Lyrics to "Cinnamon and Clove"

[Rudy]

"Rick" from the Mancini forum posted these lyrics out of his Johnny Mandel song book (w/ lyrics by the Bergmans):

Ver 1:
The moonlight warms the silver sand
A seabird sails across a cove
The water's crystal in your hand
The air is Cinnamon and Clove.

The tempo's easy as you please
From ev'ry lemon yellow morning
Through velvet ev'ning
With breezes singing
The air is Cinnamon and Clove
The air is Cinnamon and Clove
Seductive Cinnamon and Clove

Bridge:
So come to my arms
I long for your kiss
The taste of the sea
Salty sweet upon your lips.

There's love to be made
On nights such as this
And time is but sand
Sifting through our fingertips.

Ver 2:
The moon is like a tangerine
Adrift upon a sea of lights
A world where nothing comes between
These salty days and sultry nights.

Where ev'ry slice of life and love
Has just the perfect combination
A cup of sweetness
A pinch of sadness
A touch of Cinnamon and Clove
The air is Cinnamon and Clove
Seductive Cinnamon and Clove
A Touch Of Cinnamon and Clove.

-= N =-
(w/ thanks to Rick Corrao)

 

[jimac51]

Just a brief comment about those Bergman lyrics-WOW! The sense of sight,smell and touch-the combination of the moon,the sea & the sand,the seabirds in flight-time is of the moment,a mention of love being imperfect("sweetness...sadness)-these seemingly simple words pack a lifetime of imagery in two minutes and 26 seconds. Just another reason why BB66' "Equinox" holds up so well and why the Bergmans remain as two of the best modern day lyricists. Mac

 

[William]

I've always loved those lyrics... tremendously evocative. The Brasil '66 version brings out the sensual aspects of the lyric, especially with the way Lani and Janis sing the "salty sweet upon your lips" line.

The crew at Polygram Japan tried their best to decipher the song, but still put some humorous mistakes in the POCM-1880 booklet:

"Our secret sails across the cove"
(should be "A seabird...")

"The taste of the sea salt is sweeter from your lips"
(should be "The taste of the sea, salty sweet upon your lips.")

"The moon is like a tangerine, adrift upon the sea of love"
(should be "...upon a sea of lights")

"Every slice of breath and love"
(should be "...life and love")


- William
wondering what a "slice of breath" is

 

[DAN BOLTON]

- William
wondering what a "slice of breath" is[/quote]

Maybe it has to be "as hard as kerosene" to make any sense...I've always wondered if anybody's breath could EVER be that bad....


Dan, NP Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard-PONCHO AND LEFTY