Perhaps someday I'll tell you All the things that you should know. Perhaps one day you'll ask for answers And my tears will freely flow. As I tell you of the heartache We were lucky to escape, Of the trials met by others That were not in our fate, Of the tragedies of loved ones And of things that are unfair, And of why every so often You'll see my quiet stare, Into memories of a time That I pray you'll never know. Then at once I want to spare you Of the tears that freely flow. Perhaps someday you'll ask me How I know the things I do And I'll realize I should say All the things you want me to. I could tell you about pain And explain the meaning of sorrow, I could tell you how I learned To look forward to tomorrow. I could tell you of the friend Who'll be forever lost to me, Of the sadness and the guilt That will never set me free. And so I will maintain the silence Day by day as I watch you grow, Because I so want to save you From all the things I know. Perhaps some day you'll wonder How strength grows in your heart And I'll have to tell you the truth That it must be torn apart. That it comes from helplessness, For every soul you could not save Takes a piece of you away And yet somehow makes you brave. Every bitter cry stays with you, Every sigh of deep despair, They all make you who you are, Always reminding you to care. And so I know I must share What you set out to learn from the start, However much I'd like to keep you From having your heart torn apart. Perhaps someday you'll smile As I kiss your pretty head And you won't say a word About all the things I never said. And I will tell you some things I will give you as much as I can And when I fall into silence You'll hold my hand and understand. Just as one day I stopped asking questions And let my mother keep me from pain, I had managed to gather the meaning And I will never take that in vain. And so I will think I've spared you When it's really you who'll spare me And your silence and your sweet smile Will finally let me be free. ?? February 2002