Kate Tempest - Icarus lyrics

[Verse 1] Soaring the skies that had always been beyond his reach He felt like a champion Feet kicked the clouds Arms bound in the feathers of his father's labour Which a little while later would be ashes, vapour Cumbersome limbs furnished with powerful things He heard the wind speak every time he heard his wings beat His father flew before him and so the course was set He said "Don't fly by the waves 'cos your wings'll get wet "But don't fly so high that the sun melts the wax" He said "Stay on my path, son. Follow my tracks" Well, Icarus enamoured by the feelings of flight He just had to fly higher, get closer to the light The sun was hot against him but he carried on ascending The strength in him increasing like the heat that was so tempting Beneath him was the world he left behind in search of better things But to achieve that freedom, he sacrificed everything [Chorus] Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high Icarus, heed your father's word, this ain't your territory No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed I wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't In principle he burnt, smouldered in those myths So we who never flew before can learn from what he did [Verse 2] Given the gift of flight It was too easy to ignore the warnings of his father How could he be truly responsible? Really all he wants to do is soar above his station and become the sun's equal But the sun can have no equal Poor Icarus, that flicker in his eye Just some picture in the sky about to catch the light, he saw Foolish young pride, silly man cub How can you learn to fly if you ain't even learnt to stand up? If he'd listened to his father he never would've drowned But the happiness he felt is one he never would have found Gifts are dangerous when they are given, not earned And the lesson merely heard is never a lesson learned By the time his father turned, the wax had completely burnt Feathers scattered on the waves, they rolled on unconcerned Well that small boy before he fell into the sea Icarus the headstrong had been completely free [Chorus] Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high Icarus, heed your father's word this ain't your territory No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed I wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't In principle he burnt, smouldered in those myths So we who never flew before can learn from what he did So we who never flew before can learn from what he did I told him Icarus, come down from the sky you're flying too high Icarus, heed your father's word this ain't your territory No one even noticed as he splashed, hit the sea bed Wonder what he saw before he fell, like if he needed some help Would he have asked for it? Probably he wouldn't Probably he thought he was invincible, he weren't In principle he burnt, he smouldered in those myths So we who never flew before can learn from what he did