The Beat Of Black Wings

Words and music by joni mitchell

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
Its 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
Theres a war zone inside me--
I can feel things exploding--
I cant 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!
Shed 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
Thats the whole heartless thing
The old pick the wars
We die in em
To the beat of--the beat of black wings.

Theres 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 cant feel anything
Im just a chalk mark in a rainstorm
Im just the beat of black wings.