Song Description

Written in 1980 for the, then, ten year old youngest sister of my wife, Felicity

Lyrics

you are the diamonds that come from the mines
and you are the heat and the dust and the blood
of the copper and colour of the sun in the evening, the sparkle of love in the night
and you are joy and you are heartache, like apples and lemons and limes
and if i say that you enthrall me, i hope that you won't mind
qué bella, oh clara bella, you angel of beauty, you darling, you know i think you're a star
qué bella, oh clara bella, i hope you'll be free but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that you already are

you are the clown with the white painted face
and the redness of living will soon stain your lips
but you're innocent now as you mime for your audience, free from the fullness of life
and you are love and you are precious, delicate and divine
and you are gold and you are silver and i don't think you'll tarnish with time
qué bella, oh clara bella, the bitter sweet years of your life, oh they're about to come in
qué bella, oh clara bella, you carry the hopes of a number among us, oh let the dance begin

you are the wonder, the way is before you
the why is the question that'll torture your life
but know that you're sacred and know you're eternal, and love all creation as one
for you are death in the hot sun, and life in the shade
and you are pain and you are sorrow and that is the way that you're made
qué bella, oh clara bella, the players are waiting, the good and the bad, and the ones that'll capture your heart
qué bella, oh clara bella, they're wrapped up in colours to dazzle and blind you so make sure you know your part
i hope you'll be free but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that you already are
you carry the hopes of a number among us, oh let the dance begin