Skyline Pigeon

Album: Empty Sky (1969)
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  • Turn me loose from your hands
    Let me fly to distant lands
    Over green fields, trees and mountains
    Flowers and forest fountains
    Home along the lanes of the skyway

    For this dark and lonely room
    Projects a shadow cast in gloom
    And my eyes are mirrors
    Of the world outside
    Thinking of the ways
    That the wind can turn the tide
    And these shadows turn
    From purple into grey

    For just a skyline pigeon
    Dreaming of the open
    Waiting for the day
    That he can spread his wings
    And fly away again

    Fly away, skyline pigeon fly
    Towards the dreams
    You've left so very far behind

    Fly away, skyline pigeon fly
    Towards the dreams
    You've left so very far behind

    Let me wake up in the morning
    To the smell of new mowed hay
    To laugh and cry, to live and die
    In the brightness of my day

    I wanna hear the pealing bells
    Of distant churches sing
    But most of all please free me from
    This aching metal ring
    And open out this cage towards the sun

    For just this skyline pigeon
    Dreaming of the open
    Waiting for the day
    That he can spread his wings
    And fly away again

    Fly away, skyline pigeon fly
    Towards the dreams
    You've left so very far behind

    Fly away, skyline pigeon fly
    Towards the dreams
    You've left so very
    So very far behind Writer/s: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Don from Shenandoah Valley, VaOne of my funeral songs as well, the other being "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison.
  • Robin from Milford, NjApparently I'm not the only one who wants this song played in memory of me when I die!
  • Sean from Altoona, WiLike Donna, I also want this song to played at my funeral.
  • Adam from West Palm Beach, FlThis is definitely the best version.
  • Andy from Mammoth Lakes, CaAnother version not previously mentioned is a live solo piano rendition recorded in 1974 and issued on both CD and vinyl versions of "Here and There." He also revisited the same solo version in 2000 during his solo stint of shows at that time, a recording of which was issued on Vol. 1 of a CD for eltonjohn.com members.
  • Andy from Mammoth Lakes, CaElton played the song at the funeral of young AIDS victim Ryan White.
  • Donna from Rutherford, NjWhen I die I plan to have this song played at my wake. It's beautiful.
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