Feb 2022 adoption reuniting happy-ending ballad collab-wanted lyrics-only music-needed
Number 14, on 02,22,22.
This one means a lot to me. Could be folk style, ballad, Girl with a Guitar or Piano. It's a true story, with lots more verses buried in it.
I'll fly out this summer to meet my daughter, her mom, her husband, and my three 'new' grandchildren, and give them the biggest hugs ever! We've been in touch now for over a year. She calls me her FaerieMom. Meeting in person was put on hold only because of Covid, and health issues, but I'll be giving her this song when I see her. I'm hoping to get music for it, but for now it's lyrics only.
V1
I was barely more than a child myself
When they placed you in my arms.
I’d carried you a full ten months
Keeping you from harm.
Now it seemed the time had come,
The hardest thing I would ever do
Was to give you into the caring hands
That would love and nurture you.
V2
I’d made the choice very early on
That before the time arrived
I would find you parents of the kind
Who would give you your best life.
I knew when they said she's a teacher
And he was an engineer,
With a place in their hearts that was empty,
Like the nursery they longed to fill.
Ch:
Beautiful Baby Brown Eyes
To save my heart shatt'ring in two,
I tore it into two pieces,
One for me and one for you.
I knew I made the right decision
When they walked out the hospital door,
But I never gave up hoping
That I would see you once more.
V3
The years they tumbled past us,
Where did the time even go?
Always searching in the eyes of children,
Of children I didn’t know.
First it was babies and toddlers
Then young women I’d pass on the street.
Always waiting for that phone call,
Always hoping we would meet.
V4
I’d made a pledge not to look for you
Unless you wanted to be found,
I’d never disrupt the life you built,
I promised at your first ultrasound.
But, I didn’t know you were searching,
I thought I’d be easy to find,
I could feel my heart was tugging
So many many times.
Ch:
Beautiful Baby Brown Eyes
To save my heart shatt'ring in two,
I tore it into two pieces,
One for me and one for you.
I knew I made the right decision
When they walked out the hospital door
But I never gave up hoping
That I would see you once more
V5
When you left a cryptic message
Buried among the spam
Something about genealogy, and,
"Might you know who I am?"
My heart soared to the heavens
There was no other thought in my mind.
It was the baby girl, grown up,
I'd so long been hoping to find.
Ch:
Beautiful Baby Brown Eyes
To save my heart shatt'ring in two,
I tore it into two pieces,
One for me and one for you.
But I never gave up hoping
That I would see you once more.
Soon you'll be wrapped in my arms again,
My heart next to yours.
© Copyright 2/22/22
Sheila Kaufman (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
@tjeff Mar 2022
This is just a flat-out beautiful lyric and story Sheila! Heartfelt and honest, a wonderful snapshot of what must have been a difficult decision, yet the right one for you. I love the chorus and the idea of your heart shattering in two, with a piece for you and a piece for the child. This has super potential for a song.
@nadine Mar 2022
Thanks for writing lyrics about this very sensitive topic. It's a heartfelt and personal lyric and the emotion just vibrates. I am happy that you meet again! #tit4tat
@standup Mar 2022
Well this makes me tear up a bit.
I have a daughter who was adopted. We had an "open adoption", so I've known her her whole life. But I'm not her dad, I'm her birth father. My girlfriend and I had the opportunity and decided to do it that way.
I'm a grandfather, at age 55, and my daughter is 35.
So I know a bit about this. But we never had to find each other, because of the choice we made in 1986.
But I loved reading this story.
@thedutchwidows Mar 2022
This a beautifully written lyric; it's heartbreaking in it's honest reflection of the choices and consequences. I'm so pleased that there's a happy ending and that you'll get the reunion. Lovely. #ListeningSkirmish
@seanbrennan Mar 2022
Oh my goodness, the chorus has such a stabbingly poignant line: "I tore [my heart] into two pieces / one for me and one for you." Wow. So glad for this reunion upcoming. #ListeningSkirmish
@wolfkier Mar 2022
That passing on of the precious is a lovley image The longing for reunion, it's all here. What a complete exploration of some very complex feelings. Well done again.
+
Thanks again for you kind words yesterday: #tit4tat.
@stephenwordsmith Mar 2022
Quite an epic story - enough for a season or two of a Netflix drama - or an episode of Reunited at the very least! You build the suspense and handle the pacing well.
That title hook is an absolute triumph, and by far my favourite part of this. Quite a powerful motif, the eyes of a child. I wrote a song this year about a child I want but can never have, and each possible version of this child was introduced with their eye colour.
#tit4tat
@paulharrison Mar 2022
Oh my, Sheila...what a well-written, potent story! "To save my heart shatt'ring in two, I tore it into two pieces, One for me and one for you." Such a meaningful re-awakening of the idea of a broken heart. Other lines made me think of Richard Shindell's "Abuelita" (though the situation is somewhat different). Thanks for sharing such a moving glimpse of such a challenging decision. I'm glad there is a happy occasion coming up for you.
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
Utterly GORGEOUS writing, Sheila. Beautiful and honest. This is so very touching.
@donna Feb 2022
What a wonderful lyric, Sheila. So moving and warm. The first four lines in the chorus are particularly lovely.
I know you'll have a fantastic meeting this summer. Your daughter is going to love the lyric/song. (-:
@berni1954 Feb 2022
I was so moved by these lyrics. After a DNA test I did two years ago I found out that I had a 45 year old son (and a 23 year old Grandson).
The fruit of a brief fling, I had had no idea he existed. He was adopted at birth and brought up in a happy home too. We met when he happened to do a DNA test (curious about his ethnic background - not looking for his biological parents) and a link was offered to me as the closest relative - Father.
We have no idea what happened to his mum, or why she never managed to contact me, or why she felt the need to give him up. I think this song is probably close to her story. I wish I could meet her and thank her for the gift she has given me in my old age of a "mini me" and a giant red haired Irish Clan chieftain (my grandson).
So happy that you will get to meet your daughter and family. I only hope that reunion is as joyful and fruitful as ours has been.
Una abraçada from Catalunya.
@cindyrella Feb 2022
Oh gosh! This is so moving and powerful! I'm so happy you found one another and can meet She will love this! Thanks for sharing!
@oswlek Feb 2022
Holt crap! I love those first two lines! They hit so hard that I can barely think straight to keep reading further!