A Collection of Songs from a Wandering Misfit
By apprentice Leo Dib
I sit here in rural Costa Rica, in a regenerative living educational center with all my basic needs met, surrounded by beauty and harvesting fresh fruit from the abundant agroforestry spaces that we get to reap the sweet nectar from.
Thanks to the many hands that have had a hand in bringing this place to life—after having been scarred by the products of Costa Rica's bovine and agro-industry—we now have a haven for wildlife and all manner of plant species, as well as an educational center for those seeking to develop more skills pertaining to the regeneration of the biosphere through permaculture, homesteading, natural building, agroforestry, and, importantly, interpersonal dynamics and all the joys and tests that are inherent to them.
If one just stops for a moment, some of the myriad interwoven patterns of the natural world begin to make themselves known, and new ideas can start unfolding.
It's interesting to see the different perspectives we each bring to the fold.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been tasked with writing a blog pertaining to a subject that I hold dear or simply feel drawn to explore.
The interesting thing is, though I would describe myself as a curious person, for some reason, nothing I've written about seems to have stuck as meaningful or been able to translate an inkling of my experience—except perhaps the songs I've been working on.
It's interesting how my mind has been affected by being here, but the way it makes itself known maybe isn't very straightforward as of now.
So what I have is somewhat unorthodox, perhaps ill-suited to the task at hand, but also honest.
Every place has its music, and this place has inspired me to write these three songs, which I am sharing here.
Perhaps someone, someday, will find their own melodies to move these words.
And if not, I will have deeply enjoyed them during my time here.
Thanks to the living beings and elements that have moved me to put pen to paper and put voice to song.
The Fruit
Verse
There's a fruit, over in the tree
I outstretch my hand, reach out and grab it
Now the fear's gonna bring me down, down, down
Chorus
Calling to the river man,
Can you see where I stand
Out on that reach,
Where the ocean meets the sand?
And in the night I lie in wait,
For the dawn to sing her song,
To sing along,
To sing a song at dawn.
Verse
Memories of the fall,
I don't even know this place.
Live to see another day,
Now the sun is on the way.
And the shadows on the wall,
Let the light down in the cave.
Midnight on the horizon,
There's a fire in the cave.
I see a change is on the way,
I can see it clear as day.
I think we got our signals crossed,
Got a little lost, but that's okay.
Chorus
Calling to the river man,
Can you see where I stand
Out on that reach,
Where the ocean meets the sand?
And in the night I lie in wait,
For the dawn to sing her song,
To sing along,
To sing a song at dawn.
The River
Verse 1
Down in the river I see you,
Come when you call my name.
Smile when I see your wings grow,
Nothing's gonna be the same.
Verse 2
Why did the bird come see you?
What do you think he said?
Something 'bout the changing seasons,
Nothing ever stays the same.
Chorus
Broken, you see, but the song is sung.
Tired, you know, my time has come.
There's fire in the dream and the wave has come.
World on the move, the old one's done.
World on the move, the new one's come.
Verse 3
Don't you ever stop to wonder,
Where do the waters go?
Something 'bout the breath down yonder,
Nothing ever stays the same.
Verse 4
I heard of a world of thunder,
A world that grows deep below.
How does the sun shine down there?
Nothing really seems the same.
Chorus
Broken, you see, but the song is sung.
Tired, you know, my time has come.
There's fire in the dream and the wave has come.
World on the move, the old one's done.
World on the move, the new one's come.
Verse 5
Why did the bird come see you?
What do you think he said?
Something 'bout the changing seasons,
Nothing ever stays the same.
Out Beyond the Sun
Verse 1
Oh, darlin', you called,
Said you needed love,
And I said, "Go take a walk."
Probably should've listened.
Probably should've shut my mouth.
Chorus 1
Down by the water where the creek runs heavy,
Down in the meadow where the creek runs low.
Verse 2
Wish I could write you a song,
Wish I had a golden tongue.
But my words, they came out wrong.
Forgive me, I'm just riffing.
Thought I could make you strong.
Chorus 1
Down by the water where the creek runs heavy,
Down in the meadow where the creek runs low.
Chorus 2
Thank you for your time,
Please come again.
Let me walk out on the trail.
I'll find you in the space out beyond the sun.
Let me walk alone.
Let me walk alone.
Let me walk alone just for a while.
Find me when the call for home has come.