Let My Children Go

When my little girl was born, my mamma said to me
God give special Graces to raise a family
When my little boy was born, she said again, it's true
Just ask the Lord for guidance and you'll know what to do

Through all the years and tears and fears
The bruises, cuts and falls.
Monsters underneath the bed and the crayons on the wall
The car keys and the prom nights
and the waiting up 'til 2:00
I always prayed like Mamma said and it always got me through

There's really only one thing she didn't let me know
How fast the years would rush along, how quickly they would grow

Now instead of making toy cars out of bottle caps and clay, there's a real on in the driveway that keeps him more and more away
Now instead of movie nights with popcorn in the den, there's an empty room where the college girls stays every now and then.

There's really only one thing, Ma, you didn't let me know --
How the heart would ache within me to see my children go.

All along I've told myself they don't belong to me
Separate people, separate lives, separate destinies
I know they have to stumble, Lord, I know
they have to fall
And I know I have to find a way to sit and watch it all.

So, ma, if you can hear me know maybe you could let me know
How to open up my hands and let my children go.
How do I open up my hands and let my children go?