The Beat Of Black Wings

Words and music by joni mitchell



I met a young soldier

He said his name was killer kyle

He was shakin' all over

Like a night-frightened child

This is his story

It's a tough one for me to sing

Hard as the squawk and the flap

And the beat of--the beat of black wings



"they gave me a gun," he said

"they gave me a mission

For the power and the glory--

Propaganda--piss on 'em

There's a war zone inside me--

I can feel things exploding--

I can't even hear the fucking music playing

For the beat of--the beat of black wings."



He said, "i never had nothin'--

Nothin' i could believe in

My girl killed our unborn child

Without even grievin'!

I put my hands on her belly

To feel the kid kickin'--damn!

She'd been to some clinic

Oh--the beat of black wings."



"they want you--they need you--

They train you to kill--

To be a pin on some map--

Some vicarious thrill--

The old hate the young

That's the whole heartless thing

The old pick the wars

We die in 'em

To the beat of--the beat of black wings."



There's a man drawing pictures

On the sidewalk with chalk

Just as fast as he draws 'em

Rain come down and wash 'em off

"keep the drinks comin' girl

'til i can't feel anything

I'm just a chalk mark in a rainstorm

I'm just the beat of black wings."


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