From the recording In the Earth's Fading Light
Kristina Stykos: vocals and guitars
Susannah Blachly: fiddle
Produced by Kristina Stykos.
Recorded by Kristina Stykos at Pepperbox Studio, Chelsea VT except for Karen Almquist’s track recorded at Red Rooster Studio, Berkeley CA, and Bela Flecks tracks recorded on the road.
Edited, mixed and mastered by Corin Nelsen at Imaginary Road Studios, Windham County VT.
Lyrics
Like a Thief
(c) 2005 Kristina Stykos/BMI/Horse Thief Publishing
I do remember you
You were a handsome sight
A weathered fiddle tucked beneath your chin
Working the streets at night
You made them laugh, you liked your whiskey
You saw many, many dawns like this
Sunlight stretching the Atlantic
To touch you with its kiss
And the rain comes down, like a thief
And runs into the ground
Orion was high in the winter sky
Now he’s buried with his crown
A shabby daytime soldier you were
A constellation in the dark
Your tunes flew out over the empty stage
Like shiny pennies from a jar
Like a child expecting love
You could always make one shed a tear
You’d catch the hardest heart like a thistle down
Spread your wings and disappear
And the rain comes down, like a thief
And runs into the ground
Orion was high in the winter sky
Now he’s buried with his crown
I cannot say I ever knew you well
Or that you saw me when you looked my way
Once you said: “Sing us a song!”
And I turned away
Your old coat still hung by the fire
Your empty glass, so bright and clear
I cannot say I ever knew your love
But you were welcome here
And the rain comes down, like a thief
And runs into the ground
Orion was high in the winter sky
Now he’s buried with his crown
The night is over, the light is rising
The stars are lazy in the sky
The wild music and the dancings done
Its time to stoke the dying fire
September’s wood was green
Now in the cold March wind it burns
My voice has come back to me
But I know you won’t return
And the rain comes down, like a thief
And runs into the ground
Orion was high in the winter sky
Now he’s buried with his crown
- in memory of and dedicated to Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham