Butterfly Island is a musical story, setting out to display something of the human condition. It poses 'the questions of life in song' from early childhood to t
Butterfly Island is a musical story, setting out to display something of the human condition.
It poses 'the questions of life in song' from early childhood to the 'sunset years', as each generation moves slowly but surely towards the finishing line ...
Story behind the song
Taken from The Butterfly Island Story - Chapter 4 Scene 7
Nancy and her Lover look up at the many stars and the sheer expanse of the clear night sky above them. A harvest moon sits a little lower in the sky above the city like a large white pearl. As they talk about their new life together they look out into the unknown and start to discuss where their shared journey through life could take them next. They are both very excited about all the new opportunities that have come their way and are eager to explore their new surroundings and the new community they have just become a part of. For them, life has become a real adventure which they are ready and eager to face together. Suddenly, they begin to hear the sound of a fast approaching train in the distance. The sound of a bell rings out in the distance as the train reaches a level crossing and then slows down as it approaches a station nearby. As they look down the hill towards the silhouette of the approaching train, they begin to see the train's large headlamps followed by what seems an almost endless shadowy row of trucks. It is now late in the evening and this night train stops briefly to offload and take on fresh supplies before heading North across the State of New York, snaking it's way towards the Canadian border which it should reach just before the dawn. The Lover pictures in his mind Nancy, himself and the children running down the hill away from their house hand in hand towards the station, all hoping to catch that train before the whistle blows and it slowly starts to move off once again out into the great unknown, slowly gathering pace, taking them all towards new horizons which just get brighter and brighter as the dawn approaches. He turns off the outside light and they both go inside closing the door behind them. Just then a large butterfly lands briefly on the leaf of a potted plant sitting on the veranda next to the now closed door. The noise of the crickets and other insect night life drowns out the sound of it's tiny flapping wings as it flies off again into the night sky in the direction of the slow moving train ...
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Lyrics
I feel so good today
My expectation's running high
And my heart beats faster
Is this a truth or just another lie ?
You make it sound so simple
For the first time in my life
I taste a sweet, sweet surrender
Sweet sweet surrender !
There's a new song in my mouth
It's the best I've ever sang
I sing "Alive to the morning,
Daylight through my window dawning,
Peace for the homelands,
Yea the writing's on the wall
And the last train to Heaven
Arrives before the morn "
To drink the dew of the desert
To ride high on the wings of Love
Yea Yea !
And to fear no evil
Whoa Whoa !
I can't believe you know
It fits like a glove !
There's a new song in my mouth
It's the best I've ever sang,
Sing "Alive to the morning,
Daylight through my window dawning,
Peace for the homelands,
Yea the writing's on the wall
And the last train to Heaven
Arrives before the dawn "
You make it sound so simple
For the first time in my life
I taste a sweet, sweet surrender
Sweet sweet surrender,
You make it sound so simple
For the first time in my life
I taste a sweet, sweet surrender
Sweet sweet surrender !
Oh, the hammer flies and then it falls
The sickle cuts the field of corn
The Potter works into the dead of night
So another child is born !
There's a new song in my mouth
It's the best I've ever sang,
Sing "Alive to the morning,
Daylight through my window dawning,
Peace for the homelands,
Yea the writing's on the wall
And the last train to Heaven
Arrives before the dawn "
Last train to Heaven,
Oh, I'm on that last train to Heaven
Last train to Heaven,
I'm on that last train to Heaven !
Last train to Heaven ...
Come on, come on, come on !
I'm on that last train to Heaven,
Last train to Heaven !
