From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood, Mount Ida rises like an island. Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child; Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love.
As the dawn creeps up the sky The hunter caught sight of a doe. In desire for conquest, He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before.
Hermaphroditus: "Where are you, my father? Give wisdom to your son" Narrator: Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun" "Then he could go no farther
And as his strength began to fail He saw a shimmering lake. A shadow in the dark green depths Disturbed the strange tranquility.
Salmacis: "The waters are disturbed Some creature has been stirred" Narrator: "The waters are disturbed Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred"
As he rushed to quench his thirst, A fountain spring appeared before him And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist, A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring".
The water tasted strangely sweet. Behind him the voice called again. He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake.
Salmacis: "We shall be one We shall be joined as one" Narrator: "She wanted them as one Yet he had no desire to be one"
Hermaphroditus: "Away from me cold-blooded woman Your thirst is not mine"
Salmacis: "Nothing will cause us to part Hear me, O Gods"
Unearthly calm descended from the sky And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged Forever to be joined as one.
The creature crawled into the lake. A fading voice was heard: "And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this spring May share my fate"
Salmacis: "We are the one We are the one" Narrator: "The two are now made one Demi-god and nymph are now made one"
Both had given everything they had. A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last, Forever still beneath the lake. Written by Anthony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Steven Hackett, Michael Rutherford