Track 4 of the album Harbour Light · 2019
Mother's Hands Learn the Stairs Slowly
“A hand on the rail, counting the stairs aloud. It is the hardest song on the record for me to sing.”
art song · art song · chamber ballad · 4:21
Lyrics
She keeps one hand upon the rail And counts the steps out loud The staircase that I ran down once Now makes her slow and proud I carry up the laundry And I do not say a word I only match her footsteps Like a quiet, patient bird When did the years turn round And hand me all her care I'm learning how to walk beside The one who taught me where Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly One soft step and then another I will wait here at the landing You were always there for me Take your time, there is no hurry Every step is worth the climbing Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly And I am here to see She used to hum while she was cooking Now she hums to find her way The kettle's on, the window's bright And she is here to stay She tells me stories twice or thrice And I could hear them ten Each one a little lantern That she lights for me again When did the years turn round And hand me all her care I'm learning how to walk beside The one who taught me where Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly One soft step and then another I will wait here at the landing You were always there for me Take your time, there is no hurry Every step is worth the climbing Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly And I am here to see Once she held my fingers Down the garden path Now I hold hers gently And I never count the math Of all the days we've given Of all the days to come Just the light upon the landing And the way she hums Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly One soft step and then another I will wait here at the landing You were always there for me Take your time, there is no hurry Every step is worth the climbing Mother's hands learn the stairs slowly And I am here to see One soft step And then another Home at the top of the stairs