Sleeping Man

Sleeping-LacingOur routine evening at the Odeon Theater in Florence, turned out to be the world premiere of Spike Lee’s movie “Miracle at Santa Anna.” Spike was there along with all of the cast members. Quite an event!

A few days later, we went to the small town of Santa Anna, where the Nazi massacre had taken place. A local museum housed artifacts that chronicled the German invasion. It was a very moving experience.

The image of a “Sleeping Man” was referenced in the movie, and we were curious. So we went to the nearby town of Colognora, the intact medieval village where most of the movie was actually filmed. There, we encounterd a sweet elderly lady, who spoke only Italian, but told us the legend and where to find the mountain.

We made the hour-long drive to a small town called San Antonio d’Alpe. At dusk, we walked the trail from the end of town, to a clearing where we could see the silhouette on the mountain’s crest. There he lay, still peacefully, resting—The “sleeping man.”

Music

Lyrics

There is a man sleeping
High upon a mountain in Tuscany
Everyone knows that his lover has gone, so he grieves
Left all alone

There is a man waiting
Heartbroken from the day that she went away
Hoping that someday she will return, so he waits
Sleeping alone

It has been years since he lay down
To rest himself, so weary and worn
She will awaken him
When at last she comes home
To live again

He dreams of her and of their love
Willing to wait as long as he must
Believes in destiny
Wears his heart on his sleeve
For all to see

Fulfilling his destiny
High on top of the ridge
For all to see

And so the man sleeping
Forever from the day that she went away
Everyone sees that he’s lying there still
Face in the clouds
Patiently waiting for her
Silhouette in the sky
Sleeping alone

Video

Credits

From Moment of Truth, track released March 1, 2009
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics, vocals and production
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar, vocals and production
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering
Inspiration – The legend of the Sleeping Man &The Miracle of Santa Anna