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