Dear Mother,

Dear Mother,

Lets pretend were just strangers
and that you never said you loved me
So I can ask you some questions
and hope you'll answer honestly.

Do you ever wonder
why your daughter wanders
With her head held so high
Even with tear-stricken eyes...

Dear Mother,
Why do you have expectations she can never reach?
How do you think she feels when you angrily preach
About how she has ungratefully failed you every time.
Could never look her in the eyes and say shes done it right.

What do you feel when you see her eyes die?
How do you sleep at night hearing her cry?
What do you see when your the reason of her pain?
Will you ever know your own disgrace and shame?

She hides, as she walks away with her head held high.

Dear Mother,
She waits patiently till it ends
She keeps going because of her friends
They say "we could never have survived
the way you do, you strong girl"
While shaking their heads, pitying her.
As she looks up, sadly, pleadingly.

And walks with her head held high.

Dear Mother,
Do you ever see her frantically
throwing herself into harm's arms
Hoping it'll be comfort enough to make her better...
At least she doesn't drink your beer in the fridge
At least she never drunk her tired body to sleep!
Even through your rages, she takes it in sighing
Knowing it'll all fell better, after a night's crying...

And still she walks with her head held high.

Dear Mother,
"You don't know nothing 'bout hard work!"
Oh mother, let me tell you 'bout hard work!
Wasting so many years, cleaning this mess you made
Surviving off my allowance, less than minimum wage
Trying to work back every dollar you stole away
Why did you take a life's savings in the first place?
What kind of mother would take a daughter's rights away?
And what kind of mother would lock all her freedom away?

But you'll never know when your not around,
She walks with her head held high.

No, you don't know nothing about hard work!
17 years of hovering grief in her eyes
You don't know nothing about hard work!
How will you feel when you loose your chance for goodbye?

As she walks away for the last time,
Her head held high.
Tears of freedom rolling down her eyes...
Could you ever tell me why?

Dear Mother,
Its too bad I'm not a stranger
Or else, I could tell you why.