The Boy Who Picked Up His Feet to Fly

TTBB and Piano

What child—or adult for that matter—has never dreamed of flying? Although the poem is somewhat dark in nature (because of the “be careful what you wish for…” mood which concludes it), the performance should be approached with one idea in mind—fun!

The Boy Who Picked Up His Feet to Fly was commissioned by the Brooklyn Center High School Concert Choir (Erica Kragness, conductor) and is dedicated with love to my little brother Zach. The TTBB arrangement of the piece was commissioned in 2011 by the Illinois State University Men’s Glee Club (Dr. Tim Fredstrom, conductor).

The Text

By Mark Robinson (b. 1978)

Soaring and spinning and touching the sky
The boy who picked up his feet to fly
“Hooray!”
“Oh dear!”
“So long, good-bye!”
Said Johnny and Jenny and Alison Bly

Flying on sunbeams and kissing the sky
The houses and trees all whizzing right by
As further
And faster
He flew upon high
The boy who picked up his feet to fly

Mountains and deserts and oceans and sky
The moon and the sun and the birds that cry
“No more,
I’m tired. I’ve had my try.”
Said the boy who picked up his feet to fly

The boy who picked up his feet to fly
Never was able to step from the sky
But flew on and on as years passed by
And deep in the wind you can still hear him sigh…

Performed by the Illinois State University Men’s Glee Club
(Dr. Tim Fredstrom, conductor).