These Bare Hands (Monterosso,Wheeler)
is a tribute to some of the hardest working people on this earth.
Mothers, you say?
Single mothers, to be exact.
I was standing in my living room, (where a great deal of thinking can be heard when it is quiet,) and was looking westward out the window.
The sunlight was streaming in, a warmish April day.
Whatever I was compemplating was interrupted by, I think, looking at my unmanicured hands.
Calloused fingertips, short and rough nails.
I thought, "what if they were completely bare?" No ring. No nothing.
What would still be there?
A couple of weeks later, a writer I admire asked me to co-write.
Tim Wheeler made me laugh. (I hope not TOO much.)
Still, we were able to really hone in on the idea;
what do single parents need most?
Hope.
+++
June and Molly went downtown to get their nails done
I said I've got other things to do
Three kids night school and waitressing at Denny's
Would anybody argue that's not true
Guess I'm doing all I can
With these bare hands
I'm dukin' it out with life the hard way now
The gloves are off I'm clawing my way out
I block I throw I get my share of licks in
Bring it If you have any doubt
I can fight like crazy man
With these bare hands
These two hands are rough and ready
Prayin' hangin' on strong and steady
They hold hands and hope a'plenty
Bare but never empty
Full of love to share and lessons from this life I live
All I've got to give is in
These bare hands
Mr. Right up and left with some Starbucks starlet
and I didn't waste my time falling apart
I've had to sell some things around this place to make ends meet
That wedding ring well that's a start
Won't have a diamond but I've got a plan
And these bare hands
They take opportunity and grab onto
Whatever brings this family love
The gift is knowing what to keep
And what to let go of
These two hands are rough and ready
Prayin' hangin' on strong and steady
They hold hands and hope a'plenty
Bare but never empty
Full of love to share and lessons from this life I live
And all I've got to give is in
These bare hands
These bare hands
One day I'm gonna go downtown and get my nails done
