sober in
the morning light
things look so much different
to how they looked last night
a pale face pressed
to an unmade bed
like flags of many nations
flying high above her head

the cellophane
still on the flowers
the telegram still in her hand
as whispers circulate all day
their back-stage baby princess passed away

and you can
cage the songbird
but you can't make her sing
and you can
trap the free bird
but you'll have to clip her wings
cos she'll soar like a hawk
when she flies
but she'll dive like an eagle
when she dies

promises
of no more lies
fell flat upon an empty stage
before the audience arrived
a return in time
to the cheaper seats
she never knew what lay beneath
just a dated handbill
they found between the sheets

let down
before the final curtain
a shallow heart that left her cold
she left in a rouge
upon the mirror
a circled kiss
to the faithful fans who'd miss her

and you can
cage the songbird
but you can't make her sing
and you can
trap the free bird
but you'll have to clip her wings
cos she'll soar like a hawk
when she flies
but she'll dive like an eagle
when she dies