This cruel country has driven me down Teased me and lied, teased me and lied I've only sad stories to tell to this town My dreams have withered and died
Once I was bending the tops of the trees Kind words in my ear, kind faces to see
Then I struck up with a boy from the west Played run and hide, played run and hide Count one to ten and he's gone with the rest My dreams have withered and died
Silver moon sail up and silver moon shine On the waters so wide, waters so wide Steal from the bed of some good friend of mine My dreams are withered and died
If I was a butterfly, live for a day I could be free, just blowing away
This cruel country has driven me down Teased me and lied, teased me and lied I've only sad stories to tell to this town My dreams have withered and died
I hand you my ball and chain You just hand me that same old refrain I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling
I wish I could please you tonight But my medicine just won't come right I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling
Too many steps to take Too many spells to break Too many nights awake And no one else This grindstone's wearing me Your claws are tearing me Don't use me endlessly It's too long, too long to myself
Where's the justice and where's the sense? When all the pain is on my side of the fence I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling
Too many steps to take Too many spells to break Too many nights awake And no one else This grindstone's wearing me Your claws are tearing me Don't use me endlessly It's too long, it's too long to myself
It scares you when you don't know Whichever way the wind might blow I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire And I'm falling
High up above the crowd The great Valerio is walking The rope seems hung from cloud to cloud And time stands still while he is walking His eye is steady on the target His foot is sure upon the rope Alone and peaceful as a mountain And certain as the mountain slope
We falter at the sight We stumble in the mire Fools who think they see the light Prepare to balance on the wire But we learn to watch together, And feed on what we see above Till our hearts turn like the seasons And we are acrobats of love
How we wonder, how we wonder Watching far below We would all be that great hero The great Valerio
Come all you upstart jugglers Are you really ready yet? Who will help the tightrope walker When he tumbles to the net So come with me to see Valerio As he dances through the air I'm your friend until you use me And then be sure I won't be there
How we wonder, how we wonder Watching far below We would all be that great hero The great Valerio
I feel for you, you little horror Safe at your mother's breast No lucky break for you around the corner 'Cause your father is a bully And he thinks that you're a pest And your sister she's no better than a whore. Life seems so rosy in the cradle, But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store There's nothing at the end of the rainbow. There's nothing to grow up for anymore Tycoons and barrow boys will rob you And throw you on the side And all because they love themselves sincerely And the man holds a bread knife Up to you throat is four feet wide And he's anxious just to show you what it's for. Your mother works so hard to make you happy But take a look outside the nursery door There's nothing at the end of the rainbow. There's nothing to grow up for anymore And all the sad and empty faces That pass you on the street All running in their sleep, all in a dream Every loving handshake Is just another man to beat How your heart aches just to cut him to the core Life seems so rosy in the cradle, But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store There's nothing at the end of the rainbow. There's nothing to grow up for anymore