Starling

Filthy bird laying in our yard
Four-chambered heart never beat so hard
Dad said she was almost gone
Upside down out on our lawn
And I could hold her in a shoe box
If she heals she could be mine
And if I cannot save her spirit
Dad says I should break her spine
Shaking brilliant silver-black wings
Jesus Christ, what prayers these tears sing

Chorus:
Wear your hearts out on your sleeves for
Starlings, starlings
Of the least of all of these are
Starlings, starlings

Two years pass, I pumped the chamber
Full of air to shoot the birds
Harmless game to hit them slightly
To scare them off, in other words
Starling falling to her death
Piercing copper steals her breath
See the flutter in her breast
Starving babies in her nest
Raise their souls up to the sky
Why must helpless creatures die?

Chorus

Bridge:
Every breath has sacred weight
Every life has some design
Can we kill and also save
Speak of life while digging graves?

Raise their souls up to the sky
Why must helpless creatures die?

Chorus