Lyrics Heroes and Heroines - Mary Chapin Carpenter

Heroes and heroines are scarcer than they've ever been
So much more to lose than win
The distance never greater
Way back when they made history

By flyin' planes across the sea
Embarkin' on the odyssey
You put away the danger

Heaven bless the one who flies
A pioneer on frontier skies
The world was dark and your only mark
Was the light of the northern star

I imagine what was in your eyes
The seeds of rust and days gone by
Your wings hang in a gallery sky
I wonder how you're flyin'

Way out on the western plains
The snow drifts high and dark clouds reign
The chinooks blow their winds across the mountains
A life that's never safe and dry

Rodeos and riding high
Women and their men get by
On six-guns and white lightnin'

Heaven bless them on the road
Those drifters and their days of gold
The world was wide and a cowboy's soul
Could span the whole horizon

I imagine what was in your eyes
The dust the dirt under outlaw skies
A piece of land and a stubborn mind
Were the only things worth havin'

Now they say the moon is dust and ash
California's made of cash
One day those hills will crash
Into the sparklin' waters

Rain and snow and sun and wind
You roamed the earth and you spread your wings
And long ago, my heroes' dreams
Belonged to all God's creatures

Heaven bless the ones who sleep
The ones who laugh and the ones who weep
Heaven bless the ones who keep
Their bearings strong and certain
And Lord help the fool who said
You'd better quit while you're ahead

A dreamer's born a hero's bred
On earth and up in heaven
Lord help the fool who said
You'd better quit while you're ahead
A dreamer born is a hero bred
On earth and up in heaven