HEART ALONE
As sung by Bill Staines on "Redbird's Wing" (1987)

Into this world I came alone, flashing beauty to the bone,
And with all wonder, first I turned to see the sun,
Sired of strength and born of grace in a spare Kentucky place
Where the fields grow on forever in the morning.

And with no first and helping hand, two times I fell, then came to stand,
And with that rising I could feel my life begin;
For like some wild and rushing stream, in all my veins there flowed a dream,
And I could feel the feisty blood of those before me.

CHORUS: Jump to the bell; how do you feel? There's a flier at my heels;
Out straight ahead before the others show.
Now through that fast and final turn where mind and muscle start to burn,
And it is heart alone that brings you to the roses.

There was one, I knew him well; his eyes were kind and I could tell
That he would watch me as I'd fly beneath the sun.
Oh, how he'd smile and shake his head when I'd not let myself be led,
For he could read me and he knew it was just the fire.

Where the great Ohio slips away into a town we came one day,
And there were oh so many like me all around.
There was lightning in the air and I could feel it everywhere
As they gently put their colors to my shoulders.

CHORUS

Now gentle years, the bluebirds keep sweetly singing as they sweep
Across this farm, across this place that is my home,
Where morning mists rise from the dale, wispy wingéd silver tail,
Shining dancers in the early breath of springtime.

Oh, when it is that warming time, mother of youth and all its prime,
That brings the flower, that brings the mare to foal.
Now when I hear them from the hill, pounding hooves by driven will
Heat the heart and finds the flame that's deep inside me.

CHORUS