Ithkos by The Incredible String Band Lyrics
Sardis(Oud Tune)
Lesbos-Dawn
Lesbos-Evening
Aegean Sea
Dreams Fade
Port of Sybaris
Go down Sybaris
Huntress
Hold my gaze
I sailed out from Sardis just one day past
Ithkos Ithkos
Sailed to meet the dawn on Lesbos fair
Ithkos Ithkos
My merchant's task on this isle is done
I call soft evening forth
To ease up my care
And to ease up my care
Aphrodite's temple is sweet with sandarac
Bright torches start the night to praise her
Ithkos wipes his mouth and drops the wineskin
Salt wind fresh in my mind
I said salt wind fresh in my mind
Dark brown eyes has Ithkos
From Sardis newly come
The carmined lips of Lesbos fail to please
And through the noisy night
Just one plaintive song
I said just one plaintive song will match my heart
Match my heart
The beautiful Aegean sea
Brings out a weeping need in me
I can't stand by
Like a thief in the night
While that aching lovely light
Shines on
Dreams fade now, a new day rings
Trade pulls the galleon ever on
To rich Sybaris, port of our call
Beyond the blue Aegean
How sweet the sight of peopled shores
To a wanderer as I
Known from here to Lydia far
Sybaris knows not my tread
I said Sybaris knows not my tread
And fear stalks in my heart
I said fear stalks in my heart
For reason, for reason unknown
Gotta come right out and say it
Pale Sybaris I bear you great scorn
Gotta come right out and say it
Pale Sybaris I bear you great scorn
Talkin' 'bout your fluted pillars and your muted life
I need not your fluted pillars and your muted life
It's worse to me
Worse to me
Worse to me
Than Death's own chariot rollin'
That's worse to me
Worse to me
Worse to me
Than Death's own chariot rollin'
(repeat once)
Oh hold my gaze, light of day
That my thoughts they will not stray
To Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
It was right there in Sybaris famed
That I met with her who's named
Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
Oh hold my gaze, bring not the sight
Of that awful wondrous night
Hippolyta
Far outside the city walls
The Huntress Dance does call
Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
The vows that set her free
Denied me
The vows that set her free
Denied me
Lesbos-Dawn
Lesbos-Evening
Aegean Sea
Dreams Fade
Port of Sybaris
Go down Sybaris
Huntress
Hold my gaze
I sailed out from Sardis just one day past
Ithkos Ithkos
Sailed to meet the dawn on Lesbos fair
Ithkos Ithkos
My merchant's task on this isle is done
I call soft evening forth
To ease up my care
And to ease up my care
Aphrodite's temple is sweet with sandarac
Bright torches start the night to praise her
Ithkos wipes his mouth and drops the wineskin
Salt wind fresh in my mind
I said salt wind fresh in my mind
Dark brown eyes has Ithkos
From Sardis newly come
The carmined lips of Lesbos fail to please
And through the noisy night
Just one plaintive song
I said just one plaintive song will match my heart
Match my heart
The beautiful Aegean sea
Brings out a weeping need in me
I can't stand by
Like a thief in the night
While that aching lovely light
Shines on
Dreams fade now, a new day rings
Trade pulls the galleon ever on
To rich Sybaris, port of our call
Beyond the blue Aegean
How sweet the sight of peopled shores
To a wanderer as I
Known from here to Lydia far
Sybaris knows not my tread
I said Sybaris knows not my tread
And fear stalks in my heart
I said fear stalks in my heart
For reason, for reason unknown
Gotta come right out and say it
Pale Sybaris I bear you great scorn
Gotta come right out and say it
Pale Sybaris I bear you great scorn
Talkin' 'bout your fluted pillars and your muted life
I need not your fluted pillars and your muted life
It's worse to me
Worse to me
Worse to me
Than Death's own chariot rollin'
That's worse to me
Worse to me
Worse to me
Than Death's own chariot rollin'
(repeat once)
Oh hold my gaze, light of day
That my thoughts they will not stray
To Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
It was right there in Sybaris famed
That I met with her who's named
Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
Oh hold my gaze, bring not the sight
Of that awful wondrous night
Hippolyta
Far outside the city walls
The Huntress Dance does call
Hippolyta
The vows that set her free
Denied me
The vows that set her free
Denied me
The vows that set her free
Denied me