It’s always a treat when a Toad the Wet Sprocket song pops up on Random Weekends. With so much else to listen to, it’s too seldom that I fire up their albums on my own.
This song comes from Toad’s 1997 album Coil, their fifth, and their last before a reunion album 16 years later.
Lead singer Glen Phillips wrote this song about an encounter he and his wife had with a “holy man” on a trip to India. He led the couple through a spiritual ritual but then tried to hit them up for money.
Fascinating how the pallor can stay upon your face
When you are light like a little boy
Flying kites and shouting to the world
You’re shouting to the world your joy
Don’t fade, you are staying here with me
Don’t fade, I need to know that someone still believes
Look around, see for yourself
He led us down and at the water’s edge we knelt
Petals in the lake and red upon my face
She’s crying as we pray
And it all comes down to money, again
How could you forsake the love of God that way
Don’t fade, you’re staying here with me
Don’t fade, I need to know that someone still believes
I would have tried to talk the “holy man” into a tour and then paid him for that.🙏🏻😁