Mother

I've thought it through so many times, I know exactly what I'd do
if someone put a gun up to my head
but nothing could prepare me for when I walked into this room
and saw you lyin' in that bed

so pale and frail and twisted and tangled up in tubes
your mouth and eyes wide open as in awe
but you were seein' somethin' that was not inside this room
and so I knew that you were mostly gone

mother, everything you gave to me
mother, it's all here safe inside of me

I don't know how to touch you
my hands are full of fear
but there is no avoiding what's to come
and no point in debating
or fighting back the tears
and there is no undoing what's been done

so I touch you like a lover
and I hold you like a child
and as one soul to another
I wish you now good-bye
good-bye…

mother, everything you gave to me
mother, it's all here safe inside of me
it all lives on inside me…

I've thought it through so many times
I know exactly what I'd do
if we got the news the bombs were in the air
but nothing could prepare me for the way I feel today
'cause they can press the button, I don't care
I don't care.