Declan O’Rourke
If I was a bolt of lightning I’d shoot right down and split the sky
My energy would burn so bright t’would illuminate the darkest night
Maybe I’ll come back as one, half a second I’ll be gone
I’ll zap the earth, light up the sea with a bolt of electricity
If I was a bird upon the wing the sweetest songs you’d hear me sing
I’d fill the air with secret words in a language no one’s ever heard
Round and round the tune would ring, the melody reverberating
Mesmerising and absurd, more like and angel than a bird
But today I don’t want to be anything else but myself
Today I’m a little bit of all these things
There’s a little bit of all these things in me
I’ve got them all in my hand
I’m a lightning, bird, wind, river man
If I was a gust of wind I’d blow around the world three times or so
I’d gather up a million leaves and make a sculpture on the breeze
So beautiful that god would want to know how it was made
Would offer me a handsome price to be the wind in paradise
If I was a river I would be a raging river wild and free
Across the waterfalls I’d flow and rush the rapids down below
So treacherous would be my wrath you would not want to cross my path
I’d run so fast into the sea the waves would be seen on Mercury
Declan O’Rourke was a revelation when he played before Planxty on our 2004 reunion gigs in Vicar St. Dublin. Since that time he has written many fine songs that have been covered the world over. Last year in West Clare we spotted a poster for Kenny’s Music Pub in Lahinch – Live Tonight Declan O’Rourke. We had a great night listening to him as he wove his tapestry of songs. When he sang this song I loved it straight away. The following morning I called him and he gave me the all clear. Long may his melodies reverberate.