There was a time that you curled up
In my lap like a child.
You'd cling to me smilin'
Your eyes wide and wild.
Now you slip through my arms,
Wave a passing hello.
Twist away and toss a kiss
Laughin' as you go.

You used to say "Read me a story."
And, "Sing me songs of love."
For you were Princess Paradise
On the wings of a dove.
Now I chase you and I tease you
Tryin' to remake you my own,
You just turn away and say,
"Please leave me alone."

And I'm a tangled up puppet
All hangin' in your strings.
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web
Fluttering my wings.
And the more that I keep dancin'
And spinning 'round in knots
The more I see what used to be
And the less of you I've got.

You are a drawer full of make-up
And rinses and things.
You keep changing your moods,
Like your earrings and rings.
But tonight while we played tag
For five minutes in the yard,
Just for a moment I caught you off-guard.

And I'm a tangled up puppet
All hangin' in your strings.
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web
Fluttering my wings.
And the more that I keep dancing
And spinning 'round in knots,
The more I see what used to be
And the less of you I've got.

Now you write your secret poems
In a room just for your dreams.
You don't find time to talk to me
About the things you mean,
And what I mean is--

I have watched you take shape
From a jumble of parts
And find the grace and form
Of a fine work of art.
Hey, you, my brand new woman
Newly come into your own,
Don't you know
That you don't need
To grow up all alone.