This song is set at the ocean, with the singer crying out, “Love, part the waters, or drown me in my tears.” I wrote these lyrics decades ago, and my friend Joseph Mitchell composed the music. It was exciting to bring this song back to life for the Waterside album. Special thanks to Joseph for helping us recreate the wonderful keyboard arrangement, and to Pedro for adding his own instrumentational magic. Shout out to the “Love Choir,” my friends from our ChattaSings singing circle, for adding their harmonies, spontenaity and fun! The video footage was taken during an October 2024 visit to Pensacola, Florida and in Pedro’s Red Room Studio in Chattanooga.

Lyrics

I went down to the ocean, to meditate by the sea

I didn’t think I was Moses, living out a prophesy

the waves rose to meet me, then they crashed onto the sand

where I stood like a sailor, without a ship at my command

I remember the altar, we harmonized a song of peace

I looked into your deep green eyes, I felt our fingers meet

a man played piano, and our voices joined him there

and they rose with the Spirit, til they vanished in the air

I said, Love part the waters

and open the mighty sea

I said Love, fill the ocean

I long to be free

lead me to safety

and deliver me from fear

I said, Love part the waters

or drown me in my tears

Now I walk the crowded streets, of the high-heeled seductive world

the movie screens and the brainwashed dreams, the masquerade of pearls

I scream toward the darkness, as I run into the waves

will I find my freedom, or perish in my grave

I said, Love part the waters

and open the mighty sea

I said, Love fill the ocean

I long to be free

lead me to safety

and deliver me from fear

I said, love part the waters

or drown me in my tears

Did I make the wrong move?

or did I jump out of groove?

Did I swallow up the wrong dream

am I trying to swim upstream?

Should I follow my emotion

like a sailboat to the ocean?

Will the wind and the high tide

leave me anything inside?

I said, Love, Love

Lead me to safety

and deliver me from fear

I said, Love part the waters, or drown me in my tears

I said, Love won’t you part the waters?

I said, Love

I said, Love won’t you part the waters?