Keepers of the Flame
(song lyrics)
Backed by candles and incense and a mystical romantic feeling,
I play my guitar as the flame shadows tickle the ceiling.
I picture your candlelit face floating there in the night time.
I didn’t want you to go, but to say so just wasn’t the right time.
Love as a candle flares bright in the eyes
Of people who want it to be in their lives.
It’s sweetness and sulphur and the scent lingers on
For years sometimes after the flame is long gone.
The wax runs in pools and is warm to the touch
But we mustn’t play too much
Or the candle will drown and the flame will burn down
And that’s what happened to us.
In loves from before I had gone with the flow of the moment,
Never knowing until love had died that my heart was in torment
Over things I had wanted and things I had dreamed that I let slip down the drain,
And I promised myself I would never be that blind again.
When our love flared I worked hard to make sure that this time would be different.
I strove to be sure what I wanted was clear from the outset.
But I watched it too close and became too intense and you pulled away;
The damage was done and the candlelight faded to grey.
Love as a candle flares bright in the eyes
Of people who want it to be in their lives.
It’s sweetness and sulphur and the scent lingers on
For years sometimes after the flame is long gone.
The wax runs in pools and is warm to the touch
But we mustn’t play too much
Or the candle will drown and the flame will burn down
And that’s what I did to you.
Now the candle wick smolders, streaming a sweet smoke of mourning
That mingles with incense circling your image before me.
I long to rekindle the romance and hold you tight in my arms,
But I don’t want to open you up to more of my harms.
Please know that wherever you go, there’ll always be part of me with you
Tucked inside your heart, giving love that will always renew.
Any time you need strength, reach inside and I’ll be waiting patiently
With arms open wide and a candle flame burning brightly.
— Stace Johnson, 1993