Mark L Berry

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You are here: Home / Memoir / Black Firebird

Black Firebird

13,760 Feet--Living with TWA Flight 800

This song appeared in The Story Shack on June 4th, 2013 along with my essay of the same name and an illustration by Codey Richards.Firebird_Logo 278

The Story Shack Header 150
http://thestoryshack.com/fantasy-science-fiction/mark-l-berry-black-firebird/

Words by Mark L Berry and Music by Matt Pierce
Performed by Matt Pierce

Black Firebird – lyrics

That new Firebird was his pride
Midnight black, with black inside
Gold bird of prey across the hood
He’s always washing it and shining it good

Early one morning, he happened to stop by
Yelled in my window “Lets take her for a ride”
Breakfast was calling as I crawled to the car
My head hung over from drinkin’ at the bar

<Slide>

Lets have some fun and take a little ride
Just a speed run to the airport’s other side
We took off so fast I was glued to my seat
Engine’s howling whine, I feel the heat

From a distance I could see the Village Inn
My stomach aching and I’m feeling sick and thin
I saw it in his eyes, shoulda thought the worst
It caught me by surprise when he slammed her in reverse

<Chicken finger pickin & a high slide>

Engine screamed I’m sorry, Tires squealed and smoked
We suddenly came to a stop and he finally spoke
You see my warranty is up in just a few weeks
I’ll have to pay out of pocket to fix all the leaks

I want to keep this car, I want it like new
It’s a long walk back and that’s why I brought you
Sorry about breakfast, I hope lunch will do
Thanks for the company, I can see you’re not amused

Matt Pierce
Musician Matt Pierce

<Slide>

He never returned for the second semester
He probably went to jail or is some big investor
When the pages of life turn with time
and memories of friends turn to rhymes

Refreshing my mind of a dangerous time
That airport run is still burned in my mind
And that black Firebird, black as night
A symbol of my youth, before this boy took flight

<Chicken finger pickin & a high slide>


13,760 Feet
13,760 Feet–My Personal Hole in the Sky

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