When the roles are reversed

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A CHILD

YOU’D HOLD ME LOVINGLY IN YOUR ARMS

I’D STOP CRYING INSTANTLY

COS I KNOW YOU’D KEEP ME FROM HARM

AND WHEN I WAS IN MY TEENS

I’D ALWAYS SECOND GUESS MYSELF

BUT YOU ALWAYS REASSURE ME

THAT I’LL ALWAYS BE THE BEST

THEN CAME A DIFFICULT TIME

FOR EVERY PARENT TO BEAR

TO LET THEIR CHILD WANDER

WITHOUT PREJUDICE OR SCARE

YOU STAYED AT THE SIDELINES

TO GIVE ME ROOM TO GROW

THOUGH IN YOUR HEART, YOU’LL ALWAYS WORRY

THAT I WILL FIND MY WAY TO SORROW

I WENT, AS ANY HUMAN HAVE GONE

TO THE ABYSS OF LONELINESS AND DEFEAT

I COWERED IN TEARS AND HOPELESSNESS

REALIZING ALL MY WORTHLESS FEAT

THEN YOU CAME AND HELD ME CLOSE

AND WHISPERED IN MY EAR

MY CHILD, I LOVE YOU

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY I AM HERE

A SUDDEN GUSH OF EMOTIONS

FILLED MY HEART THAT DAY

FOR I MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN YOU MY MOTHER

I SAID AND I WENT ASTRAY

YOU LOOKED AT ME WITH YOUR PASSIONATE EYES

YOU TOOK MY HAND AND PRESSED IT AGAINST YOUR HEART

AND SAID “I NEVER FELT THAT YOU DID, FOR IN MY HEART YOU’LL ALWAYS STAY

AND I KNOW IN YOURS I’LL ALWAYS FIND MY WAY”

SINCE THAT DAY I PROMISED MYSELF

I WILL NEVER LET GO OF YOU

YOUR HEART AND LOVE I WILL CARRY

IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO

AND NOW A DIFFICULT TIME HAS COME

FOR EVERY CHILD TO ACCEPT AND SEE

THAT YOUR FEET ARE NOT

AS STRONG AS THEY USED TO BE

I’D HOLD ON TO YOU THINKING YOU MIGHT FALL

THEN YOU TOUCH MY HAND AND SAY

DON’T WORRY MY CHILD, YES I AM OLD AND GRAY

BUT YOUR MOTHER’S AS STRONG AS THE CURRENT IN THE BAY

I’D SAY QUICKLY BUT WITH UTMOST RESPECT

MY DEAR MOTHER, THOUGH AS STRONG AS YOU SAY YOU ARE

NOW THAT THE ROLES HAVE BEEN REVERSED

LET ME BE YOUR GUIDING STAR