2. The Rainbow Bird
In Memory of John Paul Kurtzweil
Words & Music © 1997 Texas Chapbook Press
1. As I walked through the forest
one winter day
Deeply lost in my thoughts of life’s dark way,
I noticed a raven was following me,
Cawing loudly and hopping from tree to tree.
2. I shooed him away for I wanted
no friend,
But he kept hopping back as I rounded each bend.
He stopped at my feet and I knelt with alarm
As I saw that his wings were terribly deformed.
Chorus:
Shiny black were his feathers,
Shiny black were his eyes,
Shiny black were his cries,
But such wings, how could he fly?
3. My lone companion, this
chattering bird,
Of what he said I knew not a word.
Together we wandered far and wide,
A sad man and a noisy blackbird at his side.
4. The journey was long, the
sights were many
In that wondrous dark forest of baffling plenty.
Wherever we went, the people we met
Were sad like myself, never ceasing to fret.
5. They heard the wind and my
raven’s black cries.
Their hearts grew heavy under dull gray skies
I too turned from the day and I welcomed the night
As anyone would, following my blackbird’s broken flight.
Chorus.
Repeat chorus.
6. One day my raven hopped no
more.
He lay on the ground, his chattering over.
My eyes filled with tears; he raised his black head,
He opened his beak and clearly said:
7. "I have ridden your
shoulder many a night and day
And you never once heard what I had to say.
You sad foolish soul, at last I can show
What you were too blind to see, too frightened to know."
8. With that he died and before my
eyes
Where my raven had been there mounted to the skies
A rainbow bird on wings of light.
I shielded my eyes and wept at the sight.
Chorus:
Shiny black were his feathers
Shiny black were his eyes
Shiny black were his cries
And such wings, how he did fly!
9. My tears turned to laughter as
I felt myself rise
Toward my friend’s joyful dancing in the open blue skies.
Chorus:
Shiny black were his feathers
Shiny black were his eyes
Shiny black were his cries
And such wings, how we did fly!