The Fountain of Salmacis (2007 Stereo Mix)

From a dense forest of tall, dark pinewood

Mount Ida rises like an island

Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child

Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love

As the dawn creeps up the sky

The hunter caught sight of a doe

In desire for conquest

He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before

Where are you, my father?

(Then he could go no farther)

(Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun)

Give wisdom to your son

And as his strength began to fail

He saw a shimmering lake

A shadow in the dark, green depths

Disturbed the strange tranquility

The waters are disturbed

(Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred)

Some creature has been stirred

As he rushed to quench his thirst

A fountain spring appeared before him

And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist

A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring"

The water tasted strangely sweet

Behind him the voice called again

He turned and saw her

In a cloak of mist, alone

And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake

We shall be one

(She wanted them as one)

(Yet he had no desire to be one)

We shall be joined as one

Away from me, cold-blooded woman

Your thirst is not mine

Nothing will cause us to part

Hear me, oh, gods!

Unearthly calm descended from the sky

And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged

Forever to be joined as one

The creature crawled into the lake

A fading voice was heard

"And I beg, yes, I beg, that all who touch this spring

May share my fate"

(We are the one)

The two are now made one

Demi-god and nymph are now made one

(We are the one)

Both had given everything they had

A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last

Forever still beneath the lake