Gift Of Song

By Kathryn Morski

C                                  pB           Am
My mom lived through the Great Depression;
F                                       C
She learned to save for a time of need.
C                    pB        Am   
She traveled the entire United States
D                                             G
At 30 miles an hour – a terrific speed!
C                         pB               Am
She married an impractical musician.
D                                                     C
They have children and grandchildren, too.
F                                                   C
He drives her crazy, of course, but they love each other.
G                        G7         C
That’s a thing that we always knew.

    F                               C                            F                           G
    And she sang as she did the dishes, baking cookies in the afternoon.
    C         pB                  Am                           F                G                 C
    And she sang along with the radio when it played one of her favorite tunes.

      C             pB               Am       pG
      She taught us “Mairzie Doats and Dozie Doats”
      F                                     C
      And “Tell Me Why the Stars Do Shine,”
      F                                     C        pB  Am
      "White Coral Bells” and “Peace on Earth”
      D                                         G
      And “Daisy” and “Dinah” and the Chattanooga line.
      C               pB                            Am               F                 G
      She taught us to help those who need it, as well as how to cook and sew.
      F                             C                   A
       And these songs she taught us stay with me, too,
      F                    G         C     F    C  A   F   G   C
      And sing in me wherever I go.

I grew up through the sixties: from Sassoon to long, straight hair.
I turned on, dropped out and married young.  Made it to the 80s
on a wing and a prayer!
We ended up living in the Great North Woods after traveling around in a van
And our children are growing in the clean cool air, just as strong
and as free as the land

    And we sing as we do the dishes…

      I taught them “Mairzie Doats and Dozie Doats”
      and “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
      "White Choral Bells” and “Blowin’ in the Wind”
      And “Daisy” and the Beatles and a little of the Doors.
      We’re learning to help those who need it,
      As well as how to cook and sew.
      And I hope those songs are going to stay with them, too,
      And sing in them wherever they go!

Now, my kids were born in the 80s.  They’ll come of age in the next century.
And maybe they will live in a brave, new world, or just the same old same-old,
we will have to wait and see!
I hope that they find their own wings, and a partner who’s strong and true.
And I hope they have children to share their lives, and pass these
songs along to.

    And they’ll sing as they do the dishes…

      And they’ll learn “Mairzie Doats and Dozie Doats”
      and “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
      “White Coral Bells” and “Blowing in the Wind”
      And “Daisy” and the Beatles and who knows what more?
      They’ll learn to help those who need it…

Come board the Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Go Truckin’ along with the Dead
But if Nothing Else Matters you can Wish on a Star
And use a song to Feed Your Head – use a Song to Feed Your Head!

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