If all my lovers sing the big words,

And all my brothers keep them small,

Then I'll get lost in the difference

Between their whisper and the echo of their call.

So I am headed for the ocean

To let the sea smoke guide me in.

I'd give up my belongings and questions

They only ever taught me, to begin.

So I will not turn around

As I step up to the train,

But I'll hear it when you call my name.

And I will not be the sound

Of your roof under the rain,

But I'll hear it when you call my name.

So I am takin' off my wristwatch

To let the time move how I please,

To let my day be guided by the sunlight

Through morning's mill and twilight's soft release.

So if you wanna get to know me

Follow my smile down into its curves.

All these lines are born in sorrows and pleasures

And every man ends up with the face that he deserves.

So I will not give you bread

As you reach out from your cage,

But I'll hear it when you call my name.

And I will not give applause

As you step off of the stage,

But I'll hear it when you call my name.

There's a river running through the city

Gently reminding me what's what.

Of course you are invited to come with me,

But I don't think that's really what you want.

I think you want a world that will hold you

Through security and gravity and love

And I can't think of anyone who'd blame you

And I can't think of how that'd be enough.

So I won't come back around

When you curse the ground you've tamed,

But I'll hear it when you call my name.

And when you realize, once I'm gone,

That I never really came,

Oh I'll hear it when you call my name.

And when the burden of the sun

Reveals to you its pain,

Oh I'll hear it when you call my name.

And when you realize that you're wrong

But you still give me all the blame,

I'll hear it when you call my name.