The Phoenix (1975 Studio Version)

Well, the Phoenix is a bird that lives for several hundred years
Then lights a fire and burns away his laughter and his tears
He dies an agonizing death so he can be reborn
He rises out of his own ashes early in the morn

I lost all my feathers in the fire of '68
My old love is buried with my jealousy and hate
In the ashes of the man I used to be

I tried to help myself, but I guess it was my fate
I learned my lesson finally, but I guess I was too late
Too late for the man I used to be

I'm gonna rise up like a Phoenix from my ashes and take wing
I'm gonna put myself together once again and learn to sing
A new song like I never sang before, just wait and see
I'm gonna rise up like a Phoenix from my ashes, and be free

I lost all my blood in the battle of '74
I laid there on my back and watched it run on the floor
Good-bye to the man I used to be; I had to say good-bye
To the man I used to be

I'm gonna rise up like a Phoenix from my ashes and take wing
I'm gonna put myself together once again and learn to sing
A new song like I never sang before, just wait and see
I'm gonna rise up like a Phoenix from my ashes, and be free
And be free

You've gotta die a little, if you really wanna grow
You've gotta learn to forget, if you really wanna know
All that is