You were born on a day of flood
The pier was sunk and the water kept rising
And all through the night your mother fought
Then you swam out, never crying

Oh, you the swimmer
And I'm a bird in the sky

You were born with your hands rough and
With a heart that's clean and strong
And I was born dying
With a heart familiar with flying

Oh, you the swimmer
And I'm a bird in the sky

And a bird may love a fish, but where will they live?

You were born in a thunderstorm
That struck the land, rolling from the ocean
And I was born in October through
The color and the cold, the Sun was shining

Oh, you the swimmer
And I'm a bird in the sky