Caravanserai
Divers / Loreena McKennitt Lyrics

This glancing life is like a morning star
Life is fleeting and brief, like the momentary appearance of a morning star.

A setting sun, or rolling waves at sea
Life can also be compared to the graceful end of a sunset or the ever-changing patterns of the restless sea.

A gentle breeze or lightning in a storm
Sometimes life can be serene like a gentle breeze, but it can also be tumultuous and unpredictable like a lightning storm.

A dancing dream of all eternity
Ultimately, life is but temporary, and our existence is just a fleeting dream in the grand scheme of eternity.

The sand was shimmering in the morning light
The glistening sand in the morning light serves as a metaphor for the beauty of the world around us.

And dancing off the dunes so far away
The sand dunes in the distance represent the unknown, unexplored parts of the world.

The night held music so sweet, so long
The night's sweet, enchanting music is a representation of the joys of life.

And there we lay until the break of day
The artist lay under the stars until daybreak, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

We woke that morning at the onward call
The travelers were awakened by the call to continue the journey.

Our camels bridled up, our howdahs full
The travelers prepared to continue their journey with packed supplies and saddled camels.

The sun was rising in the eastern sky
The sun's rising symbolizes a new beginning, a fresh start.

Just as we set out to the desert's cry
The travelers embarked on their adventure, hearing the desert's beckoning call.

Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
The journey is a representation of the singer's desire to return home.

The tents grew smaller as we rode away
As they continued their journey, familiar landmarks and peoples began to fade into the distance.

On earth that tells of many passing days
The landscape serves as a testimony to the passage of time and the history of humanity.

The months of peace and all the years of war
The world has experienced both periods of tranquility and periods of great conflict.

The lives of love and all the lives of fears
Throughout history, individuals have experienced love, joy, and sadness, despair.

We crossed the river beds all etched in stone
The travelers encounter terrain shaped by natural forces and the passing of time.

And up the mighty mountains ever known
Their journey includes enduring struggles and overcoming challenges.

Beyond the valleys in the searing heat
They journeyed beyond the comforting shadows of valleys and into the harsh, blazing sun.

Until we reached the caravanserai
The travelers' long journey brought them to a place of safety and rest.

What is this life that pulls me far away
The artist questions the meaning of life and why it compels them to go on such a journey.

What is that home where we cannot reside
The idea of home and the impossibility of achieving a permanent sense of belonging.

What is that quest that pulls me onward
The driving need to seek knowledge, adventure, and meaning.

My heart is full when you are by my side
The singer expresses their love and the bond with their loved one that makes them feel complete.

Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
Returning home to their loved one is the ultimate goal and motivation for the singer's journey.