An Empty Shade of Blue

Words and music by Christopher Kent

She sits with her cane in a chair by the wall
She looks up in surprise as I come down the hall
We walk to her room; she’s confused and uncertain
I ask how she feels as I open the curtain
The air in the room is musty and hot
She asks what I said, ’cause she already forgot

See the starlings on the wire
Against the sunset in the west
It sets the sky on fire
I should go home and get some rest
I did what I thought was right
I did what I had to do
Another lonely night ahead
Fading to an empty shade of blue

Long ago, as a child, when I walked by her side
The world was much larger and she was my guide
But she showed me a world full of danger and fears
And I carried that burden for so many years
Now I stand here, the guardian, she stands by my side
Crying out for some answer I cannot provide

See the starlings on the wire
Against the sunset in the west
It sets the sky on fire
I should go home and get some rest
She did what she thought was right
She did what she had to do
Another lonely night ahead
Fading to an empty shade of blue

Now she stands in the doorway with tears in her eyes
I hug her and hold her and say my goodbyes
And I walk away slowly still seeing her tears
And I think of the joys and the sorrows we shared through the years
And I know that despite all the things
We never were able to rise above
We tried to be kind, and we shared what we had
Some kind of honesty, some kind of love

See the starlings on the wire
Against the sunset in the west
It sets the sky on fire
I should go home and get some rest
We do what we think is right
We do what we have to do
Another lonely night ahead
Fading to an empty shade of blue

Copyright 1992 by Christopher Kent  All rights reserved