Welly Boots

Awake, awake, you children bold
Take hold of all your books and fold the corners
They warned us, a storm is coming on
What do you mean, you’ve lost your scarlet welly boots?
Do y’know what they cost?
Wear a raincoat, or it’ll soak you to the bone

What’s it like, the children ask?
It’s just like falling snow, I am above you
And I love you, don’t you know
That I’ll be with you all along, as long as you are kind?
To those who are not strong and cannot find their scarlet welly boots

‘Cause when it’s cold
I’ll wrap my scarf around you
And when it’s hard
I’ll place your head into my hands

And when you scream that it’s not fair
It’s like I’ve gone off to the coast
Left you behind, just standing there
Pretending not to see your ghost
If only you could hear my voice
But you are screaming far too loud to hear me swear
Just because I left doesn’t mean that I’m not still there

I get to watch you grow up now and make me proud
Make all of the mistakes that make me laugh
Oh, darling, Lord, how you make me laugh
Get drunk for me, sing louder than you’ve sung for me
Grow young each time that thunder in your lungs
Begins to rumble at the world

‘Cause you were always strong
When you were young, you’d kick things just to see if they would fall
They said: That girl, she’s wrong
But I’ll stick up for you, even though you haven’t got a clue
You haven’t got a fucking clue

And I’m so proud of you
And when they laugh at us
You’ll feel my fingers down your back
And when you scream: I’m not alright
And throw my picture at the wall
You were supposed to be my light
And keep me safe against them all

How could you leave me here?, you’ll scream
And louder, I’ll scream back to you from that unknown
And say: I know you’re strong enough, I know you’re strong enough
I know you’re strong enough to do this on your-

I know you’re strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your own

I know you’re strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your own

I know you’re strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your own

I know you’re strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your
(I know you’re strong enough to)
Strong enough to do this on your own

And years from now at night
That storm will break, you’ll step outside
To feel it shake and barefoot walk across the lawn
You’ll miss me, Jesus Christ, you’ll miss me
Just much as all those years ago
And you’ll look up at the storm

You’ll say: I’ve been so scared
You left me here behind, do you not care?
How the fuck am I supposed to carry on without you here?

And just when you’re about to give up every hope you have
You’ll turn around, perched by the stairs
Someone’s gone and left behind
A brand-new pair of scarlet welly boots