Lyrics Abigail Washburn

Abigail Washburn

Great Big Wall In China

You can tell a flower to bloom

On the other side of the moon

But for you and me it's hard to see her glory in the sun

Even if she climbs high into an ashen sky

A fading light for out of sight

will signal her blooming day

So a spaceship we must build

Set off from our window sill

The journey's long to carry on, especially in the dark

Even if we ask a distant star where the blooming flowers are

She may shoot us back on her jumbled ray

To the land from whence we came

But from space we'll see

They built a great big wall in China

Built it up to the pearly gates

I wanna land right beside her

Hither come what may

The storyteller stands

Upon the city gate and says,

“I too have seen a coming dream

I talked to stars

Got close to mars, and

Got shot back to where we are

I wish all could see what I have seen

The trembling light of a distant flower in the night”

They built a great big wall in China

Built it up to the pearly gates

Gotta take down the banner boys

Hope it's not too late