Strength | Peter Alsop

Peter Alsop

Music for Children and Adults

Strength

From the album Peter Alsop Buy Now

    After my parent's divorce, I wanted to write a song about how much they had each learned from the experience.  I knew that commercially it would be nice to write a verse about my Dad and a verse about my Mom, then tie it up with the last verse describing how the experience had changed each of them.  Unfortunately, it wasn't true.  They were each stuck in their own patterns, and I decided to make the last verse less commercial, but honest, as I wanted to sing the truth.  It was an important and right choice for me.

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STRENGTH

(intro)

Cho:  Strength is a quality hard to define                           

For it comes in a number of ways

And it takes different shapes in the people we love

Sometimes it’s an ember, sometimes it’s a blaze

 

My Father could carry my brothers and me

On his back and we laughed til we cried

And he made us play straight

When we got off the track

But he’d never say much of what he felt inside

His business came first

And we all understood,

Cause he carried his family well                                        

And he’d always explain

And his reasons were good

And his logic rang clear as the toll of a bell            

Chorus

 

My Mother did mother-work for most of her life

We depended on her to get by

She’d sing in the kitchen to the dishes at night

And sleep with a smile

And love in her eyes

Young love is strong love as long as it stays

When you wake-up your dreams just won’t shine

Now her African Violets take up her days

As she patiently waits for the door bell to chime.

Chorus

 

My Father got married again I’ve been told

Strength of character can’t keep him warm

And it’s hard for my mother to break from her mold

So she’s built her own house

Where she’s safe from the storms

At night when the stars become crystal cold lights

And my life gets so clear I can’t sleep

Deep in my mirror I gaze at the sights

And I see the lion, and I see the sheep

 

Cho: Strength is a quality hard to define

For it comes in a number of ways

And it takes different shapes in the people we love

Sometimes it’s an ember

Sometimes it’s a blaze

 

Written by Peter Alsop, © 1975, Moose School Music (BMI)

On Peter Alsop & Songs On Recovery & Addiction – www.peteralsop.com

 

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