It’s actually cool in the shade
Actually almost cold in the shade
But the sun some yards away is hot
But the sun is millions of miles away
And my sweatshirt is at home
The green shade, the green green shade
The green sweatshirt, the green green shade
We hiked up a trail through the grass
Up a hill where the sun had yellowed the grass
But the woods right next to the path smelled cool
But the trees on the opposite hillside were charred from the fire
I was burning up in my black t-shirt
And my sunscreen was at home
The blonde grass, the ashen grass
The black trees and the black t-shirt
The green shade and the yellow grass
You ran waving your arms in the air
As you flew down the trail high up in the air, up on the hill
Above the bay, up in the blue sky
Above the clouds that came in waves from over the sea
Cold waves of clouds broke over the hills across the bay and covered the bridge
But we were safe on the hot yellow hill
Looking out onto our home
The blue air, the blue blue air
The white clouds and the blue bay and
The red bridge and your blue t-shirt
The orange poppies, the golden hills
The green shade and the blue blue air
I moved away from my home by the sea
I actually left my home by the sea
But I left my heart so I'd have to return
But my home has changed
The hills and buildings shift and burn
Now my house is thousands of miles away
In a city where nights are brighter than day
And I look out my window to the west, out at the pale sky
And after dark I close the green shade
But the sun’s still high over the golden hills
And I want to go back home
The gray sea, the gray gray sea
The gray rocks and the gray fog and the gray sagebrush, the gray gulls
Or the gray city, the gray bridges. the white lights and the white snowflakes,
The sparkling streets and the bright windows, the gray dawn
Or the golden sunset, the gray sea and the green, green shade
credits
from Elma Mayer,
released September 1, 1996
Vocals & instruments Elma Mayer. Composed by Elma Mayer; harmonic & melodic suggestions for the last chorus Brian Woodbury.
