Your oldest and your dearest are the last ones to believe That you'll ever reach transcendence Before you march into your grave The problem's not what's wasted. it's all the love you saved While you were living, shoulda given, never gave Or maybe we were all monarchs in the 16th century In which case the life self-rightous Is your feudal destiny That is, until they all revolt and take your throne away Count the hours 'til your powers dissipate But then you tell me we are birds That we are being groomed for better things No more of standing around, you tell me we are birds That we are all just waiting for our wings Until we get our feet off the ground To see a better way to be than living week to week -tell me we are birds and I'll believe And we'll say 'OH, but look at me go OH, do you know? no, no.. OH but look at me go..' And we'll know- yes we'll go far once we see what we are All the subway people are waiting for the sound They've been waiting many years for a change to come around So give me this my stock report and mock me if you may As you plunder ever-younger men everyday But then you tell me we are birds That we are being groomed for better things No more of standing around, you tell me we are birds That we are all just waiting for our wings Until we get our feet off the ground To see a better way to be than living week to week -tell me we are birds and I'll believe Don't suppose you used to think of better ways to be Don't suppose you used to conjure magic And believe I used that trick too mant times I fear I've been decieved But tell me we are birds And I'll believe