There was a boy
Playing on a swing
Deep in love with life
Loving everything

And he'd speak to God
When all alone
Making deals with God
'Bout his dreams and hopes

When the night would fall
And he'd lie in bed
Listening to the tunes
Playing in his head

And the boy made a wish,
Prayed to God up high
"Let me write a song
Makes the whole world cry
Let me write a song
So tender, sad, and sweet
The kind of song
Drops men to their knees."

Nowhere near a man
He didn't understand...

That to write a song
Makes the whole world cry
Have to hold the hand
Of a friend who dies
Hear your brother curse your name
Watch your mother fade away
While crooks steal your gold
Suffer years being alone

Nowhere near a man
He didn't understand...

That to write a song
Makes the whole world cry
Have to fall in love
Then be denied
Meet hopeless kids
Raised in cruel neglect
Hear animals scream
Tortured half to death

There was a boy
Prayed to God up high
"Let me write a song
Makes the whole world cry
Let me write a song
Tender, sad, and sweet
The kind of song
Drops men to their knees."

If I could reach that boy
Before it gets too late
Warn him there are wishes
You should never make

But that boy was me
And it's far too late
Wrote this song in tears
Wrote this song in pain

And now I'm a man
And now I understand
So torn up inside
Just want to cry

I want to cry,... cry... cry
Oh, God, I want to cry
I want to cry