if i had wings -- Contrariwise: Literary Tattoos

Oct 02

if i had wings

This is Hannah’s tattoo:

It’s from a Peter, Paul & Mary song that we sing at the camp I went to for 10 years, which meant a lot by itself, but I also love the word ‘if’ and its possibilities.

“If I had wings no one would ask me should I fly

The bird sings, no one asks why.

I can see in myself wings as I feel them

If you see something else, keep your thoughts to yourself,

I’ll fly free then.

Yesterday’s eyes see their colors fading away

They see their sun turning to grey

You can’t share in a dream, that you don’t believe in

If you say that you see and pretend to be me

You won’t be then.

How can you ask if I’m happy goin’ my way?

You might as well ask a child at play!

There’s no need to discuss or understand me

I won’t ask of myself to become something else

I’ll just be me!

If I had wings no one would ask me should I fly

The bird sings, and no one asks her why.

I can see in myself wings as I feel them

If you see something else, keep your thoughts to yourself,

I’ll fly free then.”

“If I had wings no one would ask me should I fly
The bird sings, no one asks why.
I can see in myself wings as I feel them
If you see something else, keep your thoughts to yourself,
I’ll fly free then.

Yesterday’s eyes see their colors fading away
They see their sun turning to grey
You can’t share in a dream, that you don’t believe in
If you say that you see and pretend to be me
You won’t be then.

How can you ask if I’m happy goin’ my way?
You might as well ask a child at play!
There’s no need to discuss or understand me
I won’t ask of myself to become something else
I’ll just be me!

If I had wings no one would ask me should I fly
The bird sings, and no one asks her why.
I can see in myself wings as I feel them
If you see something else, keep your thoughts to yourself,
I’ll fly free then.”

- “If I Had Wings” by Peter, Paul & Mary

Share and Enjoy: