Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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High Wings track 3. Thanks to rocketman0739 for providing high-quality versions of these songs.
Download the album here: archive.org/details/filk_high_wings
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Lyrics:

Out in the morning sun he flew, across a brightening sky
In his mighty warbird, ah, how he loved to fly!
Green country passed below him, and a friend flew on his right
No thought of death betrayed him as his target came in sight

Though he hated the death his flying brought, he'd been through it all before
This rugged fighter pilot was a veteran of two wars
When the target centered in his sight he set his payload free
And then without a backward look the pilot turned to flee

But he'd flown low, and flaming thunder shook him as he flew
He fought to regain his altitude; he knew nothing else to do
But the plane caught fire and spun like hell and he knew his death was near
And in desperate disillusionment he called out for all to hear:

"Cursed be the gods who made me fly and brought me to my end!
Make me now what you want me to be, but I will never fly again.
Fill my heart with music, and give me a tale to tell.
But next time round don't make me die alone in a fiery hell!"

At his death vision's glowing end a soft voice made reply,
"We'll do with you as you've asked us to, but you will always long to fly."
They placed him in an infant's mind, in a body without sight
In an infant's bed, the pilot woke to face an endless night

You ask me how I know this tale; it's written in my song
On nightmare's wings it's haunted me for near my whole life long
I believe the pilot's soul is mine and his spirit is my right
And though I may sing my songs with joy, I will always long for flight