“Language of the Heart” is the first David Wilcox song I ever heard. That was back in 1992, when I was deep into a psych degree at California State University Long Beach and madly in love with a 30-something aerospace engineer who wasn’t in love with me.
His intelligence, charm, wit, sensitive soul and handsome awkwardness drew me like a siren’s song as he revealed the disappointments of a successful yet lonely workaholic life lived while denying his true passions for travel, nature and photography. I learned much from him that I later applied to my journalism career and even helped me win a few photography awards.
But the relationship didn’t last and he eventually quit engineering, bought a Jeep and set off for parts unknown. Without me. I had a degree to finish, he had a burning need for adventure.
I wanted adventure, too, I wanted it “more than I can tell,” as Belle sang in Beauty & the Beast the year before. To this day, I still use the brass Beast key fob I bought over 30 years ago after seeing that movie. “And for once it might be grand to have someone understand, I want so much more than they’ve got planned …”
He understood but he wasn’t interested in adventuring with me.
Long Beach had a restaurant on the marina called Jolly Roger and my friend Sandy Songbird took me there to listen to a cover band who played regularly in the eatery’s small, dark bar on weeknights. There were rarely more than a handful of people in the place.
Because of the marina I guess, the band seemed partial to Jimmy Buffet songs but one evening they played “Language of the Heart.” Every word perfectly described my relationship woes, except I was the one wearing the dress.
We made our warm bed out of blankets in the meadow way up high
You took off your dress in the moonlight, to sleep beneath the sky
Your touch was a warm summer ocean
Your kiss made the whole mountain fly
And you looked deep with in me and smiled
At the tears in my eyesYou can say that you always were honest
And your words were clear from the start
But its more than just words that got spoken
There was language of the heartI won’t keep on calling your number if you never have the time
I don’t want to claim you or blame you, but you’re always on my mind
You had no idea I would love you
It comes as a total surprise
And you shake your head slowly and smile
At the tears in my eyesYou can say that you always were honest
And your words were clear from the start
But its more than just words that got spoken
There was language of the heartYour eyes like an ocean of clear sunlit green
My eyes wept the salt water
Washing me clean….againAnd just imagine you whispered a secret that could take away my blues
And you let me believe it to please me, though it just wasn’t true
You just meant to share with me pleasure
And you’re gifted at what you do
But you’re speaking an unspoken language
I thought that you knew
It’s one that we all learn by heart
And our hearts think its true
~ J.L. Hilton
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