Magpie from Flights by Dora Maar

Through the pane a solo magpie chatters
Bustles through the orange, russet, red
Who knows what it’s for and what you would do
If you sat upon that branch instead
If you sat upon that branch instead

Branches billow brutally another
Autumn’s brought this ceaseless chilly gale
When the trees have all of but been blown bare
Is everybody’s nesting bound to fail?
Is everybody’s nesting bound to fail?

The future was a golden place they promised
All the time to you when you were young
And now the golden leaves slip ever
Further from the silver sun
You wonder if
You wonder if
It’s ever going to come

Do you make the best out of the winter
Or do you hold out for another spring?
And is it really stupid and so reckless
To meanwhile dare to dance and soar and sing?
Why shouldn’t we dance and soar and sing?

The future was a golden place they promised
All the time to you when you were young
And though the golden leaves slip ever
Further from a silver sun
You wonder when
You wonder when
It’s finally going to come

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl and
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold and
Seven for a secret
Never to be told
Eight for a wish and
Nine for a kiss
Ten for a bird
You must not miss
Eleven you’re never
Going to work it out
And twelve
To deal with that self-
Doubt

• Alternative
• Scottish
• art pop
• artrock
• indiepop
• post-punk
• Edinburgh