Defiance, Ohio The Idea of North Lyrics

the idea of north was frozen
like some glacial ice,
so large and imposing but
quickly thawed by words of secrecy
and thoughts of northern lights
and polar ice and things
i can't quite understand.
not some cardinal point on a map,
but a feeling that
takes me where i meekly stand
an idea so exciting that suddenly
i'm not content with running wild
and playing games with friends
in streets of this old college town.

i wish i had a magic compass.
to tell me that adulthoods corrupt
and there's more to this world
than that which meets the eye.
it could tell you the truth
but to read it, you'd have to
learn for yourself the meaning.
to meter means to measure,
and measures are what i'm so afraid to take.

the tides of this world are very strong.
that men and women are moved by tides
much fiercer than you can imagine.
that they sweep us up in their currents,
icy waves - the most terrible of lies.
could we be much bigger than this
with no forces to force us to decide?