She was a traveller- sharp tail and wings

Delayed from her voyage- by the gifts that love brings
Ignoring the cool and diminishing light

and the calls from the shadows- as her family took flight
Swallow dear swallow- don’t waste too much time
There’s a high price to freedom if the winds are not right
Swallow dear swallow she pushed and she tried

But fresh into her journey had to rest for the night
The roof tops were grey and dusted with snow.

All the sheltered spots taken by pigeons and sparrows

‘Over here’ cried a voice- she arced back to see
a glimmering statue with a tear on his cheek
Swallow dear swallow- you can stay here tonight ,
I’ll be your shelter and the view is alright
Swallow dear swallow fell in love at first sight
Nestled into his neck and asked- ‘why do you cry?’
It’s all that I see, lovely -such heart- that it breaks mine, lovely
I see them working through the night and the day

Trying to scrape out a living on the pennies they’re paid
Down there is a seamstress sowing ribbons and bows

While she and that child in the corner are so hungry and cold
Swallow dear swallow, shall we launch a plan?
Pluck out this ruby and fly fast as you can?
Down through her chimney- she can’t afford fire

This jewel red as her fingers should keep them safe for awhile
Soon back from the errand the bird shook a bit
From the joy in the giving and the effort of it
The statue was smiling- looked deep in her eyes

Said, perhaps we can do the same with these sapphires
the next couple of nights?
But how will you see, lovely?

Such heart- how you break mine lovely
But swallow dear swallow- she couldn’t resist

Without his beautiful eyes- she could still have his lips So swallow dear swallow delivered each prize

First to a young girl then a poet- saving their lives
Swallow dear swallow- it’s past time you should go

I feel that you’re shaking and winter is long

But swallow dear swallow had made up her mind

There’s no way she was leaving- when she could be his eyes
All that I see, lovely I’ll share with you now, my lovely
So over the city she fluttered and flew

Gathering stories and tips on where to bring his gold to
Many spirits where lifted with the help of their gifts
While statue’s finish grew dull and swallow grew thin
Now fly, my dear lovely - you’ll die if you stay here, lovely
Swallow dear swallow knew this was no lie

Rested on statue’s shoulder and whispered goodbye

Oh swallow dear swallow I’m glad that you’ve changed your mind
I know I’ve kept you too long from your path to sunshine

But she didn’t answer- just fell to his feet

And at that sickening sound- his heart skipped a beat
Then broke with such force it knocked them both toward the street
But the angels take pity on dreamers and fools

And the ones that share treasures they’ve stumbled into

A chorus of voices soon filled up the night

And a warm summer breeze bathed them in a strange light
It’s all that I see, lovely, such heart- that it breaks mine lovely
City workers took statue and the swallow they found
Tossed her into the rubbish, and melted him down
but his cracked heart stayed solid, so they threw it away
into the very same pail where dear swallow was laying
Swallow dear swallow, I’ll no longer weep

I know death is just the wise older brother of sleep
Swallow dear swallow- sweet lover of life

Let’s go sing with the angels of how hard we tried