Illume (9/11)

Written by S. Nicks

Illume says the candle that I burn
A reflection in the window
All the way to Point Dune
Illume-like it dances
I am a cliff dweller
From the old school

I like the coastal cities
I like the lights...
I like the way the ocean blends
Into the city at night
It's like living on a working river
This coastline is glittering
Like a diamond snake 
In a black sky

I'm alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger

I will not take you for granted
I wouldn't trade you for jade
Or for diamonds
Not for one minute
Not for anything
I need you to be there
Just remember when I am haunted
That I was just so scared

I'm alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger

What I saw on this journey
I saw history go down
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away
It's just like a river
Ooh, it's never-ending
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away...

Because it's just like a river
It's never-ending
It's just like a river
It's never-ending

I am alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger

What I saw on this journey
I saw history go down
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away
It's just like a river
Oooh, it's never-ending
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away

I am alone now
With my thoughts
Of how we could make it
Of how we could get out
What we've been through
All of the trauma
The smell of Nag Champra
Shadow of a stranger

What I saw on this journey
Is what legends are made of
I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away
It's just like a river
Oooh, it's never-ending
No, I cannot pretend
That the heartache falls away

Because it's just like  a river
It's never-ending
It falls away
Like a river
It's never-ending...

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

Stevie prefaces this song in the lyric booklet with these remarks: "This song is dedicated to Rudolph Guiliani, the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, the people of New York City and to those who did not survive. With love."

In addition, Stevie writes about this song in her journal, found on the NicksFix. The journal entry that has the lyrics was written on Oct. 11, 2001, a month after the attacks, while she was at the beach. She states there, "The ocean is dramatic – when you live on a mountain by the sea, the ocean is so loud that it seems like it’s own person – like a spirit. It is very different from living on the sand – Where the ocean just goes straight out away from you – and it sounds more like constant percussion. When you are high above the ocean, you hear the whole ocean come from past Manhattan Beach right by you – and all the way to point Dune – and then it is silent- for a few seconds, and then – it sounds like the Shanghai Express is passing right under you – So, I will always find a cliff to dwell on, somewhere in this world – It almost seems like, sitting here, watching the cars go up the coast – that I never left~ Nothing has changed~ and yet, everything has changed."

I think that pretty much speaks for itself.
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