Lori McKenna Lyrics
"Paper Wings and Halo"

"Mary is an Angel," says a 5-year-old's wise eyes
"You are the oldest person I've ever seen," and Mary sighs
"These are the wings I made you, so you can fly"
"When you get to Heaven, tell my grandmother I said 'hi'"

She's on the fifth-floor balcony
She sees Heaven closer than us
She knows that God is watching
She knows that she can always trust
Her paper wings and halo

Mary is a full-care resident on her last days
They feed her pills and oatmeal
She's set in her ways
Mary was born in England in 1904
She married young and had five children
And all but one died before her

She's on the fifth-floor balcony
She sees Heaven closer than us
She knows that God is watching
She knows that she can always trust
Her paper wings and halo

Mary is tired of waiting
She's almost there
Mary knows she could fly
She could fly
If she could get out of that damned chair

Mary talks about her children
When they were young
"You remind me of my grandchild"
"Loving life and having fun"
Mary's time is coming
She is not afraid
Mary is a good woman
And she loves the life that she made
That she made

She's on the fifth-floor balcony
She knows Heaven awaits her now
She knows that God is calling
When it's time to fly, she'll know how
With her paper wings and halo

"Mary is an angel," says a 5-year-old's wise eyes
"You are the oldest person I've ever seen," and Mary smiles
"These are the wings I made you so you can fly"
"When you get to Heaven, Mary"
"Tell my mother that I said 'hi'"

She's on the fifth-floor balcony
She sees Heaven closer than us
She knows that God is watching
She knows that she can always trust
Her paper wings and halo