ICARUS SURVIVED

Ralph McTell

Icarus survived the fall
He didn’t really die
He lived to offer this advice
For all of those who try
Flying up to reach the sun
When warned they’d come to grief
”You live for stolen moments
And all time is a thief.”

“Time will steal your youth away
And dreams that fire your soul
It was not pride or vanity
That robbed me of my goal
I blame inferior materials
When things grew hot
Instead of saying how I blew it
Look how near I got!”

Chorus: Is your cup half empty,
Or is your cup half full?
Is that guy a fool to try
Or is he really cool?
Nobody made nothing
Who never made mistakes
I’m grateful for this opportunity
To put things straight.

“Remembering only my fall
Denies the swallow dives
And forward rolls with twists I made
Out of that clear blue sky
My near perfect entry into
The Aegean sea
Gained nine point nines from every judge--
Except East Germany.”

Chorus

“It is in the perfection
As to failure and success
Extracting something beautiful
Out of hopelessness
It all depends on attitude
Interpreting the facts (but)
Next time I fly with feathered wings
I won’t use wood and wax.”