The Story
The story behind this song is a sad one. I was 2 years into my travels and was in Florianopolis in the south of Brazil with some new friends for New Years. It turned out, however, that two of the guys — brothers — were suffering the long, slow process of losing their mother to cancer. My friend and I were with them in their cabin in the woods overlooking the town, and the whole time, they were on the phone monitoring their mother's rapid deterioration. It was heartbreaking to watch.
I wrote this song imagining her, weak but elegant in a hospital bed near a window overlooking the ocean. I drew a lot on the memories that I had made with my own mother when I was a child, so the song served doubly as a sort of homage (or femage?) to her, while at the same time attempting to commiserate with the loss my new-found friends were experiencing.
Lyrics
Mother I've a question
Can you hear the raindrops fall
Can you smell the flowers from your bed
Can you hear the sparrow's call
Mother I've a question
Can you feel the morning sun
Does it ease the pain you're feeling
Does it help you carry on
Mother can you see the diamonds
In the sky at night
The clouds across the ocean
And the silver birds in flight
Mother can you feel me
I'm right here by your side
The little boy you always knew
The one you raised so strong and true
Here to ask just one more thing of you
Mother I've a question
Do you recall when I was young
The places that we'd go to
The stories that we spun
Mother I remember
You were tall and strong and proud
You raised me to the sky
But kept my feet on solid ground
Mother can you see the diamonds
In the sky at night
The clouds across the ocean
And the silver birds in flight
Mother can you feel me
I'm right here by your side
The little boy you always knew
The one you raised so strong and true
Here to ask just one more thing of you
Mother take my hand
Recall the footsteps in the sand
Recall the times you used to
Sing me off to sleep
Mother close your eyes
Mother please don't cry
Now it's my turn
To sing you a lullaby
Mother can you see the diamonds
In the sky at night
The clouds across the ocean
And the silver birds in flight
Mother can you feel me
I'm right here by your side
The little boy you always knew
The one you raised so strong and true
Here to ask just one more thing of you
Mother I've a question
Can you feel the raindrops fall