Last Days of Summer

Last days of summer are coming on fast
Was hoping August wouldn't end, but it never lasts
She’s filling boxes with blankets, books, and clothes
No longer a child, unafraid, ready to go

It’s been eighteen years since we fixed up that empty room
Pale yellow walls, pretty white crib, she’d be lying there soon
Then a bigger bed, games of pretend and books and friends
Come September gonna be empty again

After eighteen years, how can it be just one week more
Till we carry those boxes to her new room on the seventh floor
Across from the park where she played pretend, climbed and dreamed
Where she flew high on the swings?
Now she’s gonna fly on her own wings
No longer pretending with her brand new dreams

I remember the day I told my mom I wanna sing
She said, "Don’t be be a fool for a little girl dream,"
So I packed my things, looked back once, never did again
Afraid and defiant, was just eighteen then

I know she’ll come back, but never always again
That’s just as it should be, and how it’s ever been
But I’ll miss that girl in her room, safe and mine
Life is a circle strewn with goodbyes

After eighteen years, how can it be just one week more
Till we carry those boxes to her new room on the seventh floor
Across from the park where she played pretend, climbed and dreamed
Where she flew high on the swings?
Now she’s gonna fly on her own wings
No longer pretending with her very own dreams

Just down the street and a million miles away
Hope her bed is soft enough, hope at night she’s not afraid
And I hope her friends will be caring and kind
She’s gonna make her choices just as I made mine

Last days of summer are coming on fast
Was hoping August wouldn’t end, but it never lasts
Come September we’ll be two no longer three
Back where we started, back around that circle darling, you and me