Montreal

(album: Sounds That Can't Be Made - 2012)

200 fates entwined inside the plane
We watched as England dropped away from us again
I wasn't waiting, I wasn't sure what I would find
I was prepared to let it happen on its own this time
I had a feeling I was floating into time spent amongst friends
Reintroduced from other strange and wonderful weekends
As the seat belt signs announced the fall
I realised I'd been falling for a while
We'd been falling for some time into Montreal

I saw ice upon the river as the plane came in to land
I heard Joni Mitchell singing her poems of isolation
The man at immigration said his friends all knew the band
Bizarre to come so far to an outstretched hand and easy conversation
We were welcomed through arrivals without the usual transatlantic fuss
And greeted by the fans who led us to the chilly street onto the bus

The snow had hung around on the corners of the vacant lots
And France was singing in the air of hi-rise North America
And as we made our way into the hotel hall
The man behind the desk broke a knowing smile, and said
"Hello sir, welcome back to Montreal."

We hid away for the day in our identical rooms
Like we usually do
Another new bed, upside down in our heads
And afternoon was morning
And night was afternoon
Only the jet-lagged know the way I sleep tonight..

So I Skyped home and said "It's me. How are you babe?
I can't be with you but I can see you on the screen
Technology is wonderful when it isn't in the way
The little one seems older now with every passing day
I hope the vibes are good. I'm behaving as I should
Going down to breakfast ..What time is it now there?
I'll go shopping for shoes ..or whatever ensues
Je t'aime my darling, Je t'aime my darling
See you soon.."

We were invited to the circus guests of honour if you please by a girl with an eskimo name
And in the cafe of the Cirque 'Soleil
We bought Easter-eggs from outer-space
40 different languages are spoken in this place
And inside the steel-glass building I gazed up at the trapeze
The building 30 metres tall we watched the acrobat fall
He was quite safe
He was falling into Montreal

Down at the sports-bar the ice-hockey never ends..
Down at the sports-bar the ice-hockey never ends..

So up in my room I discovered Leonard Cohen on TV
Live in London. Ain't that perfect symmetry?!
It warmed the heart to watch him float around the hall
Soaking up, reflecting, radiating
Just as I would, tomorrow night
On the outstretched tender hands, tender hands
Tender hands of Montreal

The fleur de lis was always kind to me
I'll make the time if ever you should call
The fleur de lis was always kind to me
I'll make the time if ever you should call
And so I shall...

Je t'aime my darling, Je t'aime my darling
Montreal