it's hard to be tender

it's hard to stay open

when you're dizzy with anger

and your dreams have been broken



lying with you 'neath the sky

the country is so green in the light

loving you's the key to my survival



now, you have gone away

the skies turned grey

the rivers froze

I remember how you held me close

and I shiver



it's hard to be tender

it's hard to stay open

when the woods are on fire

and the river is frozen



swore on my knees as a child

never to forsake God above

never to betray the ones who love me



now, years have come and gone

I find the strength to carry on

but the blood that ran so fast and warm

has grown colder

now, my heart has turned to ice

is it just the price of growing older?



it's hard to be tender

but I'm tired of defending

I know that I love you

so I'll write my own ending