To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=43284
22 messages

Origins: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)

19 Sep 00 - 08:51 PM (#301093)
Subject: Every life is a vessel
From: GUEST,Siloam

At wonderful Winfield last week I heard a song I now can not find words to. Parts of the chorus went like this: We are crossing the waters our whole life through ----- Every life is a vessel ---- I wrote down that the author was Bill (Stains it sounded like) but I can't find him either, probably due to misspelling. Can anyone help?

19 Sep 00 - 09:04 PM (#301098)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Every life is a vessel
From: bflat

I can only help with the spelling of his name. It is: Staines. He has written a huge number of songs of which I am not totally familiar. Good Luck in your search.

bflat

19 Sep 00 - 11:08 PM (#301148)
Subject: Lyr Add: CROSSING THE WATERS (Bill Staines)
From: fulurum

CROSSING THE WATERS
(Bill Staines)

CHORUS: We are crossing the waters our whole lives through.
We are making a passage straight and true.
Every heart is a vessel. Every dream is a light,
Shining through the darkness of the blackest night.

Well, there is no shallow water, and naught but love to keep
Us safely from the dangers and the devils of the deep,
But with every breath within us, we search forever more,
To find some peaceful harbor on that far-off shore.

CHORUS: We are crossing....

For some, it is a glory. For some, it is a game.
For some, it is a story filled with emptiness and pain.
But rising winds in chorus, we search for steady ground.
There is only that before us. There can be no turning 'round.

CHORUS: We are crossing....

Oh, there is no other journey that will ever be the same,
No second-chance horizon that will call you by your name,
So when the welling waves wash o'er you and the stormy winds they drive,
Give your heart a song. Sing it loud and long. Keep your dreams alive.

CHORUS...

Written by Bill Staines. Lyrics from his "GOING TO THE WEST" CD RHRCD56

19 Sep 00 - 11:19 PM (#301153)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Every life is a vessel
From: fulurum

the name of the song by the way is "Crossing The Waters"

13 Jan 02 - 11:14 AM (#627077)
Subject: Lyric and music request
From: GUEST,Greenfields

I heard a great song called (I think) "Crossing the Water" at a song circle. Just searched digitrad for the lyrics and music, but nothing under either that title or "we are crossing the water."

The lyrics start "we are crossing the water our whole life through" and end (after several verses) with "and now he's (she's) crossing the water" with silent phrases in it.

anyone have any info about lyrics/music, or how to find same? Thanks.

Greenfields

13 Jan 02 - 11:18 AM (#627080)
Subject: RE: Lyric and music request
From: Sorcha

It's a Bill Staines song, and it's here, just click me! Ya just gotta keep a lookin'!

19 Jan 02 - 06:30 PM (#631305)
Subject: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Madam Gashee

I'm looking for the words of a song that Geoff Kaufman sings called "Crossing the River". I believe it was accredited to Bill Staines. If anyone knows anything about it's history I would be pleased to hear from you. Thanks in advance.

19 Jan 02 - 06:32 PM (#631311)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Sorcha

Here is one, by that title by Joanne Davis.........right or wrong? I can look some more.....

19 Jan 02 - 06:38 PM (#631320)
Subject: Lyr Add: CROSSING THE WATER (Bill Staines)^^^
From: Sorcha

Nope, the above is a wrong answer. Here are Bill's lyrics:

CROSSING THE WATER

Chorus:
We are crossing the waters out whole lives through,
We are making a passage that is straight and true,
Every Heart's a vessel,
Every dream's a light,
Shining through the darkness of the blackest night.

Well, there's is no shallow water and not but love to keep
Us safely from the dangers and the devils of the deep.
But with every breath within us,
we search forever more,
To find some peaceful harbor on that far off shore.

Chorus:

For some it is a glory, for some it is a game
For some it is a story filled with emptiness and pain,
But as rising winds in chorus,
we search for steady ground,
There is only that before us, there cab be no turning round.

Chorus:

Oh, there is no other journey that will ever be the same,
No second change horizon that will call you by your name.
So when welling waves wash o'er you
and the stormy winds they drive
Give your heart a song, sing it loud and long,
keep your dreams alive.

Chorus:

Words and music by Bill Staines,
© 1992 Mineral River Music/BMI) (administered by BUG Music.)

