For Once in Your Life
Redemption in Melodies: Lucy Kaplansky's Poignant Reflection on Healing
Lyrics
Remember when they took him in the middle of the night
Recalling a time when someone was taken away in the night
And nobody told you where he'd gone
No information given about where the person went
Death in with morning light and touched your father's hand
Death comes with morning light, affecting the narrator's father
In a hospital uptown, where your mother sat alone
Mother sitting alone in a hospital uptown
For two weeks no one told you, as if it never happened
Two weeks of silence, as if the event never occurred
You held the hope that he was still alive
Hope held onto, unsure if the father is still alive
The funeral was over, no way to say goodbuy
Funeral over, no chance to say goodbye
You've never had a chance to show the tears you hold inside
Unexpressed tears within, no opportunity to show them
I want to make it up to you somehow
Desire to make amends somehow
Maybe there's something I have I could give you now
Offering something now to compensate
There's so many things you never had
Reflection on things the narrator's counterpart never had
Maybe it doesn't have to hurt so bad
Suggesting that the pain doesn't have to be intense
For once in your life
Yearning for a moment of relief in one's life
There's so much that I wanted that you could never give
Regret over unfulfilled wants that the counterpart couldn't provide
I just never got that I was stronger than you
Realization of personal strength not recognized before
It wasn't a fair fight, you bleeding on the ground
Unequal confrontation, the counterpart bleeding on the ground
And me standing over you waiting for another round
Narrator standing over, awaiting another conflict
I would tell you that I'm sorry, but I know what you would say
Apologetic sentiment, anticipating the counterpart's response
'Cause I think that you forgave me long ago
Belief in counterpart's forgiveness, even though unsure why
I really don't know why, I don't think I deserve it
Uncertainty about deserving forgiveness
Maybe a person forgives so they don't have to be alone
Speculation on forgiveness as a means to avoid loneliness
I want to make it up to you somehow
Continued desire to make amends
Maybe there's something I have I could give you now
Offering something presently to compensate
There's so many things you never had
Reflection on unfulfilled things in counterpart's life
Maybe it doesn't have to hurt so bad
Suggesting that the pain can be alleviated
For once in your life
Reiteration of yearning for a moment of relief
In our home movie I remember we're sitting in the sun
Recollection of a joyful moment in a home movie
I'm crying, you're smiling at this girl of your own
Narrator crying, counterpart smiling at a daughter
And you're posing me for the camera and everyone around
Posing for the camera, creating a lasting memory
And I can feel that smile now
The lasting impact of a genuine smile
I want to make it up to you somehow
Continued desire to make amends
Maybe there's something I have I could give you now
Offering something presently to compensate
There's so many things you never had
Reflection on unfulfilled things in counterpart's life
Maybe it doesn't have to hurt so bad
Suggesting that the pain can be alleviated
For once in your life
Final reiteration of the yearning for relief
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