Sweet on the lip

[Intro] In the high mist where the misty mountains rise a Tujia young man sings to the valley skies of bamboo flute and river bend of love that climbs where the pines ascend [Verse 1] High on the ridge where the white clouds drift I carve your name with the chisel's gift The mountain wind takes the chips of pine come down to the river, my love, be mine [Verse 2] My mother wove on the loom of stone a brocade shawl for you alone red birds flying on indigo ground the way my heart keeps flying round I crossed the gorge on a swinging vine I drank the rain from the cedar's spine The tiger's print on the moss was deep I kept no watch, I could not sleep [Verse 3] At the Hand-Waving dance when the fires burned low I chose you out of the lantern's glow You gave me tea from the gourd at your hip one bitter leaf, then sweet on the lip [Chorus] If you should say the stream runs back to the stone if you should say the eagle forgets to own the sky—then only then will I turn from you and the mountain will crack where the morning grew So come to the bridge where the waters meet with silver bangles upon your feet The Tujia moon has a single road it leads to your door where my song has flowed [Bridge] By the third cup of tea, the vow is sealed by the fifth peak's snow, the heart revealed Where the misty folds like a lover's hand I'll wait at the gate of your mountain land [Outro] Where the misty folds like a lover's hand I'll wait at the gate of your mountain land