Icarus
Martin Simpson Lyrics

I never wanted to fly high
Flying high was not my desire

I was too fond of walking
I preferred the simplicity of walking

So when you said you'd touch the sky
When you expressed your aspiration to reach great heights

I thought it was your way of talking
I believed it was just empty words

And then you said you'd build some wings
You claimed you would construct wings

You'd found out how it could be done
You discovered the method to achieve it

But I was doubtful of everything
I lacked faith in all of it

I never thought you'd reach the sun
I never believed you would actually reach such heights

You were so clever with your hands
Your manual dexterity was impressive

I'd watch you for hours
I observed you intently for extended periods

With the glue and rubber bands
Using adhesive and elastic bands

The feathers and the lace and flowers
Incorporating feathers, lace, and decorative flowers

And the finished wings glowed so bright
The completed wings radiated a brilliant light

Like some bird of glory
Like a magnificent bird

I began to envy you your flight
I started to feel jealousy towards your ability to fly

Like some old hero's story
Similar to a tale of an ancient hero

You tried to get me to go with you
You attempted to persuade me to accompany you

You tried all ways to dare me
You employed various methods to challenge me

But I looked at the sky so blue
However, I gazed at the incredibly blue sky

I thought the height would scare me
I believed the altitude would intimidate me

But I carried your wings for you
Nevertheless, I carried your wings on your behalf

Up the path and to the cliff face
Ascending the pathway and reaching the edge of the cliff

Kissed you goodbye and watched your eyes
Bidding farewell with a kiss while observing your eyes

Already bright with sunlight
Already illuminated by the sunlight

It was so grand at the start
Initially, it felt magnificent

To watch you soaring higher
To witness your ascension to greater heights

There was a pain deep in my heart
A profound sorrow welled up within me

Your wings seemed tipped with fire
It appeared as if flames adorned your wings

Like some seagull or a lark
Similar to a seagull or a lark

Soaring forever
In perpetual flight

Or some ember or a spark
Resembling an ember or a spark

Drifting from Earth to Heaven
Floating from the earthly realm to the divine

Then I believed all that you'd said
Subsequently, I placed trust in all your words

I believed all that you'd told me
I had faith in everything you had conveyed

You'd do a thing no man had ever done
You would accomplish a feat unprecedented in human history

You'd touch the stars to please me
You would reach for the stars to bring me joy

And then I saw your wide wings fail
Subsequently, I witnessed your expansive wings faltering

Saw your feathers falter
Observed your feathers wavering

And watched you drop like a ball of gold
And saw you descending like a golden sphere

Into the wide green water
Descend into the vast green waters

Now some are born to fly high
Certain individuals are destined to soar to great heights

Some are born to follow
Others are born to be followers

Some are born to touch the sky
Some individuals have an innate ability to reach the heavens

And some walk in the hollow
While others traverse a shallow existence

But as I watched your body fall
However, as I observed your descent

I knew that really you had won
I realized that ultimately you were the victor

For your grave was not the earth
Because your final resting place was not on land

But the reflection of the sun
Rather, it was the radiant reflection of the sun