I ended my “Songs my mother taught me” faculty recital with this song composed in honor of my mom, who she was,  and what was most important to her.

  1. Born into the Great Depression-  sleeping in a dresser drawer-*

and before she was even 10 years old, the world was engulfed in war.

Times were tough- life was rough – but somehow there was love enough –

and now it seems to me that this is the key:

refrain: To my mother’s special grace … to her open, warm embrace …

To her gentle heart of gold …. to the ways her arms could hold

every joy … every fear … all our laughter … all our tears.

and I’m so very thankful I can say

that I feel my mother’s love still today.

2.  Fast forward to the 1960’s – to a quiet little college town –

but beneath the idyllic surface, so many battle lines were drawn.**

Such a test- so much unrest – yet somehow we were richly blessed.

And now it seems to me that this is the key:  refrain: to my mother’s special grace…. etc.

3. Fast forward the 1980’s and a most remarkable day

the day when my brother Stephen told our mom and dad that he was gay.

It shook the ground – the stars spun round – but in the end, new love was found.

And now it’s clear to me that this is the key:   refrain: to my mother’s special grace …. etc.

4. So often it is in the desert – so often it is in the storm –

so often when our lives are hardest – that the richest kind of love is born.

We’re hurt – we’re burned – our fortunes turn – but oh, the lessons that we learn!

And now it’s clear to me that this is the key:

to a mother’s special grace – to a mother’s warm embrace –

to a mother’s heart of gold – to the way her arms can hold

every joy – every fear-  all of our laughter – all our tears –

and I’m so very thankful I can say, that I feel my mother’s love still today.

 

*My mom’s mom (my grandmother Hintz) was 48 or 49 years old when she gave birth to my mom-  and believe it or not,  she did not realize she was pregnant until she went into labor.  So my mom’s arrival was a complete surprise to her parents-  and for her first couple of nights after coming home from the hospital,  my mom actually slept in a dresser drawer, since they didn’t have a cradle or crib.

 

**This refers to Decorah, Iowa- where my family lived from 1965 to 1974.  During the turbulent 60’s and early 70’s there was a very raw, painful town-gown split …. and that split made itself known in all kinds of ways in all sorts of settings and interactions.  It was a very hard time for everyone, no matter where you were on the political spectrum.