[Verse 1] At dusk he rode beneath the pines, Where frost lay silver on the ground, When something burned beside the road Without a flame, without a sound. He climbed down from his weary horse, And watched the golden embers stir. One feather lay among the snow, Still warm and bright as living fire. [Pre-Chorus] His old horse stamped against the earth. “Don't touch it. Leave it be. No Firebird loses such a thing Without some consequence to thee.” [Chorus] Leave the feather where it lies, Let it burn beneath the sky. Kings will hear and kings will hunger, Kings will ask the reason why. One bright feather leads to another, One small wonder starts the chase. Leave the Firebird's gift behind you, And ride on from this place. [Verse 2] “You'll carry it into some great hall, A king will see its golden light. He'll send you out to find the bird And swear you must return by night. Then once you've brought the Firebird home, He'll find another thing to crave. And every prize you lay before him Will earn another road to brave.” [Chorus] Leave the feather where it lies, Let it burn beneath the sky. Kings will hear and kings will hunger, Kings will always ask you why. One bright feather leads to another, One small wonder starts the chase. Leave the Firebird's gift behind you, And ride on from this place. [Bridge] “You have a road. You have a home. You have a horse who'd like to go. There will be forests, beasts and bargains, Things you'd rather never know. There may be castles past the sunrise, There may be fortunes, there may be fame— But mark my words, before it's over, You'll wish you'd never seen that flame.” [Final Verse] The traveler stood there for a while, The feather burning at his feet. He thought about the road behind him, Safe and straight and rather bleak. Then thought of kingdoms past the sunrise, Of beasts and wonders yet unknown. He smiled and glanced toward his old horse, Who gave a long and weary groan. [Outro] “Well... life's been quiet lately.” He bent beneath the fiery light, Picked the feather from the snow— And rode into the night.
