Danger bird, he flies alone
And he rides the wind back to his home
Although his wings have turned to stone

And we used to be so calm
Now I think about you all day long
(That's the moment that he cracked)
'Cause you've been with another man (long ago in the museum with his friends)
There you are and here I am

The jailbird takes a rap
And then finds himself spread-eagled on the track
But the training that he learned would get him nowhere fast

And I know we should be free
But freedom's just a prison to me (rain pounding on his back)
(He recalls the moment that he cracked)
'Cause I lied to keep it kind (long ago in the museum with his friends)
When I left you far behind (like those memories, the rain)
(Just keeps poundin' down, down, down)

And though these wings have turned to stone
I can fly, fly, fly away
Watch me fly above the city
Like a shadow on the sky
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly


Lyrics submitted by danger bird, edited by smallwonderrobot

Danger Bird Lyrics as written by Neil Young

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Danger Bird song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Awesome song.

    danger birdon July 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I kinda think this song is about a guy running away from his problems. He is also schytzo! His woman is sleeping with his other personality, and he is having heavy problems dealing with the normal day to day life. So he runs away from everything, and pretty soon theres no where left to go and he kills himself. Thats just what i get, i feel it in the music.

    I just reread what i typed and it sounds ridiculous. Its hard to gauge neil young sometimes. Danger bird is a loner and a troublemaker, who just cant deal with the normal day to day living. He Runs (flies) away from everything and anything...

    this album is amazing, i highly recommend you get it. Neil Young and Crazy Horse is amazing. this song live is sooo good, with all the feedback and reverb and delay on neil youngs guitar its sooo trippy, it will put you into a trance, its almost a peaceful trance, but eerie

    Cleanrusson January 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about being betrayed by his lover who slept with someone else. He is the Danger Bird. The pain of her betrayal has turned his wings to stone. But yet he is strong enough to fly away, even with stone wings. As a double Scorpio, I have a unique insight into his lyrics. The album has other songs that address this;

    Barstool Blues
    Pardon My Heart Looking for a Lover

    jerkypeteon June 13, 2012   Link
  • -5
    General Comment

    Neil Young is boring.

    Catroaron September 03, 2007   Link

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