Leaves on the Wind Lyrics
Volume 1: Still Flying
STILL FLYING
Inspired by Firefly episode 1: Serenity, wherein we meet the captain and crew of the best gorram ship in the 'verse.
It started with the war you see
The battle of Serenity
We were mighty but we lost anyway
Now we travel on the rim
The core just ain't worth living in
Salvaging a life day by day
The crew of this here Firefly
Are under Captain's watchful eye
First mate Zoë keeps Wash flying true
Jayne's just in it for the cash
Inara brings a bit of class
Kaylee's working in the engine room
Still flying, still flying
It ain't much but it's enough
Still flying, still flying
It ain't much, but it's enough
We'll take whatever work we can
A shepherd, doctor and lawman
And a crazy girl with brains bout near to burst
That's most our cargo, not quite all
Got one quick drop off in Whitefall
If Patience doesn't kill us first
Criminals and savages
Bullet holes and fugitives
It was a good day
Still flying, still flying
It ain't much but it's enough
Still flying, still flying
It ain't much, but it's enough
RIGHT THING TO DO
Inspired by Firefly episode 2: The Train Job, wherein the crew faces a moral dilemma. Is it possible to be both criminal and honorable at the same time?
These times are tough
Your reputation speaks for you
Take a job and don't question much
It's just what you gotta do
It's just what you gotta do
It's just what you gotta do
You choose your side and you make your decision
It's just what you gotta do
Some say a man's got a choice
I don't believe that's true
You learn the details of a situation
You know the right thing to do
You know the right thing to do
You know the right thing to do
You choose your side and you make your decision
You know the right thing to do
Silently we pray
For their souls, beating like a gorram train
Kick these troubles to the wind
And we'll take flight again
You choose your side and you make your decision
It's just the right thing to do
It's just the right thing to do
It's just the right thing to do
You choose your side and you make your decision
It's just the right thing to do
NOTHING
Inspired by Firefly episode 3: Bushwhacked, wherein the crew faces their fear of Reavers and the vasty nothingness of space..
There’s ghosts in this place
Can’t hear the voices out in space
Stare out at the darkness for far too long
No one escapes
What’s out there
Is what’s in here
It’s nothing
Just how far can you go
Pushed to the edge out here alone
No civilization left to witness
Pick the bones
What’s out there
Is what’s in here
Open it up and see what’s inside
No mercy, no weakness and no place to hide
Charity’s a bullet straight to the brainpan
Impressive what nothing can do to a man
It’s all just nothing
Out here is nothing
Nothing
STRONGER THAN STEEL
Inspired by Firefly episode 4: Shindig, wherein we celebrate the beauty and strength of the women of Serenity.
Strawberry eyes
Watching dancing butterflies
Floating on air like a chandelier
Keeps your ship up in the skies
Look at the pretties all wrapped in lace
Don’t be fooled by a beautiful face
Underneath all the ruffles and silk
She’s stronger, stronger than steel
Can’t resist her
Undefinable allure
Needs no defense, despite your attempts
She saves you with a word
She’s tougher than you think
With a little bit of slink
She’ll get inside your head
She’s no mere diversion
She’s stronger than steel
BIG DAMN HERO
Inspired by Firefly episode 5: Safe, wherein we see the immense sense of love and family between siblings Simon and River Tam.
You were a special little girl
Big soul in a little world
Dancing shoes and dinosaurs
But they put you in a box
Buried so deep that you forgot
How to be just who you are
I was lost, you came to find me
Running through the world so blindly
Thought by now that you would know
You’re my big damn hero
Your star was shining so bright
But you knew something wasn’t right
So you left it all behind
Put your life up on a shelf
Saving everyone but yourself
Like a human sacrifice
I was lost, you came to find me
Running through the world so blindly
Thought by now that you would know
You’re my big damn hero
Don’t know where we’re supposed to be
But as long as you’re with me
I know we’re home
Volume 2: No Power In The 'Verse Can Stop Me
GOODNIGHT KISS
Inspired by Firefly episode 6: Our Mrs. Reynolds, wherein we see things from Saffron's point of view.
