The title track from his 2000 album, this song was also covered by New Jersey ska-punk band Streetlight Manifesto on their album 99 Songs of Revolution: Vol. 1.
Mason Jennings
Birds Flying Away
--------------------
I left my country when I was nineteen, 1925
And drifted to a town on the cuban coast
Met a woman who became my life
And ohhh, when I saw her
Darkness fled from me
It flew like a black bird into the sun
On the day she married me
Dear God, Dear God
I remember climbing up your shoulders
And coming up under you like a lion
And coming down like we were dieing
Dear God
But now the drum birds come for me
Oh now the drum birds come for me
And Lord give me forgiveness for all that I have done
Forgive me now, of the way that I beg, keep me on the run
Dear God, Dear God
I remember climbing up your shoulders
And coming up under you like a lion
And coming down, like we were dieing
Dear God