The Sparrow Lyrics

I used to fancy myself As a sparrow on the wing Playing games in the freedom of the wind I used to fancy myself As a minstrel who would sing Playing tunes on a gypsy mandolin chorus: But to live like the sparrow You must fly or face the flame You must know your weakness Like you know your name And to live like the poet And roam from town to town You must learn to be lost Enough to be found I used to fill up my days With four leaf clover dreams Casting lots on the crossroads of time I used to build my house from fate Clothed with words alone Not knowing I was naked in my rhyme I used to laugh at my loves As they turned from young to old For the weakness in their hearts and in their ways But that dark sky above As it turns from black to gold Trades the homing instinct for a lonely grave