words and music by Joni Mitchell I met a young soldier He said his name was Killer Kyle He was shakin' all over Like a night-frightened child This is his story It's a tough one for me to sing Hard as the squawk and the flap And the beat of--the beat of black wings "They gave me a gun," he said "They gave me a mission For the power and the glory-- Propaganda--piss on 'em There's a war zone inside me-- I can feel things exploding-- I can't even hear the fucking music playing For the beat of--the beat of black wings." He said, "I never had nothin'-- Nothin' I could believe in My girl killed our unborn child Without even grievin'! I put my hands on her belly To feel the kid kickin'--damn! She'd been to some clinic Oh--the beat of black wings." "They want you--they need you-- They train you to kill-- To be a pin on some map-- Some vicarious thrill-- The old hate the young That's the whole heartless thing The old pick the wars We die in 'em To the beat of--the beat of black wings." There's a man drawing pictures On the sidewalk with chalk Just as fast as he draws 'em Rain come down and wash 'em off "Keep the drinks comin' girl 'Til I can't feel anything I'm just a chalk mark in a rainstorm I'm just the beat of black wings."
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