joni mitchell
the beat of black wings
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 &quot 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 &quot " 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 &quot 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 &quot