When I Was Young

My mother was music
My father was the word
My sister had a voice like none you ever heard
And I learned the stories and songs to be sung
When I was young
When I was young

My mother was a forest
My father chopped the wood
My sister kept the fire burning best she could
And I made the sparks fly and I burned my tongue
When I was young
When I was young

My mother was a preacher
My father was a friend
My sister was my teacher until the end
And I was brother and I was their son
And I was young
And I was young

My mother died praying
My father died broke
My sister said 'Be careful' and that's the last she spoke
And they were gone and then I was one
But I was young
And I was young

Now I am older
Now I am grown
Now I am colder but not alone
I'm with my lover and my daughter and my son
And they are young
Mm-hmm
And they are young
Mm-hmm
They are young
Mm-hmm