v.1. I was sleeping, when the words came.
Beautiful phrases rolling forever on.
Gradually waking, they came to me, vanishing,
I smile as they fly by, and they’re forever gone.

v.2. Our girls have a father who’s never quite here with us.
Their love for him nurtured, ‘cause we know the need.
My love had a father too, and he was wonderful,
We all share her blossoming, from that long gone seed . . .(attacca)

v.3. I’m not going to get up, dead of night, this time, I tell myself,
But the song keeps unraveling until I do,
And I do need to thank you for all your darkness,
Whilst I am so light, moths fly to my face.

Chorus 1:
Thank you for the gift of her.
Thank you for my life chance.
Thank God you could not love
Anything else at all,
Beyond the needle,
Beyond emotional scars,
Beyond your desperate need for loss
That I will never understand.
Thank you for the gift.

v.4. I know she would rather never have to see you again.
Not have to talk to you, or listen to the rave.
Fathering children is the brightest thing you’ve ever done,
But the needles have killed the love they were trying to save.
(spoken) That’s the love of yourself.

Chorus 2:
So thank you for the gift of her.
Thank you for my life chance.
Thank you, God you could not love
Anyone else at all.
Beyong lip service,
Beyond the heart on the sleeve,
Beyond your hopeless need to not succeed
That I will never understand.
Thank you for the gift. Thank you for the gifts all three,
Thank you for the gift of family,
Thank you for the gift,
but now that the children have grown
We can finally leave you alone.