We were invited along for a week on the island of Elba with Roberta Lapucci and her Conservation Class from SACI. As conservationists, we were asked to set up a new archeology laboratory. Ancient relics had recently been retrieved from the sea. We all worked hard on our volunteer week and enjoyed every minute of the special adventure.

Being immersed (pardon the pun) in the very different processes of rescuing treasures inspired us to symbolically pull relics from our own past—inspecting and restoring them in the light of day. We realized more than ever the importance of our history, as we attempt to invent meaningful futures. Without the history we are not anchored to anything, as we spin new tales. We saw ourselves at our own “Water’s Edge” where the present and the past meet. It became a wonderful metaphor for the deepening process we had undertaken.

Lyrics

Just at the water’s edge
One small boat brings home its catch
In the net with fish, there lay
An ordinary bowl of clay

Red figures on the rim
Shades of grey surrounding them
Now recovered from the sand
Lost and rescued, as if planned

Crusty fragment release
Then fall away from the bowl
And the story lives again
Told in relief, tale to believe
History, his story

And the story lives again
Told in relief tale to believe
History, his story

Beyond the water’s edge
We can find another world
Fishing nets cast out to sea
Capture treasures meant for me

Credits

From Where I Need to Be, track released 01 June 2005
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Tom Tomasello – Producer/Arranger
Jim Bruno – Vocal producer
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering
Inspiration – The beautiful Italian Island of Elba