I placed a wreath of flowers on his head
A bowl of wine and a dance and we’re wed
The finest a bride and a wife shall be his
Until my goodnight kiss
He won’t see it coming, no they never do
A word and a look and they swear they’ll be true
For the promise of one night of marital bliss
Until my goodnight kiss
Kiss me goodnight
But you better hold on to your heart
If anyone shoots me I’ll shoot ‘em right back
Cause we’re all just playing our part
I'm nobody's doxy, I’ll cast my own net
I’m not to be bought, bartered, borrowed nor lent
I’ll show you the stars with just one good myth
Until my goodnight kiss
Kiss me goodnight
But you better hold on to your heart
If anyone shoots me I’ll shoot ‘em right back
Cause we’re all just playing our part
I can hotwire a ship, I can cook a fine meal
I can shoot, fight, seduce and lie, cheat and steal
But don’t play a player, she won’t fall for such tricks
Won’t fall for my goodnight kiss
Kiss me goodnight
But you better hold on to your heart
Well there may be a special hell waiting for me
But we’re all just playing our part
THE TRUE STORY OF THE HERO OF CANTON
Inspired by Firefly episode 7: Jaynestown. A new look at what really happened to "The Hero of Canton." Original lyrics and music written by Ben Edlund, new lyrics written by The Fallen Stars.
Jayne! The man they call Jayne!
He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor
(I hope they don’t remember)
Stood up to the man and he gave him what for
(The last time I was here)
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain
(I just can’t explain)
The hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne
Now Jayne saw the mudders' backs breakin'
(What kind of town puts up a statue)
He saw the mudders' lament
(For stealing from the magistrate?)
And he saw the Magistrate takin'
(This flies in the face of)
every dollar and leavin' five cents
(every kind of sense)
He said "You can't do that to my people,
(I’m just a working stiff like you)
You can't crush them under your heel
(Rut-ting Mud-ders)
Jayne strapped on his hat and in five seconds flat
(Don’t know a hero)
stole everything Boss Higgins had to steal
(From a man looking for his next meal)
He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor
(I hope they don’t remember)
Stood up to the man and he gave him what for
(The man I used to be)
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain
(I just can’t explain)
The hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne
Now here is what separates heroes
(The anti aircraft had us humped)
From common folk like you and I
(We dumped the fuel, the gear, the seats)
The man they call Jayne, well he turned 'round
(Well I turned ‘round)
That plane and let that money hit the sky
(That plane and let my partner hit the sky)
He dropped it onto our houses
(He grabbed the cash on his way out)
He dropped it onto our yards
(Thirty feet down)
The man they call Jayne, he stole away our pain
(Goes old Stitch,and like a sumbitch)
And headed out for the stars
(I headed out for the stars)
He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor
(Someday I’ll earn that title)
Stood up to the man and he gave him what for
(Those mudders gave to me)
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain
(I’ll live up to that name)
The hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne
The hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne
MIRACLE
Inspired by Firefly episode 8: Out of Gas, wherein we see the how the crew of Serenity came together.
She’s a beauty, treat her right
She’ll be with you for the rest of your life
Fill her up with light and love
She’s the freedom you’ve been dreaming of
Listen well and best take care
Or she’ll burn you, leave you gasping for air
One broken part, it seems so small
You’ll start to feel, then won’t feel nothing at all
You don’t have to be alone
Just need a miracle to call you home
Looking back at who we were
Visions of mustaches, Hawaiian shirts
Dreams in lace and calico
Cigars and poetry seem so long ago
You don’t have to die alone
Just need a miracle to call us home
Don’t be afraid
We won’t leave you to this fate
We’ll still be here when you wake
When you wake
She’s a beauty, treat her right
She’ll be with you for the rest of your life
OPEN THE DOOR
Inspired by Firefly episode 9: Ariel, wherein Simon searches for clues to River's condition during a heist at an Alliance hospital.
Open the door, walk right through
Act like the place belongs to you
Wear the right clothes, say the right lines
You’ll be just fine
Open the door, take what you need
It ain’t a crime to steal from the greedy
When there’s others need it more
Open the door
I want to see the light
Don't want to be locked away inside this broken life
Can't take it one day more
Open the door
Open the door, follow the plan
Don’t go falling into blue hands
Two by two, they come when you call
And blood will fall
Open the door, on with the chase
Now you’re like rats trapped in a maze
It’s a dead end, don’t make it yours
Open the door
I want to see the light
Don't want to be locked away inside this broken life
Can't take it one day more
So open the door
Make the nightmares go away
Open the door
Turn the darkness into day
The truth is clear
There's nothing left to fear
Now I can see the light
Don't need to be locked away inside this broken life
Not one day more
So open the door
APPLES AND KNIVES
Inspired by Firefly episode 10: War Stories, wherein Zoë tries to reconcile her life as a soldier with the demands of her marriage.
