THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE...
(I HOPE...)

I worry about her
when she doesn't call
and she said she would
but worry is useless
and so undermining
distracting, confining
so what can I do?

she has no phone now
and I can not visit
too far away
what can I say
  I'm asking you...
what would you do

when your child leaves home
old enough to know better
but she doesn't call
send a card or a letter
and you know she's afraid
that maybe you'll forget her
  or get really mad...
what would you do?
I get really sad

when my child's far away
I still feel alone
and it doesn't matter
that she's fully grown
old enough to be out there
to make it on her own
but she doesn't call
when she says she will call
and she's hanging on a ledge
and threatening to fall
I keep sending her more
she keeps taking it all
but she doesn't call
when she says she will call

is she alright?
I wonder late at night
I can still hear her crying
like she was two or three
but it was recently
it's on my answering machine
so it wasn't a dream
is she alright?
  I wish she'd call tonight...

she has her own life to live
I just wish she'd keep in touch
I wish she'd think of me
and feel like I feel
and know how I miss her so much

she says she does when we talk
she seems to be falling apart
she says she's ashamed of things she's done
do you know how it's breaking my heart
to think she doesn't know for sure
that she's always welcome at my door
that I'll always take her in with a smile
that she can stay a moment or a while
that she can have anything she wants from me
how could she be afraid of her family?
how could she have gotten this confused?
she's been out there a while
she's been used and abused
and has made some mistakes
and has gotten rough breaks
but no matter what she sees or feels or does
she's a part of my heart forever - always was

maybe the hardest thing to face
is it might be mistakes I made
that taught her how not to trust me
oh grief can we not be saved?

how can I assure her
she is welcome here
how much I adore her
no reason for fear
we can all be foolish
we all make mistakes
but I love my little girl
and I must make her believe
whatever it takes

I worry about her
when she doesn't call
and she said she would
but worry is useless
and so undermining
distracting, confining
so what can I do?

she has no phone now
and I can not visit
too far away
what can I say
  I'm asking you...
what would you do

when your child leaves home
old enough to know better
but she doesn't call
send a card or a letter
and you know she's afraid
that maybe you'll forget her
  or get really mad...
what would you do?
I get really sad

when your child leaves home
and the parting was not the best
every silent moment passes
like the most crucial test
she is always my baby
this is always her nest
  if only she'll hear...
I wrote this rhyme
hoping to make it clear
  if only she'll hear...
  if only she'll hear...
  if only she'll hear...

she's always welcome right here



She's Always Welcome Right Here
(I Worry About Her)

Ric Candor    ©1998