Briney Deep

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter

One of the bonus tracks on the 50th Anniversary edition of Tales Of The Great Rum Runners. It generally circulates on tapes under the title "On Our Way Back Home". Although the title on the CD is "Briney Deep", and the lyrics include "Across the briny deep", I wonder if in fact the true title may be "Lullaby." Hunter registered a song with that title along with the other tracks on the CD (but didn't register "Briney Deep") and that title would fit with the lyric "Hush little darling, don't you cry, you'll be winging by and by." The lyrics aren't included in Box Of Rain.

According to Jesse Jarnow on Deadcast, it's sung on the album by Kathy Vaughn and Shelly Ralston, with Barry Melton on guitar

Fables and tangles
By earth light unravelled
Return to the sources
With faces untried
We shall ride
On our way back home
Across the briny deep
Where the angels sleep
And shed their smiles
And reflect on wave

Whichever the weather, the wind is among
Whichever the window, the water is filling
Whichever white horses the rider will ride
To the core of the earth through pillars of marble

Mounted of wind-back
To earth songs unwritten
On horses of rainclouds
With traces unbound
We shall ride
On our way back home

By the streams of the gulf
By the shadows of rivers
By hills and by fountains
In saddles of gold
We shall ride
On our way back home
Across the briny deep
Where the angels weep
And shed their smiles
And reflect on waves

The snows of late July
Hush be still now, I'll sing no more
Hush little darling, don't you cry
You'll be winging by and by
Across the briny deep
Where the angels weep
And shed their smiles
And reflect on waves