SINGER: Joni Mitchell

SONG: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."

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."