[Verse 1: Mezzo-soprano female lead, strong and steady] Twelve years ago they told me I was not the type to fly Thank you for your interest, we regret to say goodbye Every airline in the country sent the same polite reply And I kept every letter in a tin box, I don't know why Bought a balloon with a hole in it and patched it on my own Learned to read the wind like it was something I was shown Now I carry that tin box in the corner of my basket Like a ghost that keeps me honest, like a stone inside a pocket [Chorus: Mezzo-soprano female lead, full force] I got lighter than the things that held me down Every pound I throw is one more foot above the ground Watch me clear the ridge, watch me turn it all around I got lighter than the things that held me down [Verse 2: Mezzo-soprano female lead, urgent] Race day over the valley and the sky is wide and blue Then a hand of air comes down and pushes me right through Dropping fifty feet a minute and the ridge is coming fast Burner roaring, I am sinking, I can see the end at last Over go the sandbags, over goes the cooler and the rope Over go my boots, my jacket, and my thermos full of hope Still I'm dropping, still I'm falling, I can see the rocks below And the tin box in the corner like it knows something I know [Chorus: Mezzo-soprano female lead, full force] I got lighter than the things that held me down Every pound I throw is one more foot above the ground Watch me clear the ridge, watch me turn it all around I got lighter than the things that held me down [Bridge: Mezzo-soprano female lead, rising with everything] Thank you for your interest Thank you, we regret Every single no I carried like a debt Lid comes off and over goes the box Paper in the wind like a thousand little flocks And the basket jumps And the burner sings And I am climbing like a thing with wings [Final Chorus: Mezzo-soprano female lead, open vowel, the biggest note she has] I got lighter than the things that held me down Every pound I throw is one more foot above the ground Watch me clear the ridge, watch me turn it all around I got lighter than the things that held me down [Outro: Mezzo-soprano female lead, triumphant] Twenty feet to spare above the stone Bare feet in the basket and the sky my own Every letter floating to the valley floor They can keep their no, I don't need it anymore [End]
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