David Sylvian & Robert Fripp - Jean the Birdman lyrics

He gambles on the saddle He's pulling at the mane He thrashes at the horse's back Ambition is a bloody game Horse doesn't want to jump The river looks too wide Well, he faces every hurdle With a nervous state of mind "Stay with me, breathe deeply Take three paces back Turn and make a full attack" The gods are laughing And they're tugging at the reins But they've taken to their wings And they hit the bank Heaven may stone him But Jean the birdman pulls it off His finger's on the trigger His eye is on the clock He doesn't give the game away And quickly fires the bullets off Six hearts cut short Still dreaming they're alive Blown 'round in dusty circles Like an absent state of mind Who hunter, who victim? God love America He surely doesn't love him Hitching out of nowhere Lines of traffic knee deep A chance to stave the morning off And get some sleep Heaven may stone him But Jean the birdman pulls it off He wears a crucifix His mother left to him It's wrapped in chains around his heart Rusted and wafer-thin "Don't count on luck, son" All the angels sing "Don't need to check the weathervane We all know what tomorrow brings" Life is a cattle farm Coyotes with the mules Life is a bullring For taking risks and flouting rules Who needs a safety net The world is open wide Just look out for the card sharks And the danger signs Heaven may stone him But Jean the birdman pulls it off