(and I even remembered the subject box this time......)^^^

19 Jan 02 - 06:56 PM (#631334)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Madam Gashee

Wow, Sorcha, 8 minutes! Thanks a lot!

19 Jan 02 - 07:43 PM (#631357)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Bat Goddess

It's funny how things work out. I first heard the song about 5 years ago on a David Perry tape (the song labeled "trad") and wanted to learn it, but he had stumbled over and forgotten a few words. I went mildly nuts (please restrain your comments) looking for the words, when Jeri came up with a recording by a Brit whose name escapes me who had credited Bill. Checked it out and, ayuh, got the words. Bill lives (when he's not on the road which seems to be all the time) just up the road a piece. Go figure.

Linn

19 Jan 02 - 07:58 PM (#631368)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Jeri

'Twas Johnny Collins on Now & Then.

19 Jan 02 - 08:27 PM (#631381)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Sorcha

Madame, I will have you know that 8 minutes is slower than molasses in February......my record (which is also a 'Cat record tied by Miz Jeri) is one minute flat. (grin)I don't brag or nuttin'!

19 Jan 02 - 08:35 PM (#631385)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Joe Offer

Sorch, I hate to say this, but there are a number of errors in the text - and my Bill Staines songbook is 50 miles away from me. Ah, but wait - I find the lyrics were already posted by you-know-who (click).
-Joe Newlywed-

19 Jan 02 - 11:19 PM (#631452)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Sorcha

awwww, cripes. Well, I made a mistake once...........ONCE only, mind you. DAMMIT, JOE!! I thought you were on a Honeymoon............what do you think you are doing here????(grins)

20 Jan 02 - 12:57 PM (#631666)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: raredance

Sorcha,

It looks like Joe anticipated this request by about a year and a half! That doesn't make your "record" response one minute "after" the request seem so impressive now. :-)

rich r

20 Jan 02 - 01:05 PM (#631674)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Sorcha

Too true, rich, too true. LOL!

20 Jan 02 - 10:38 PM (#631957)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Lyrical Lady

I can't believe Mr. Musicman did not respond to this thread... guess he's...."out to lunch"...!

LL

21 Jan 02 - 06:07 PM (#632505)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Madam Gashee

Well thanks everyone.
I notice Johnny Collins & Geoff Kaufman do slight varients on the lyrics & what i really wanted was Bill Stains version.
Does anyone have any blue clicky to sites relating to him?
And the clock is ticking....

21 Jan 02 - 06:25 PM (#632528)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Musicman

ok.. just saw the thread... not even gonna check the book... figure joe has it all sorted out by now.. but..

here is a blue clicky to his web site.. that i can do....

Click here

musicman...

ps.. got him in vancouver for two nights in october this year.... :)))

21 Jan 02 - 06:26 PM (#632530)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Musicman

ok.. that one didn't work.. try this one..

Click here

02 Apr 12 - 12:05 AM (#3332331)
Subject: ADD: Crossing the Water (Bill Staines)
From: Joe Offer

I disagree a bit with the transcriptions posted above, and I believe the title is "Crossing the Water." Here's my effort, transcribed from the Bill Staines Going to the West album:

CROSSING THE WATER
(Bill Staines)

CHORUS
We are crossing the water our whole life through,
We are making a passage that is straight and true.
Every heart is a vessel, every dream is a light,
Shining through the darkness of the blackest night.

For there is no shallow water, and naught but love to keep
Us safely from the dangers and the devils of the deep
Yet with every breath within us, we search forever more,
To find some peaceful harbor on that far off shore.
CHORUS

For some it is a glory, for some it is a game,
For some it is a story filled with emptiness and pain.
But as rising winds in chorus, we search for steady ground,
There is only that before us, there can be no turning 'round.
CHORUS

Oh, there is no other journey that will ever be the same,
No second chance horizon that will call you by your name.
When the welling waves wash o'er you and the stormy winds, they drive,
Give your heart a song, sing it loud and long, keep your dreams alive.
CHORUS

c1992, Mineral River Music / BMI
(Recorded by Bill Staines on his "Going to the West" album)
JRO ^^

I heard Bob Reid and Margaret Miles in concert last night in Georgetown, California. They opened their concert with this song, and they did a terrific job. Bob and Margaret are friends from the San Francisco Folk Music Club.