The Beat Of Black Wings Lyrics - Singles - Mitchell Joni

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." 

1988 Crazy Crow Music BMI