Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins wrote this song about her son Clark. He followed in her footsteps with a love of music, as well as her struggles with addiction and mental illness, until his suicide at age 33.
[Verse 1]
I was only nineteen
The morning you were born
With your hair fine and red
And your eyes like my own
Barely a woman
With only a song
I sang to make you smile
And held you all night long
[Verse 2]
Home through the streets
With you in my arms
Cold winter mornings
In a Colorado town
I've seen you stumble
You've watched me fall
You know I've got nothing
You know we've got it all
[Chorus]
Trucks roll by and the rain coming down
Does that old parka keep you dry?
Sixteen years old out on the road
Trying to get to the sky
[Verse 3]
Back in September
You called me on the phone
"Ma, you know I love you
But I gotta be own my own
Comes a time in a boy's life
When he's gotta be a man
Please don't try to find me
Please try to understand"
[Verse 4]
Now he's playing guitar
In a rock and roll band
Looking like a baby
Talking like a man
The life of a guitar man
Is a hard life to lead
What can I tell you?
You were born to the breed
[Chorus]
Rain comes down, the trucks rolling by
I that old poncho gonna keep you dry?
Sixteen years old, January child
Trying to get to the sky
[Verse 5]
I've watched you growing
Through all these years
I've seen you stumble
You've watched my tears
Sometimes there was roses
Sometimes there was thorns
But I know you're gonna make it
As sure as you were born
[Outro]
And I hope from what you wanted
You get what you need
I know you're gonna make it
You were born to the breed
Sixteen years old, January child
Trying to get to the sky
Born to the Breed was written by Judy Collins.
Born to the Breed was produced by Arif Mardin.