Bonus
This is a song that calls the sea some other color than blue, and the "wine dark sea" description has always fascinated me. I just heard this song for the first time today. I had never heard of Jon English before, but I suppose the Australian Seasonistas are likely to be more familiar with him.
The original should be listened to. It has a very lush piano arrangement, like 3 or 4 pianos are all playing at once, but I'm sure it's really only one. And his vocals are incredible.
All the lyrics on the internet for this song are wrong. I listened to it and tried to get everything corrected, so this is what I came up with. The original is in D, and he does a full step key change up to E after the bridge. I couldn't sing it that high, so I did it all in C, which was still pretty high.
I have crushed the cup of youth
like a rose between my fingers, but it's
nectar never warmed my weary heart
I have watched life disappear
like the creepin' mists of mornin', for these
ropes that tie me down will never part
For I have never known a feelin'
such as this wash over me
I would climb the purple mountains
I would swim the wine dark sea
Oh my back is weak and my brain is dull
from the toil of many years
And I've tried so just to justify my fears
but these feelin's come and go
and deep inside something grows
And I'll make it, I'll maybe fake it
through my lonely, lonely years
Until I've once again this feelin'
that just washed over me
I would climb the purple mountains
I would swim the wine dark sea
Oh...oh I had it right there,in my hand
the key to change your lonely waste
into a greener land, but I was
typical of the ignorance
of blissful man, I let it go
I just didn't know
And now my story's done
do not feel sympathy
there is little of my body left to save
I shall search until I find
She who preys upon my mind
Or I find the cold, cold comfort of my grave
'til I've once again this feelin'
that just washed over me
I would climb the purple mountains
I would swim the wine dark sea
Oh I have never known a feelin'
such as this wash over me
I would climb the purple mountains
I would swim the wine dark sea