I saw you running

Ahead of the crowd

I chased but never thought

I'd catch you.

You said you loved me

But you had to be free

And I let you.

Why did I let you?



We walked together

Through the gardens and graves

I watched you grow

To be a woman.

Living on promises

That nobody gave

To no one.

They were given to no one.



I started listening

To the wind and the rain.

You strained your ears

But could hear nothing.

One night I thought

I heard them

Whisper my name.

And I went running.



I left a trail

of footprints

Deep in the snow

I swore one day

I would retrace them.

But when I turned around

I found that the wind

Had erased them.

Now I'll never replace them.



Fly away, my sweet bird

over the land

Take life for all

the freedom you can

But if you ever

should need a man

Well, the offer still stands.



I hear you've taken on

a husband and child

and live somewhere

in Pennsylvania

I never thought you'd ever

sever the string

But I can't blame you none.

So let the ashes fall

And lay where they will

Just say that once

You used to know me.



One last time sing

that old song

We used to know

But this time sing

A little more slowly.



Fly away, my sweet bird

over the land

Take life for all

the freedom you can

But if you ever

should need a man

Well, the offer still stands.