I first encountered the beautiful Cathedral of Learning in the early 1980s. This tall, gothic tower dominates the University of Pittsburgh campus – Isengard of the Three Rivers. I used it to find my way around the city, only knowing which direction I was going based on whether the Cathedral was peeking over the hills to my right or left, or piercing the sky directly in front of me.
It wasn’t just the architecture and the majesty of the place I loved, it was the name. I adored the image of Knowledge being as sacred as any religion, of Learning being something worthy of devotion. It is that idea that this song was written to celebrate.
lyrics
Ring, ageless silence!
Sing, stone and glass!
Awe moves within me;
In a moment, a lifetime has passed.
More vast beyond dreaming
Than all I have known;
My life loses meaning
When compared to the life in this stone.
Walls arch in challenge;
Stone soars in song;
Glass dares the heavens.
Outside Time, she will stand twice as long.
My heart thunders vainly.
My first steps in her halls
Steal my soul with stained glass wings,
And her stone owns me, body and all.
Longer than the world, she’s stood,
Placed in Time by sainted hands.
Stone made strong by bone and blood.
Knowledge in dark chambers stands.
All I would die for
Tolls through this stone.
Life beyond dying
Makes hope ache like song in my bones.
I sing ageless silence,
And I cry knowledge vast.
I’m hers past untying;
My role for forever is cast.
Forever means nothing in my maiden of marble and glass.
credits
from Horsetamer,
released April 6, 2013
Solo French Horns: William Caballero
Brass: Drew Fennell, Robert Lauver, John Olsson & Philip VanOuse
Timpani: Jan Fung
Strings: Irene Cheng, Warren Davidson, Jennifer Gerhard & David Premo
Electric Guitar: Dale Cinski
Chorus: Gregg Brandt, Billy Hepfinger & Joe Jackson
Most of Leslie's songs are pretty cool. Purchasing the album on bandcamp gave me the chance of sending her a few bucks for listening to all her stuff on Youtube ;-) alrunia
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