Trish Delaney-Brown - 1917 Lyrics

Oh, the things I've seen
I was born in 1917
Oh, the things I've done
How the world has changed since I was young.

Didn't have no water from a tap, had to walk 5 miles to school and back
A single pair of shoes for a year, curse word my paren't wouldn't hear.
Chaperone for dances to the town
Newspaper patterns for my gown
Some times were hard, but we were strong
And the band played on and on and on

Oh, the things I've been
Been a mother, been a daughter, been a reckless teen.
In a world that wouldn't know me, had to fight for what was owed me
Did my time as suffragette, fighting for what you now get
Had a love, oh how he moved me
Other loves that saved or bruised me
Now this hide is paper thin, but love still flickers underneath my skin

Oh, the things I've known
Fathers, Brothers, taken in the wars that weren't our own.

I was born in the shadow of a great war, the Great War
Didn't learn, went again, and so we lost more, we lost more
Enemies without, enemies within, so many more within
Do we cave to fear, do we cave to doubt, or do we let life in?
Let life in.

And keep dancing
Keep laughing
Keep loving
Ask me what is in a life, ask me what is in a life
And keep dancing
Keep laughing
Keep loving
Ask me what is in a life, ask me what is in a life
And keep dancing
Keep laughing
Keep loving, loving, loving, loving
Oh ask me what is in a life, ask me what is in a life

Oh, the things I've seen
I was born in 1917
Oh, the things I've done
How the world has changed since I was young.