Who Shot the Bird Boy?

Who shot the bird boy
And strung his body through the elm?
The townsfolk knew of no angel blood
But the huntsmen loved him like hell

At moonrise they would find him
Chewing a thistle 'tween his teeth
For a cigarette, he'd spread those goosefeather wings
And weave to the tippy-tops of trees

Higher and higher, 'till his lips could kiss the clouds
He'd rattle the grouse from their nests and
The men would fire from the ground

Who shot the bird boy
And sawed off both his wings?
Which of you men will shift your eyes
When asked, "Where did you find this meat?"

'Cause we had three good feasts before
The silence in the woods felt wrong
When the hollers of the birdboy were
The only hint of birdsong

Deeper and darker, the hollowed night bled through to dawn
He'd rattle the trees but they were empty
A rain of nests upon the ground

Who shot the bird boy
And which of us is next?
When a handshake with the hunters
Won't ever save you from being hunted

Ooh, ooh, ooh (oh, oh, oh, oh)

When the well runs dry or the waters rise
Where will the barrel be pointed?
When the anger festers and the huntin' grounds wither
Where will the barrel be pointed?
Where will the barrel be pointed?

Where will the barrel be pointed?