Hard Love

(Bob Franke)



I remember growing up like it was only yesterday

Mom and Daddy tried their best to guide me on my way

But the hard times and the liquor drove the easy love away

And the only love I knew about was hard love

It was hard love every hour of the day

When Christmas to my birthday was a million miles away

And the fear that came between them drove the tears into my play

There was love in daddy's house, but it was hard love



I recall the gentle courtesy you showed me as I tried

To dissemble in politeness all the love I felt inside

And for every song of laughter was another song that cried

This ain't no easy weekend, this is hard love

It was hard love every step of the way

Hard to be so close to you, so hard to turn away

And when all the stars and sentimental songs dissolved to day

There was nothing left to sing about but hard love



So I love you for your courage and your gentle sense of shame

And I love you for your language and your laughter and your name

And I knew it was impossible but I loved you just the same

Though the only love I gave to you was hard love

It was hard love, it was hard on you, I know

When the only love I gave to you was love I couln't show

You forgave the heart that loved you as your lover turned to go

Leaving nothing but the memory of hard love



Now I'm standing in this phone booth with a dollar and a dime

Wondering what to say to you to ease your troubled mind

For the Lord's cross might redeem us but our own just waste our

time

And to tell the two apart is always hard love



So I'll tell you that I love you even though I'm far away

I'll tell you how you change me as I live from day to day

How you help me to accept myself, and I won't forget to say

Love is never wasted even when it's hard love

It's hard love, but it's love all the same

Not the stuff of fantasy, but more than just a game

And the only kind of miracle that's worthy of the name

For the love that heals our lives is mostly hard love



@love

Copyright Telephone Pole Music Publishing Co.

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MC

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