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 (this time sing)
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