Hope Chest

(album: Brand New Tennessee Waltz - 1970)

Her Mama bought her a hope chest
To keep her dreams inside
All the precious memories
Little things she'd like to hide
A magic wand, an old rag doll
Some plastic pearls, 'cause, after all

A little girl is only a little girl so long
Tender hearts need their stars to wish upon
One day will turn around, and she'll be gone
A little girl is only a little girl so long

One day, when she got home from school
She slipped a little note
Beneath the tattered lining
And here is what he wrote
'Roses are red, violets are blue'
'Put an X in the box if you like me too'

A little girl is only a little girl so long
Tender hearts need their stars to wish upon
One day will turn around, and she'll be gone
A little girl is only a little girl so long

They married in the garden on a perfect July day
In a horse and carriage
They waved and rode away
Mama went inside to put away her wedding dress
And she spotted a letter lying on the old hope chest
It said...

A little girl is only a little girl so long
Your lonely heart might need a star to wish upon
So look inside once in a while to bring the memories home
'Cause a little girl is only a little girl
And I will always be your little girl so long