[Verse 1]
Soaring the skies that had always been beyond his reach
He felt like a champion
Feet kicked the clouds
Arms bound in the feathers of his father's labour
Which a little while later would be ashes, vapour
Cumbersome limbs furnished with powerful things
He heard the wind speak every time he heard his wings beat
His father flew before him and so the course was set
He said "Don't fly by the waves 'cos your wings'll get wet
"But don't fly so high that the sun melts the wax"
He said "Stay on my path, son. Follow my tracks"
Well, Icarus enamoured by the feelings of flight
He just had to fly higher, get closer to the light
The sun was hot against him but he carried on ascending
The strength in him increasing like the heat that was so tempting
Beneath him was the world he left behind in search of better things
But to achieve that freedom, he sacrificed everything
[Chorus]
Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high
Icarus, heed your father's word, this ain't your territory
No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed
I wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help
Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't
Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't
In principle he burnt, smouldered in those myths
So we who never flew before can learn from what he did
[Verse 2]
Given the gift of flight
It was too easy to ignore the warnings of his father
How could he be truly responsible?
Really all he wants to do is soar above his station and become the sun's equal
But the sun can have no equal
Poor Icarus, that flicker in his eye
Just some picture in the sky about to catch the light, he saw
Foolish young pride, silly man cub
How can you learn to fly if you ain't even learnt to stand up?
If he'd listened to his father he never would've drowned
But the happiness he felt is one he never would have found
Gifts are dangerous when they are given, not earned
And the lesson merely heard is never a lesson learned
By the time his father turned, the wax had completely burnt
Feathers scattered on the waves, they rolled on unconcerned
Well that small boy before he fell into the sea
Icarus the headstrong had been completely free
[Chorus]
Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high
Icarus, heed your father's word this ain't your territory
No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed
I wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help
Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't
Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't
In principle he burnt, smouldered in those myths
So we who never flew before can learn from what he did
So we who never flew before can learn from what he did
I told him
Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high
Icarus, heed your father's word this ain't your territory
No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed
Wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help
Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't
Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't
In principle he burnt, he smouldered in those myths
So we who never flew before can learn from what he did