Johanna:

Green finch, and linnet bird,

Nightingale, blackbird,

How is it you sing?

How can you jubilate

sitting in cages

never taking wing?

Outside the sky waits

beckoning!

Beckoning!

Just beyond the bars...

How can you remain

staring at the rain

maddened by the stars?

How is it you sing

anything?

How is it you sing?

Green finch. and linnet bird,

nightingale, blackbird

How is it you sing?

Whence comes this melody

constantly floating?

Is it rejoicing or merely aloaming?

Are you discussing?

Or fussing?

Or simply dreaming?

Are you crowing?

Are you screaming?

Ringdove and robinet

is it for wages?

Singing to be sold?

Have you decided it's safer in cages

singing when you're told?

My cage has many rooms

damask and dark...

Nothing there sings,

not even my lark.

Larks never will, you know,

when they're captive.

Teach me to be more

adaptive.

Ah...

Green Finch, and Linnet Bird,

nightingale, blackbird,

teach me how to sing.

If I cannot fly...

Let me sing.