Notes: 



JT on Sony.com: Er Mei is a mountain in China (Sechuan province). Before the cultural revolution there were maybe 100 Buddhist shrines, temples, etc. on the way to the summit which usually pokes through the clouds like an island in the sea. 

Sally and I went there to meet Ben in '93 (he was traveling out of Tibet). It took three days to climb the many miles of stone steps carved centuries ago into the living rock of the mountain. At the time, I might as well have been on the Stairmaster at Jack LaLane on Broadway and 76th. 



We were walking in paradise 

Never did notice

Blind in the Buddha land 

Looking for solace

We had been told of a place 

Far beyond this vale of tears 

We could never have guessed 

We were already blessed 

There we were, where we are 

In the garden



Didn't we climb on up er mei 

Temple to temple

Yes and all and all along the way 

The day was simple

Didn't we reach the top 

Didn't we gain our goal 

Did we finally stop 

Surprised by the cold



We were walking in paradise 

Never did tumble

Blind in the Buddha land 

Looking for trouble

We had been told of a place 

Far beyond this vale of tears 

We could never have guessed 

We were already blessed 

There we were, where we are 

In the garden