I stood with mom and poppa as the bus pulled in that day
To take me from my childhood to a man
I believe it was the first time i saw either of them cry
As momma held on tight to daddy’s hand

Momma handed me a sandwich and some money she had saved
And whispered that she knew i’d be a good man
She gently smiled and told me that momma’s always know
The only way to come back is to go

And birds and children fly away like clouds on a windy day
And there’s usually a rainbow after the rain
Birds and children fly away that’s the master’s plan you know
Children are god’s gift to make love grow

And i can still hear poppa say
Don’t cry momma birds and children fly away
A thousand thoughts flashed through me as i watched them wave goodbye
How they taught me to fish and love and pray
I gave the man my ticket heard poppa gently say
Don’t cry momma cause birds and children they just fly away