These are the things my momma told me
Back when I was just a boy
“Be Elvis—sing and strum that guitar
And bring your momma joy.”
She said, “You can be anything
Your heart is burnin’ for
But don’t believe what they tell you, child,
The world will close the door.”
But sing, sing when you’re broken
Sing when you can’t feel a thing
Close your eyes and fly to heaven
Let your angels wrap their wings
And if you want a love that lasts forever
Find your princess—make her sing.
She said, “Don’t trust no one too easy
They’ll only let you down
But don’t let nothin’ stop you
From wearin’ your own crown.”
“Be a gentleman, respect her heart
Treat every woman like a queen
And if you want to win her over, son
Make her laugh, and make her sing.”
So sing, sing when you’re lonely
When your heart can’t find a string
Sing like you’re reachin’ heaven
Let your angels do their thing
And if you want a love that lasts forever
Find your princess—make her sing.
I remember momma rockin’ me
To “Over the Rainbow” late at night
She looked so far away sometimes
I’d pray in secret for her life
She wasn’t always gentle
But she gave me what she had
And I became the man I am
Through all the good and bad
She said, “One day I might be gone, love,
But you’ll be strong and wise
You’ll do manhood better
Than the world has ever tried.”
So I hold my head up higher now
In the mirror, I still see
A mother’s broken lullaby
That somehow made me free
Sing, sing when you’re wounded
Sing through everything
Let the melody remind you
Of the strength a soul can bring
And if you want a love that lasts forever
Find your princess—make her sing.
I bless her, I honor her, through joy and through pain
She’s the only mother I’ll ever have…
And I carry her voice in my veins.
Copyright 2019 Dave-Michael Valentine