If anything was in my head, twelve winters put it there
But no one could really pay you enough for what you really did

And in ways that I will never understand
Many happy things keep happening on my journey through this world
And I think that it won't bore you
But you are the one who made my mother's son a man

You brought my fears of people to a sure and gentle end
To anyone before you 'cause it's for you

So I did just what you told me, "Please hold me"
I guess I was a dreamer then who lived inside my head
But you were the one who made my mother's son a man
I was much too late to be the first to make you a woman

Many happy things keep happening on my journey through this world
I was much too late to be the first to make you a woman
The sun of sixteen summers had put halos in your hair
But the nights you came you talked of things, I found, I had a friend
I did not know which way to go
I was much too late to be the first to make you a woman
Do you remember the night when you turned out the light
You know I used to read myself to sleep when I went to bed
And I think about the moments that have left their mark
Many happy things keep happening on my journey through this world
There's just no need for graphic telling of all the details
And you said to me, "Please hold me"
And in ways that I will never understand
If you don't mind I'm gonna tell you a story
And the too few faces that shine a little light in the dark

And in ways that I will never understand
But you were the one who made my mother's son a man

When I think about you now, it's not that my memory fails
For it's a tale that I've never told

A dollar an hour is what Mama paid you to come and mind her kids
Let's just say you taught me something that brought me from my shell
You gave to me that first sweet taste of the heaven here in this hell