Well she never wanted to fly high She was too fond of walking Then you said you'd reach the sky She thought it was a way of talking Then you said you'd build some wings You'd found out how it could be done But she was sceptical of everything She never thought that you'd reach the sun
You were so clever with your hands She watched you for hours With the glue and with rubber bands With feathers and lace and flowers The finished wings gleamed so bright Like some bird of glory She began to envy you your flight Like some hero's story
You tried to get her to go with you You tried always to dare her But she looked at the sky so blue And said the height would scare her But she carried the wings for you All up the path to the cliff face Kissed you goodbye and watched your eyes Already bright with sunlight
Well it was so grand all at the start To watch you soaring higher But there was a pain deep in her heart The wings seemed tipped with fire Like some seagull or a lark Rising up forever Like some ember or some spark Rising from earth to heaven
Then she believed you'd reach the sun She believed all you told her Do a thing no man has ever done You'd touch the stars to please her But then she saw the white wings fail Saw the feathers falter Watched you fall like a ball of gold Into the wide green water
Some are born to rise high Some are born to follow Some are born to reach the sky Some walk in the hollow And as I watched your body fall I knew that really you had won For your grave was not the earth But the reflections of the sun