Firefly
Can you see me?
Shine on, glowing
Brief and brightly
Could you imagine (note 1)
One summer day
That same night
Be on your way
Do you remember?
Hearts were too cold
Seasons had frozen us (note 2)
Into our souls
People were saying
The whole world is burning
Ashes were scattered
Too hard to turn (note 3)
Upside out
Or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town (note 4)
Terrible, the only game in town
Passenger
Don't you hear me?
Destination
Seen unclearly
What is a man
Deep down inside
But a raging beast
With nothing to hide
Out-takes from the Terrapin Station album sessions reveal that when the song was being developed, the lyrics after the first chorus were sung in a different order and included additional verses:
Jet plane shadows
Under the sky
Just like the elephant
Planning to die
What is a man
Deep down inside
But a raging beast
With nothing to hide
Passenger
Don't you hear me?
Destination
Seen unclearly
Ask me no questions
Sing you no names
No more mysteries
Simple games
Notes
(1) it sounds to me as if this line may sung as be "Can you measure"
(2) Ted Syrett suggests this couplet should be "Seasons had frozen ice into our souls" - that would fit well and it sounds as if it's what the Dead sing in the recording on "Dead Set." But earler recordings definitely sound like "Seasons had frozen us" as in the sheet music.
(3) this is the line in the sheet music, but I'm not sure it's right. It sounds more like "Too far in to turn."
(4) Ted Syrett suggests that on Dead Set, these two lines are sung as "You and I, the only game in town/Now we're the only game in town." I'm not sure I hear that, but it's an interesting variation.
