The back-story: I recently found a labeled but track-list-less mix-tape in my tape box. I’ve listened to it, and I’ve been able to identify all of the songs on it except for one. I’ve dutifully Googled several of the more unusual lyrics, and found nothing relevant or useful. So now I’m bringing it here, in hopes we have a late ’90s Christian rock expert in the crowd who can help me identify this tune.
Clues, or, Things I Know For Sure:
1. The mix-tape was made in the Fall of 1996, probably in late September, so the song had to have been released by then.
2. The song is an up-tempo rock number with a mostly-folky flavor; there are two male voices. They also deploy a harmonica at key junctures. I made the assumption it is Christian rock because of both style and lyrical content.
3. That said, the lyrics also reflects that somebody was really into Moby Dick.
The lyrics of the first verse and chorus, transcribed by me, as best I could:
(spoken) Eagerly peering towards the horizon
you would have thought he was a prophet or a seer,
beholding, beholding, behold
(singing) Look up with a silent graceful movement whispers
Tonight on film I saw him there he was so big
Tonight I [something] myself from the hands of Jesus
Tonight the drank the deepest from the [something] spring
Tonight I took your rainbow by the tail, by the tail
You said my friend it’s the simple things
What a child trim the sails
Tonight it’s gone (tonight it’s gone)
The book of whales
Tonight it’s gone (tonight it’s gone)
To trim the sails
God is [dead?] to the mighty ones
God is [dead?] to the strong
those of us who have seen the book
search the sea the whole night long
So. Anyone recognize it?