Little Boy's Prayer

(album: Luke The Drifter, Jr., Vol. 3 - 1970)

Darling I don't know whether you can hear me or not
Because of this lump in my throat I can't talk very loud
But I've got to tell you about our little son's prayer tonight
If you could've heard it honey youd've been so proud
I'd already left a note on the table for mom and dad
As if they didn't know what was wrong
I asked them to take a care of him now that you and I both were gone
After I finished the note I figured that he was alseep
So I've slipped in to see him once more
But he was just starting to pray and his words froze me at the door
He said dear God it's late and I hope I didn't get you up
But there's something we gotta talk about
You see God my mommy was burried today and my daddy needs straighten out
Ever since mommy got sick he's been nervous and hollered at me a lot
But that part I can't understand
Cause a little boy like me knows that worry sometimes overload a man
But God he loved mommy so much
He used to tel her nothing would ever come between 'em
And I know that's what's bothering him now cause something has
And I'm afraid he's thinking about joining her somehow
God I'm glad he loved mommy
And I want him to be with her again one of these days
But I want to talk to him and tell him that just now he's got me to raise
Tell him every now and then a little boy needs a helping hand
I guess you probably still need your daddy even after you're a fullgrown man
And God if I'd lost him and mommy both it'd be more than I could stand
I know my grandma and grandpa would take care of me cause they both love me a lot
But God they're older and they don't always understand
The problems a little boy like me has got
Well God I won't bother anymore tonight
But tomorrow night I'll be sure to talk to you again
You take care of my daddy now you hear me thank you God Amen
I've just stood there thinking bout his prayer what he said in it
Finally I opened the door and asked himif I could talk to him for a minute
We sat down on the edge of his bed we both took turns laughing and crying for a while
And he could tell it'd been a change in me
Because for the first time and the long time I saw him smile
So darling you go on ahead but you walk slow
And someday when you'll turn around I'll be there
But it'll be a while cause I'm gonna spend the next few dozen years
Being an answer to our little boys prayer