From the recording The Beauty Blues Vol.1 Identified Celestial Subjects
A classical folk ballad, which plays humorously with the frog prince folk theme, and in the chorus, musically plays with the 1840s German folksong motif Froschegesang, translated into Japanese in 1910. A man falls in love with a stranger on a train whose head has fallen against the window, then on his shoulder. His imagination of their relationship runs away with him as he longs to talk to her, but dares not wake her.
Moray Crawford: Udu
Maryse Dumas: Flute
Aya Nadao: Cello
Roman Rhodes: Guitars, Vocals, frog sounds.
Lyrics
Sleeping Beauty on the Homebound Line
© Roman Rhodes 2014
Chorus
Sleeping beauty on the homebound line,
If you lay your weary head on mine,
I could ride this train until the end of time.
But you lean against the window as the night rolls by.
A single lash upon your cheek.
I long to hold you but can only sigh
I can feel my heart and mind growing weak.
So much to say, stories to tell.
Longings deep from the wishing well.
But this love can’t be fulfilled so it's a kind of velvet hell.
I’ve so much to say to her I cannot hold it in.
But I can’t disturb the sweet dream that she is in.
Repeat Chorus
Long black hair on blue lumberjack’s shirt,
Short jean shorts and golden thighs.
Black Kodiaks without a speck of dirt.
How I long to gaze into your waking eyes.
So much to say, I don’t know where to start.
How badly I hurt you and how you broke my heart.
Still we’re pulled together by electricity of soul and cart
I’ve so much to say to her I cannot hold it in.
But I can’t disturb the sweet dream that she is in.
We’re so damn close yet so far apart,
For I’m the dusk and you’re dawn’s light.
Feels so right, but we know it isn’t smart)
I guess I’m just well lucky to see you home tonight.
Repeat Chorus