Bjcorbin's Blog

(A Country Song*) 

Doorbell rings – middle of the night

That’s never a good sign

Grandma’s cries pierce the dark

Her pain would soon be mine

 

Icy roads and mom and dad

My world comes crashing in

Left alone at five years old

To live with “next of kin”

 

Grandpa’s got a tender touch

But hardly ever speaks

Grandma’s sadness keeps her down

She stays in bed for weeks

 

And as the darkness closes in

I begin to lose my way

Grandpa’s watchful eyes can see

And he finds some words to say

 

(Refrain)

Don’t know why it’s come to this

I wish I could explain

God is good, but life is hard

It always involves pain

Its life or death most every day

It’s a choice we have to make

There’s always good and bad and worse

There’s always give and take

Who knows what tomorrow brings

I haven’t got a clue

But let’s go on and take a step

Cause that’s what faith would do

 

Life has a way of going on

Each day comes when it’s due

And eight short winters later

Grandma left us too

 

Papaw says she’d left long ago

But he keeps staring at the door

Our life seems filled with sadness

And I can’t take it anymore

 

I look for reasons to stay away

And sneak out in the night

Givin’ in to what boys want

Not thinkin’ bout what’s right

 

But as the darkness closes in

And I begin to lose my way

Grandpa’s watchful eyes can see

And he finds some words to say

 

Don’t know why it’s come to this

I wish I could explain

God is good, but life is hard

It always involves pain

Its life or death most every day

It’s a choice we have to make

There’s always good and bad and worse

There’s always give and take

Who knows what tomorrow brings

I haven’t got a clue

But let’s press on and go from here

Cause that’s what hope would do

 

At seventeen I’ve grown up some

And things are not so wild

But I’m with a boy that I don’t love

And pregnant with his child

 

Not ready to be a momma

And certainly no one’s wife

Not ready to forfeit the future

Or give away my life

 

I hate the choice I’m making

But what else can I do

I hear it’s quick & painless

But wonder if that’s true

 

And as the darkness closes in

I begin to lose my way

Grandpa’s watchful eyes can see

And he finds some words to say

 

You know how it came to this

There’s no need to explain

God is good, but life is hard

It always includes pain

Its life or death most every day

It’s a choice we have to make

There’s always good and bad and worse

There’s always give and take

Who knows what tomorrow brings

I haven’t got a clue

But you ought to give this life a chance

Cause that’s what love would do

 

Another ten years get behind me

Again I’m saying bye

And as I hold my little girl

We both begin to cry

 

The one who’s always been there

And never let me down

His spirit’s flying with angels

body buried in the ground

 

How are we supposed to live

How will we make do

Who’ll be there to guide us

How I wish I knew  

 

And as the darkness closes in

I look my daughter’s way

And hearing Papaw’s steady voice

I find some words to say

 

Don’t know why it’s come to this

I wish I could explain

God is good, but life is hard

It always involves pain

Its life or death most every day

It’s a choice we have to make

There’s always good and bad and worse

There’s always give and take

Who knows what tomorrow brings

I haven’t got a clue

But let’s go on and take a step

Cause that’s what faith would do

 

* I don’t fancy myself a song writer, but these words came to me in the form of a song.  Some might want to call it a poem, but I would submit that poems and songs are generally very different forms of writing.  Not many songs lyrics function well as a poem, nor could many poems be directly set to music.  If one considers this is a poem, it is probably a bad one; but set to the right music, it could be something to sing along with.  (Bryan Corbin)