“Daddy’s Eyes”

James: The Chinese say that if you live long enough, everything will happen to you. Sounds like a suck reason for sticking around, doesn’t it? But I got to thinking about it ’cause those Chinese people are deep. You know, they invented topiary. You know, that’s where you plant the tree, and your grandson carves it into an elephant. I mean, they’re thinking long, you know what I mean? We’re thinking like, when am I gonna get that burger? And I realize that if we’re gonna live a long time, and everything is gonna happen to us, then at some point in time, in our own time, we’re gonna be the hero, we’re also gonna be the goat, we’re gonna be the victim, we’re gonna be the perpetrator, the betrayer, and the betrayed, and if we’re gonna be all these things, each and every one of us, then maybe we can find it in our hearts to be a little bit more kind, a little bit more understanding, a little bit more patient with each other, you know. So I wrote this song about a lady in Baltimore I heard about who was clearly more evolved than me. It’s called “Daddy’s Eyes”.

You’re lucky to be alive, says stranger all in white
Be surprised how many times this happens in the night
The real surprise was waiting for me nine months down that road
Brought you in for me to see
I felt my future unfold
As I wrap my arms around you
To soothe your gentle cry
And you looked straight up at me
You had your daddy’s eyes

You got your daddy’s eyes
I’m not likely to forget
And every time you look at me
That night comes back, and yet
Cannot help but love you
Can’t help but be surprised
By all the pain that brought you here
You got your daddy’s eyes

Though days have turned the weeks to years
This pain, time will not heal
Sometimes, when you look at me
I know I can’t conceal
The memory of that brutal night
But now, I never try
What matters is the love we share
And you got your daddy’s eyes

You got your daddy’s eyes
I’m not likely to forget
And every time you look at me
That night comes back, and yet
Cannot help but love you
Can’t help but be surprised
By all the pain that brought you here
You got your daddy’s eyes

The Lord works in mysterious ways
No man can understand
We must have faith in the seeds that grow
From the fruit of the master’s plan

There is a plant, there is a garden, there is a reason too
For every life, every pain, every one of you
Wonder what we’re doing here
We sift for truth through lies
Look carefully, and you will find
We’ve all got daddy’s eyes
We’ve all got daddy’s eyes
We’ve all got daddy’s eyes