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 
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.