glenora's daughter

before the family tree turned into a tangled vine
a rowboat's ride away in my mind
you were proud of me, i learned to tie
my red keds, and the flowered frock
was hiding my sex, you were proud of me

hop across hot stones unto the water's edge
where seaweed clung around our legs
you shave the foam from your face
i hold the mirror in the lake

and take, take, take the big breath now

before the tangled vine ran wild
a strangled slave of self pride
the alcohol burned father is tongue-tied
a body no more than beating
a boy no way of meeting me

so i take, take, take the big breath now

i fear it's not up to me, i fear you love to see me crumble
i fear it's not up to me, i fear you love the control
i fear it's not up to me, i'm not your father
i'm not your anger, no
i'm just your daughter

i grow up in quiet, slip on the lake in my head
screen door slams, it's just a memory
red keds run to the water
there she goes glenora's daughter

to take, take, take the big breath now

words and music by Erin O'Hara