Footprint

So you're cruising along at college
First semester winding down
And you're finally over first semester shock

Now the holidays are approaching
So it's back to your old town
Back to solid ground
Your family
Your rock

Yeah there's nothing like heading homeward
To clear the mental fog
The photographs in your memory never blur
So you're thinking about your parents
Your sister, Beth
And Spike, your dog
They're frozen in your head the way they were

Cause there's a footprint
You left there
Indelible and deep
It's the core of your identity
The principles you keep
Your footprint
Your history
It's who you are
So you run to hug your parents
And Beth calls you a geek
And when you yell for Spike, your dad says:
"Son, we had to put him down last week"

So you find yourself back at college
Kinda shaken, but okay
And you're quickly swept up again by freshman year
There's your roommate who hogs the bathroom
A new paper due each day
And your part time job as a campus store cashier

Then it's suddenly spring vacation
And it's home you go once more
And it's hard to believe the months have come and gone
You see that familiar driveway
And you open that front door
With that overwhelming feeling coming on

There's a footprint you left here
Permanent and real
It's your constant, your anchor
Unbendable like steel
Your footprint
Your history
It's who you are
And the place looks so inviting
It's everything you'd hoped
You ask "where's my sister?"
Your mom says:
"Dear, Beth and her boyfriend eloped"

You like to think you're enlightened
You like to belive that you're flexible and cool
Sure, things will change while you're away at school
But you worry the foundation you've been rooted to so long
Is somehow less dependable
Suddenly less strong
At least you're not like a tadpole
One of three thousand eggs his mom unloads
Who never gets to know his parent... toads?
Yeah, at least you're not like that!
No, you've still got your footprint on that threadbare welcome mat
And a place to hang your hat

So your life comes along at college
And your worries slowly dim
Opportunities to go home become more rare
You hear your mom has a brand new hairdo
And your bedroom is now a gym
Your dad bought a vintage chevrolet belair

Then your sophomore and junior classes
Disappear before your eyes
And you're thinking about a life beyond these doors
Your old roommate is now your best friend
Your latest paper won a prize
You now manage all the college campus stores

Still there's a footprint
You cling to
It's something you can't shake
A need that won't diminish
A bond that will not break
Your footprint
Your history
It's who you are
And home is a place of comfort
Where nothing's ever forced
Then over dinner with your parents
They tell you they're getting divorced

Then you have a calm revelation
There as your world seems to blow up in your face
You see that footprints don't belong in just one place
They're in the life you've lead
But they're not firmly tooted
They will multiply and spread
On the path that lies ahead

Yes your footprint goes with you
It's something you don't lose
From the family you were born with
To the family that you choose
Your footprint
Your history
It's who you are
And the universe gets larger
And the cosmos will expand
But one thing never changes
Your footprint is right where you stand