From the recording Music Is The Ride
The genesis of this song was a report I read that Tampa International Airport had to recalibrate all their runways because the earth's magnetic north had moved significantly. My imagination went to an expedition in the Arctic in which they couldn't trust their compasses any more and somehow had to find their way home. Kind of feels like now to me. We can't trust the "compass," as everything we know seems different now.
Tony Sheppard's guitar becomes the wild compass at the end. He's such a sweetheart, he didn't want to step on any of the singing so we couldn't get the effect we wanted. Finally I told Patrick to mute the singers so he could go to town. Bravo Tony.
Lyrics
Magnetic North
Words and Music
by Richard Schulman
Lost our heading three days ago
No bearings no reason why
Unfamiliar landscape
We don’t know
Wind howling
Through a crystalline sky
Signal fading where’s the source?
Could it be Magnetic north?
Conditions worsen losing warmth
Need to find Magnetic north
I heard magnetic north
Moved twice
She said she felt it
Floating under the ice
Wandering in circles all alone
We can’t find a path
To take us home
Could this be a test of our resolve
Can’t trust the compass anymore
There is no map to guide us
Are we done
Find the west by following the sun
Wilderness will never be too safe
It forces us to open inner gates
When we find the place
Within the heart
Magnetic north again will resonate
Signal fading where’s the source?
Could it be Magnetic north?
Conditions worsen losing warmth
Need to find Magnetic north