I can live with the sky falling out from above

I can live with your scorn, your sourness, your smug

I can live growing old alone if push comes to shove

But I can't live without my mother's love



I can live flying round at an impossible pace

I can live with the bad etiquette that's falling on this place

I can live with anything you've got to throw in my face

But I can't live without my mother's embrace



My mother is seventy five

She's the closest friend I have in my life

Take her from me, I'll break down and bawl

And wither away like old leaves in the fall



You can be cruel all you want, talk bad on my brothers

Shoot me full of holes and I won't by bothered

Judge me for my ways and my slew of ex-lovers

But don't ever dare say a bad word about my mother



When she's gone I'll miss how slowly she walks

Playing scrabble with the chimes of the grandfather clock

I'll even miss the times that we fought

But mostly I'll miss being able to call her and talk.



I can live without watching the classic old fights

I can live without a lover beside me at night

I can live without what you might call a charmed life

But I can't live without my mother providing her light



My mother is seventy five

One day she won't be here to hear me cry

When the day comes for her to let go

I'll die off like a lemon tree in the snow

When the day comes for her to leave

I won't have the courage to sort through her things

With my sisters and all our memories

I cannot bear all the pain it will bring