Once
by the white sea on the rocky coast of Wales
There was a sad sound in the song of the nightingales
Above the bright fields, yours was the wilder song
From a dark wood, a plaint so clear and strong
The
pale, unfettered breast against a thorn
How you loved to make sweet music pour
Chorus:
Here's to all the hangers-on
Another round of ale
You sang your lonely life away
Crazy nightingale
I've
heard of one bird who sang to an ancient age
That was in china, he lived in a bamboo cage
His voice was silver but yours was smooth, warm stone
On the sidewalk singing "Molly Malone"
With
fiery visions that were fused to be
Such incandescent poetry
Here's
to all the hangers-on
Another round of ale
You sang your lonely life away
Crazy nightingale.
It
was always the madness or the drink
You were driven to
I guess in the end those were the bars
You were singing through
Here's
to all the hangers-on
Another round of ale
You sang your lonely life away
Crazy nightingale
Music and
Lyrics by Craig Bickhardt
Copyright 2001 Stone Barn Music (ASCAP)