He gambles on the saddle
Hes pulling on the mane
He thrashes on the horses back
Ambition is a bloody game

Horse doesnt want to jump
The river looks too wide
Well he faces every hurdle
With a nervous state of mind

Stay with me, breathe deeply
Take three passes back
Turn and make a full attack

The gods are laughing
And theyre tugging at the reins
But hes taken to his wings
And they hit the bank

Heaven may stone him
But jean the birdman pulls it off

His fingers on the trigger
His eye is on the clock
He doesnt give the game away
And quickly fires the bullets off

Six hearts cut short
Still dreaming theyre alive
Blown round in dusty circles
Like an absent state of mind

Who hunter? who victim?
God love america
He surely doesnt love him

Hitching out of nowhere
Lines of traffic knee deep
A chance to stave the morning off
And get some sleep

Heaven may stone him
But jean the birdman pulls it off

He wears a crucifix
His mother left to him
Its wrapped in chains around his heart
Rusted and wafer thin

Dont count on luck son
All the angels sing
Dont need to check a weathervane
We all know what tomorrow brings

Life is a cattle farm
Coyotes with the mules
Life is a bullring
For taking risks and flouting rules

Who needs a safety net
The world is open wide
Just look out for card sharks
And the danger signs

Heaven may stone him
But jean the birdman pulls it off