When we were nearly finished tracking this record, I found myself sitting around a fire at a barbecue one night, surrounded by some friends… new and old. A new friend, Krista Lindley, had been urged to write about her hike through the mountains of Sonoma County, and of the obsidian she found along the way. The story she told came out through some amazing poetry, and we attempted that night to set this poetry to music. Over the next few weeks I was blown away by her dedication to this new love of songwriting, and to her openness to put down on paper what she truly felt. The song that was the result of that hard work has been a gift to many people, but most of all… to me. Thank you, Krista!
At the top of a hill is a man with a skill
He works hard so his families bellies are filled
He carves his tools with obsidian glass
Not knowing two hundred years they’ll last
Black glass, keep the man’s tale
Black glass, don’t let me fail
Obsidian lives though he’s laid to rest
I’m here to finish his vision quest
I never thought I could meet this man
Til I held that obsidian rock in my hand
I am young but I feel so old
Through me this Miwok’s story is told
Black glass, keep the man’s tale
Black glass, don’t let me fail
Obsidian lives though he’s laid to rest
I’m here to finish his vision quest
He was under the oaks for nearly a week
Waiting for a whisper, waiting… for the wind to speak
When the message came it called him
Out of the hills it called him… it called him home
Black glass, keep the man’s tale
Black glass, don’t let me fail
Obsidian lives though he’s laid to rest
I’m here to finish his vision quest
What comes around goes around
And so do souls in time
Would you believe me if I told you
That obsidian rock was mine
Black glass, keep the man’s tale
Black glass, don’t let me fail
Obsidian lives though he’s laid to rest
I’m here to finish his vision quest
