I saw a hungry villager with a lovely bird
Standing forlorn under the vast banyan tree -
Looking for buyers that came down that road.
I felt sorry and wanted to set them free
And give the man another day's honest bread.

So I took the bird and the iron cage to my town
To show my people that I was greater than them.
Days later, the caged bird still greeted the sun
With as much joy as he did in his greener home;
And I remembered the hard-earned money I had given.

I had meant to keep the cage and set him free -
To see him fly back to his home in the green wild.
But now, I think of my parted hard-earned money;
His voice and the envy in the eyes that peered;
My pride owns me, and so, you will never be free.