Story Behind The Song

Interestingly my daughter is now off living in Portland. I guess Portland is the metaphor for exotic adventures.

Song Description

A little story written about a decade ago, when my wife was off visiting in Portland.

Lyrics

Surface Tension

I go through these times
When I stretch myself so thin
That I don?t think that I?m going to snap back
To the shape that I was in when I began

You are out in Portland
On a voyage of discovery
Searching the horizon
Amazed at how your confidence expands

All these pressures take their toll on us
Make us strong or leave us weak
Make us flow a little slower

You are out in Portland
And I am sheltered here
You are sailing on the ocean
I?m just throwing sticks and leaves in
from the shore
I watch them drift and spin and I
Calculate their course
But I cannot get the meaning
And I know that there must be a little more

It?s the surface tension isn?t it?
Floats the leaf instead of drowning it
Let?s me see through your reflection

(instrumental interlude)

I am in the red room and
the light is growing pale
I have come in from the autumn
and the smell of burning leaves is in the air
Reminds me of your skin
And the way you way you looked that day
The way the sunlight played around you
The way you pulled the twigs and needles
from your hair

You just throw yourself at everything
And I just throw myself at you
I just know I have to hold you

(instrumental interlude)