19 and 29 Video (MV)

Nineteen and twenty-nine
The first year in this life of mine
Henry Hannah, a father proud
But my mother, she had her doubts

When Henry bought a chicken farm
His cheatin' ways, his Texas charm
Not Henry from the Wizard of Oz
Not Fonda fightin' Tom Joad's cause

Mother left him in '32
She cleaned houses, any work would do
Became Rosie, built B-24s
At Fort Worth in that Second War

The radio was a girl's best friend
With Bing Crosby and Irving Berlin
I'd meet the gals at the record store
Held Charlie's hand, nothing more
Some days I wish I'd known
A Studebaker or a telephone
Silly dreams, wishing on a star
But never thought I'd come this far

My mother, she raised me well
Salutatorian, a Texas belle
Working hard, saving every dime
I went to college in my prime

A summer job with the FBI
Met a man nearly 35
We were married in '52
Changed my name... and off we flew

A year later, a son arrived
Five more children and all survived
Springfield to Annandale
Guinea Road through the backwoods trail

God knows our lives were blessed
Even though the house was a mess
The milk was gone within two days
The smoky living room, the Purple Haze
Loved the beach, the Maryland shore
Still I wanted something more
Too restless to stay at home
I got a job, but my mind would roam

The stereo turned up too loud
"Get off the phone!"... I had to shout
Crazy times in the seventies
The long hair, bell-bottom jeans

Michael, Stephen, and David grew
Patricia, Lisa, and Joseph too
Ilda swimming pool, the paper routes
The carpools, all those winter boots

Children sledding, Starr Jordan Drive
Stealing bottles from construction sites
Skipping school, they'd break some rules
I cried a little when my kids were fools

A change was coming and I moved on
Bought a condo, the kids were gone
The man I married had a heart attack
But I knew... I wasn't going back
Mother came from Texas strong
She had her health, but not for long
Assisted living, I helped her through
God knows, it's the least that I could do

I've been blessed, a life lived well
What the future holds, who can tell?
I was lucky, the munchkins grown
The grandchildren I have known

Caitlin, Lucas, JP, Caleb, Suzan
Later Ryan, Shayan, Aryan
Changed my name, "Mimi" I became
Rekindled life's eternal flame

My mother passed, then Steve moved back
Having survived his heart attack
I was "Mom" again late in life
But still I think "It's a Wonderful Life"
I've lived
Almost a hundred years
With endless laughter, with joy and tears
"The village idiot" I am these days
I'd like a raft, just to float away

Think of me and say a prayer
In your heart, with love to share
Smiling down from beyond the blue
You know, I'm always there for you
Come what may, our world lives on
Remember me when you hear this song
Laugh and sing, my beautiful birds
"I love you all" are my final words