Give Her Time

Bare feet on the hardwood floor, the slamming of a door
A pencil-scratched sign saying "Keep Out, Mom"
She'd wrote the month before
Life's been hard
Oh, it don't matter what went wrong, new problem every week
She aches to be held like a child
But now she's in her teens
That stuff's "for kids"
But the ache beats out her stubborn heart, she can't take any more
So she lets the paper meet the pen
And slips a note under her mama's door

Mama, I know we haven't spoken for a week
And sometimes I do things that I regret immediately
Like when I said I'd rather up and leave
Then spend another day in this house that raised me
I don't know why I say the things I say sometimes
I'm still trying to figure out this life
Give me time

Screeching tires down the front driveway, three days at a Motel 6
They've been married two years now,
But lately, seems it's all been slippin' away
She thought that he'd come fight for her
Like he did when they were young
With every hour that passes by,
The more she feels this song's been sung
But as she goes to leave for good and turns to lock the door
A note flapping in the wind falls from the lock and onto the floor

Darlin', I know you don't wanna talk to me
But I need you to know that I regret everything
Like when I said that you should up and leave
I ain't forgotten you're my one and only
If these rings mean anything, we've got to fight
Come home, we can figure out this life
Give me time
Give me time

Another two years and a baby girl, then fifteen more pass in a whirl
She calls her mama up on the phone
Sayin' I can't do this, mama please, how did you put up with me?
Her Mama smiled and said, "You wouldn't believe"

You know, sometimes we wouldn't talk for weeks
And I'd pray for patience, pray for peace
I knew we'd be alright eventually
Don't you know that sometimes love's just waiting
Don't take it all so hard, she'll be alright
She's still trying to figure out this life
So am I
Give her time
Give her time
Give her time
Give her time