Run, Little Red Kite

[Verse 1] You brought the red kite folded under your arm, I brought the string and a plan that looked sound. The field ran wide past the old water tower, And the wind kept changing its mind by the hour. You said, “if i let go, will it know where to go?” I said, “give it some room, and we’ll find out together.” [Pre-Chorus] We ran till the grass bent low, You laughed when the tail dipped down. I learned there’s no way to lead Without letting the line run out. [Chorus] Run, little red kite, take the long way up, Catch that west wind, lift your paper wings. Run, my boy, let the whole sky open, There’s more ahead than we can see. And if you stumble, i’ll be right beside you— We’ll find our feet, then try again. Dreams take flight when you give them a little wind, And a little room to bend. [Verse 2] Your sneakers left two quick tracks through the clover, My old legs found a younger kind of speed. You held the spool like a captain at sea, Calling each gust like it answered to you. When the kite climbed past the telephone wires, You looked up and grinned like the world had grown wider. [Pre-Chorus] The string pulled hard in your hands, You eased it, then let it climb. I said, “you don’t win by holding too tight; You learn the feel of the line.” [Chorus] Run, little red kite, take the long way up, Catch that west wind, lift your paper wings. Run, my boy, let the whole sky open, There’s more ahead than we can see. And if you stumble, i’ll be right beside you— We’ll find our feet, then try again. Dreams take flight when you give them a little wind, And a little room to bend. [Bridge] Someday you’ll choose a road i cannot follow, You’ll have your own horizon to discover. Keep your hands light, keep your eyes up, And don’t be afraid to run beside another. [Final chorus] Run, little red kite, take the long way up, Catch that west wind, lift your paper wings. Run, my boy, let the whole sky open, There’s more ahead than we can see. And if you stumble, you can rise and find me— We’ll find our feet, then try again. Dreams take flight when you give them a little wind, And a little room to bend. [Outro] The spool turned slow in your hands, The red kite sailed where the open field ends.