From the recording The City Within
An outsider’s perspective of Empty Nest Syndrome, inspired by items on sale at the local charity shops. See how many you can find!
Lyrics
Staring at the picture frames
Hanging on the wall
The time goes by, but the memories will last
She’s packed up all the children’s shoes
In a box out in the hall
Sitting in the corner with the china & glass
It’s taken her years to get ready
But it still feels too soon
Her boys have gone solo
Now she’s wondering how to spend this bittersweet afternoon
Her heart was always golden
Behind the blemish and the blur
She kept on building with an incomplete set
Making all the pieces fit
Her spirit undeterred
Preparing her children for whatever comes next
Mission accomplished, she sighs
And walks up to her room
Makes plans for tomorrow
But she hopes she can get through this bittersweet afternoon
She gets out her bicycle
And rides away her blues
An empire is waiting now that she’s free
Spends her money on leather
And Venezuelan shoes
Now’s the time to be everything she wanted to be
Every now and then she looks out
Embracing the gloom
Wondering where they’ve been headed
Since they left long ago on that bittersweet afternoon?
She heard from them this morning
On a long-distance call
They’ve all found their purpose with lives of their own
A peaceful conversation
Can make the world seem so small
Grabbed her coat, grabbed her hat and she put down the phone
“My time has come at last,” she says,
“To sing a different tune
Always knew it’d be different
But I never could have guessed
how free I’d become on that bittersweet afternoon”