo of Neil Young’s major hit in 1972 of “Heart of Gold”, though I wasn’t aware of it at the time.