Who am I?
A soldier in a fight?
A good man’s wife?
Apples and knives
Walk in unarmed and make an offer.
There’s a certain code of honor
And I carry enough for two.
Now you want me to choose.
Like you’re another Shan Yu.
Love, honor, obey, well which is it?
It’s a suicide mission
And we just might lose it all.
But I won’t let you fall.
Got our backs up against the wall.
Who am I?
I’m a soldier in a fight.
I’m a good man’s wife.
I’m apples and knives.
No power in the ‘verse can stop me,
I’m gonna get my man.
Now you see who I really am.
I’m apples and knives.
I’m a soldier in a fight.
And I’m a good man’s wife.
Volume 3: Can't Take the Sky From Me
NAKED
Inspired by Firefly episode 11: Trash, wherein the Captain and YoSaffBridge face off once again, forcing each to reveal a little more than planned.
He’s a criminal mastermind
Just a low down petty thief
Easiest mark I ever made
Gullible beyond belief
She’s a brilliant, beautiful
Evil double-crossing snake
Seen her with her clothes off
But I never thought I’d see her...
Naked, behind the lies
Naked, nothing left to hide
Thought I was a princess
I’d stay locked up in a tower
I’ll take everything he’s got
With a bunch of flowers
She’s always got a plan
It’s gonna be the perfect crime
But she won’t see us coming
No, not this time
Naked, behind the lies
Naked, nothing left to hide
The one line you told yourself you’d never cross
Thought if I had everything, I wouldn’t want…
Naked, behind the lies
Naked, nothing left to hide
CARRY ME
Inspired by Firefly episode 12: The Message, wherein an old friend and fellow soldier turns to Mal and Zoë for help.
The man said that we are not alone
Seems like I always got life so wrong
Facing death makes you feel alive
It’s just the real world I couldn’t survive
So won’t you
Carry me just a little bit further
Carry me just a little bit more
You know how the old saying goes
When you can’t run you crawl
If you can’t do that find someone to carry you
Please take me home, my running’s through
So won’t you
Carry me just a little bit further
Carry me just a little bit more
I’m sorry this storm got so rough
But you’ve carried that bullet long enough
Now won't you
Carry me just a little bit further
Carry me just a little bit more
Carry me just a little bit further
Carry me just a little bit more
HOME
Inspired by Firefly episode 13: Heart of Gold, wherein the crew team up with a group of women to help them defend themselves and their home.
Ain’t open for business, ain’t nothing here that belongs to you
Ain’t your baby, you think I ain’t strong enough to see this through
Who’d have thought we’d end up way out here all on our own
Call me “independent,” it’s who I am - it’s who I am
And this is my home
This is my home
I know my place and it’s right here
I’m not going anywhere
I’ll show you what power is
I am stronger than this
He’s just a man, I won’t let any man take what’s mine
Sleep while you can, we ain’t going down without a fight
Battle is coming but we’re not facing it alone
No, we ain’t running, we’ll make our stand - we’ll make our stand
'Cause this is our home
This is our home
We know our place and it’s right here
We’re not going anywhere
We’ll show you what power is
We are stronger than this
Ain’t so afraid of losing something I can’t hold
Life’s too damn short for if’s and maybe’s
May grace save me
And lead me home
This is our home
I know my place and it’s right here
HERE I AM
Inspired by Firefly episode 14: Objects in Space, wherein River battles both her own anxiety and doubts as well as bounty hunter Jubal Early in her struggle to find her place on Serenity.
I hear their thoughts like the wind through the trees
See it in their faces, what they think of me
Say I don’t understand
What I hold in my hand
Wish I could just melt, melt away
I’ve got no reason, no reason to stay
But here I am
Here I am
There’s a stranger wandering through my mind
Seeking something I can’t let him find
Brings the darkness here
Feeding on my fear
Wish I could just melt, melt away
I’ve got no reason, no reason to stay
But here I am
Here I am
What is my meaning? My function, my form?
Am I a lion with a mighty roar?
We are empty rooms
Filled with the family we choose
Wish I could just melt, melt away
But I’ve got a reason, a reason to stay
So here I am
Here I am
THE BALLAD OF SERENITY
Written by Joss Whedon.
Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care cause I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out, to the black
Tell 'em I ain't coming back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found serenity
You can't take the sky from me
