Long ago

When mercury descended high on the moon

Far below

When little hands are making shapes in the room

The shadows they dance

And they cheer up this place

The face

That's staring through the tiny crack in the door

Eyes so wide

He's never seen a women fall on the floor



I swear daddy's killed her this time

Shoulda made a rocket

Shoulda tried to fly away

Shoulda made a hammer

Shoulda tried to smash his face

Shoulda make a bullet

Shoulda tried to shoot the gun

I'm sure the judge will let me off real soon



Long ago

When saturn tried to find a way past the sun

Deep inside

A little boy is turning pain into fun

The pencils, the crayons, the paint colors run

The plans

Are forming slowly made with scissors and glue

Eyes so wide

He's telling mommy all the things he can do

He'll sketch a contraption to save them for sure



He can draw an alien

He can come and take them home

He can draw a cartoon

He can draw a safety hatch

He can draw a hot bath

He can plug a toaster in

And wait till daddy's nice and warm

Toss it in



And then when he's gone

There's a neverland of fun



Take a loaded gun

Take the shot oh well

Take the poison away

There's a lesson in that

No more cosing fists

No more face to hits

No more bloody nose

Or apologetic notions



Long ago

When mercury descended high on the moon

Shoulda made a rocket

Shoulda tried to fly away

When little hands are making shapes in the room

The shadows they dance

Shoulda made a hammer

Shoulda tried to smash his face

Long ago

When I sat and try to find a way past the sun

Deep inside

Shoulda draw a cartoon

Shoulda draw an alien

A little boy is turning pain into fun

Shoulda draw a hot bath

Shoulda plugged a toaster in