She grew up as the poorest on the islands
Only made it to the 3rd grade in school
When she made it to the USA with 2 girls and one on the way
She saw so many things she never knew

But she couldn’t get a job with her poor English
So she tried to be the child that she once knew
By going out ‘til late at night with bingo pads and disco lights
While dreaming of a better life to brew

Pre-Chorus:  And I know a thing or two about giving up your dreams
About always wanting more to feed your family
About saving face but lacking grace and having nothing to your name
And the only singing that you do is when no one’s watching you

CHORUS:  Though you had nothing to leave me
No money, land or things
The most precious thing you left me, the most precious thing I have
Is the singing voice you gave me, it’s my inheritance

I realize how confused you must have been
When in 3rd grade, you would raise your hand
And the teachers would ignore the girl 
In ragged clothes from the poor world
Who only learned that she could never ask

And I can’t imagine how terrorized you lived
By knowing who would die before they did
By knowing who was mad or sick, and feeling what was never said
And most of all, losing one of your kids

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS