ONLY ANGELS CAN HAVE WINGS - words by Joel Beard and Richard Isen

he peeks in through the doorway
into a room that's black on white
he feels the hollow silence of the bed, the chair
and the lamps yellow light

he's looking in the mirror
looking for a trace of all he knew
or just a glimmer of his long, lost home
then not knowing what to do

he's listens to his breathing
and his heart's incessant beat
the stinging in his open eyes
he hears some people 
laughing in the street
a plane that's passing in the skies
and a baby's hungry cries
now he'll rise

it's busy at the office
and there's so much work for him to do
that the hours and the days drift
but all he feels is lost and confused

but the light keeps changing
winter's cold and summer's heat
the thunder rolls, the snow drifts down
on people moving in the street
running from the fates they fear
no wings to wear just swollen feet

if wishes could have wings my friend
I'd send them all to you
instead of spending them on starlight
I'd make all your dreams come true
but life keeps on insisting that
we take what each day brings
a wish is just a wish
and only angels can have wings

so life is just a short trek my friend
between the hidden paths and winding curves
burdened by the weight you bear
carried by the bones and nerves

but when you reach the end
all the feeling will subside
the hopes, the cares
the dreams you bring
you'll stand and watch the world collide
with nothing but what once was lost
a pair of shining wings

if wishes could have wings my friend
I'd send them all to you
instead of spending them on starlight
I'd make all your dreams come true
but life keeps on insisting that
we take what each day brings
a wish is just a wish
and only angels can have wings

words © 2000 Richard Isen