She was young and you were, too,
but your heart was cold and gray
A pretty lass, as clear as glass, a diamond for a day

You held her hand, the promised land,
her fears you did allay
Babe you had a bird in hand and in that hand she strayed


The sweetest words she'd ever heard,
they made her trip and sway

You took her down to the old red town
and had your wicked way
Morning came, nothing the same,

her feet had turned to clay
Babe you had a bird in hand and in that hand she lay


Time did pass, and she alas,
felt something that did weigh
A sad-eyed girl, your country pearl

had fallen, as they say
And when she cried, you turned aside,
you pushed her love away

Babe you had a bird in hand and in that hand she stayed

She was young and you were too,

but your heart was cold and gray
When the summer breeze turned to autumn leaves
you took yourself away

You never thought of her sad lot,
she faced a judgment day
Babe you had a bird in hand, a bird that hand betrayed


Years went by, (& all that implies)
And with age came dismay

Your thoughts transformed, your heart grew warm,
you changed your wicked ways
Remembered love, a simple dove,

your diamond in the hay
Babe you had a bird in hand, a hand you overplayed


You went down to the old red town,
the streets in dust now paved
Your pretty thing, a memory,

had long since slipped away
They said she died by the riverside
on a chilly autumn day

Babe you had a bird in hand but the bird has flown away